I don't want to prevent getting sick. I want to overcome emetophobia. (new member)

[itbechelsea]

My younger sister is recovering from the stomach virus, and that's what brought me to this site. I wanted to find encouragement and success stories, and I'm very happy to know there is help.
I've also read posts by people who think this site doesn't help anybody. Maybe it doesn't directly. It's definitely not a substitute for professional help. But many posts are encouraging and inspiring, and it is nice to discuss my fears with others who can understand.


Last summer I began therapy for generalized anxiety disorder, and it helped a tad. I never spoke of my emetophobia to my therapist though. We did conclude that my general anxiety has been with me almost always, but that the 9/11 events triggered my panic attacks. I was 8 when that happened. Just a year later I had a horrid bout of the stomach virus, and since then have been terrified of v***. Any nausea due to random, frequent panic attacks frightened me. I began carrying a bowl with me everywhere because I had panic attacks MOSTLY when leaving the house. (I even snuck a mixing bowl into the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and they're packed with security, but no one knew until we got home!) I went 5 years without v*** after that stomach virus (but those 5 years were still filled with anxiety). In 2007 I did finally v, and again in 2008. Last year I came down with the virus, and while it was miserable, I somehow handled it better than before. I realized the worst part was the anxiety leading up to it. Later that year I had a random, short-lived (hour) sickness (probably something I ate), and I finally v** and felt much better. I wasn't afraid at all, because it happened too fast for me to be afraid. When it was over I was so proud.


I'm no longer afraid to hear or see someone else v*, nor am I afraid of the word. I think from all the exposure these past few years. In fact, I think the problem for me isn't so much the v*** anymore at all. It's what leads up to it. The nausea, stomach pains, and uncertainty of when I'll be sick. And it's not a constant worry anymore. It's only a bother when I'm faced with the fear, and even then it doesn't bother me AS much. I used to feel doomed (really!) when I thought I was going to come down with a virus, and I'd try to convince myself I wasn't going to get it. Now I just say to myself, "If this is going to get me I wish it would just happen now. It'll be over in a day." I do still worry though.

Since my sister has a stomach virus, I am anxious to see if it's going to pay me a visit as well. I'm washing my hands constantly, keeping confined to my room, trying not to touch anything, sucking on peppermints. Instead of getting help for my emetophobia, I've always searched for ways to prevent illness and nausea/v***. I'm going to be 18 soon, and I'm moving thousands of miles away to live with my sister in a matter of weeks. I can't afford therapy, and if I could, I can't really get it right now anyway.

So now that I've shared my story and my current concerns, I was wondering what those of you who have been in therapy have learned. What effective methods were you taught to help you in defeating your fear. Therapy would definitely be the best option, but I'd like to know what things I can do or keep in mind that might be helpful until I can seek treatment.


Many thanks and good luck to you all!

[itbechelsea]

After looking through this forum more I noticed people writing not only v* but also n* and sv*. So very sorry if either of those words is a trigger for you. I can't seem to edit my post now to change my wording. Or delete it.

[KaydeeJayde]

It's not a rule that you HAVE to write the abbreviations, I usually don't I find that if I write the abbreviations, it makes me more afraid of the words when I do actually have to write them, so I don't use the abbreviations for my own mental health really.

Anyways, welcome. It sounds like you're doing really well with the phobia, and that you've come a long way. As for what I learned in therapy... I'm doing CBT at the moment, and my therapist asked me to buy a really cheap digital watch that beeps on the hour. Every time it beeps, I'm meant to relax my shoulders, balance my head, and take 10 deep breaths, real deep breaths. Us anxious people tend to breathe in a shallow manner so make sure you breathe into the bottom of your stomach. Doing this on the hour means that anxiety levels in general are lower because of a whole bunch of physiological factors that I don't quite understand. I know it sounds a little fluffy, but I haven't had a full blown panic attack since I started it Hops this helps a little.

Welcome, again