Help. I don't know what to do.

[nathanraile]

Hi, this is my very first post here on this message board. I am currently 13 years old and I am suffering from emet. This all started when I was around 6 and was in swim team. A boy a year older than me had v'd in the pool. I remember it too well, but I don't want to go into disgusting detail. After that I refused to swim practice until my mom had to push me into the pool. This went on in school when the summer was out and I was in the first grade. It wasn't as bad back then, and it only lasted a year. But about 4 years later, in 5th grade, it came back. I felt very sick at school on Friday October 1st. I kept on telling myself in my head that everything was going to be o.k. I had to go through 6 hours of school, and my mom was at work so I had to go over to a friends house for a few hours. I felt horrible for every single minute of that day, and even when I went home to my parents to find out that I had a bad stomach flu. I never v'd, but I stayed home from school for about 2 weeks. It had completely f**ked my bowels up, and when I got an X-ray, I found out there was poop backed up to my chest. The reason none of it had come out was because I was trying so hard to not v. The phobia went on until the spring of that school year, when everything stopped. Anyway, this school year, my school is being remodeled and I have to go to a make-shift unused school with all the other kids. The big problem is, the school is about 30 minutes away from my house. I didn't freak out so much the year before because the old school was like a 2 minute drive from my house, and my mom had a really close friend who had lived right across the street, and would take super good care of me if I got sick. So this whole school year, I've been suffering like crazy. I miss a ton of school because I think i'm sick, i'm stressed out, or I didn't get any sleep. And when I do go to school, I usually have to get picked up by my mom, or stay in the bathroom half of every period and text her. And now, I am even getting scared of it at home. I have this thing called the "9:11" rule. If i'm not at school, I will feel horrible between 9:11 PM and 9:11 AM. I do take medicine (fluoxitine) and have seen a psychiatrist who is currently on vacation (like always). I am really scared and I have to go to school tomorrow. Can anyone help me?

[Natiebear]

Welcome to IES, you poor thing it seems like you have been through a lot. My advice is to take things one day at a time. I know that may sound dumb or hard to do but for me it helps. Also positive thoughts are a great thing self talk can be your biggest enemy or help. When I start feeling the way you do at school. I talk to myself and say your ok there is nothing wrong with you and this is just anxiety and it will pass. It always helps trust me. I have had anxiety and been emet since I was 18 and I'm now 38 so I have had many years of going though what you are. I have been to years of thearpy too. If you don't see someone for weekly sessions I would urge you to look into it. Learning ways to deal with and calm yourself down during anxiety attacks is very helpful. As for your meds you may need an increase in them or that one is not working well for you. I take meds as well and if your constantly feeling that anxious then it seems like its not working well for you. I would talk to your doctor and tell them everything that's been going on. I wish I could be of more help and I know school can be so stressful. My daughter too has been having a hard time with anxiety at school too you are not alone. Just try and focus on deep breathing and relaxation as much as possible. Distraction is the key to surviving anxiety too. When I'm feeling anxious it helps to talk to someone about everyday things to take my mind off how I'm feeling. Maybe you could talk to a school counselor or a teacher when you are having a bad time. You will be ok and things will get better don't worry. We all go through bumps in the road.

[jparsons93]

Hello.
I was JUST like you! I would spend most of school in the bathroom or the offixe trying to persuade my parents to take me home. It got so bad I went on homebound studies 6th, 7th, half of 8th, part of 11th, and my entire senior year. It makes me so sad to look back and know that emetophobia stole those years from me. Especially my senior year. I couldn't even go to prom. I barelywas able to ttolerate my graduation. Now I'm 20 years old and in nursing school. I've found that learning about why people v* and what Exactly causes it can be intriguing. It has helped my phobia along with this support group and finding the right medications go keep it at bay. Welcome to IES and were all here if you need us

[nathanraile]

Thanks, I'm pretty sure I upped my medication to the max for now, and If I really want to get the dosage up higher, I'm gonna have to wait until my Psychiatrist gets back. Distraction is key. Alot of times I play tetris in my head during all of the uncomfortable times, that is, until a teacher calls on me. I don't want to have to explain to the whole entire school what I have, but it would be awesome if I could print out that info-graphic and show it to my teachers. I have talked to my school counselor, but the weird thing is, that she stresses me out even more. anyway, thanks for responding, it helped me alot

[nathanraile]

Thanks, I feel alot better now knowing that I'm not the only person whose been through this. Earlier this year I kept on asking my parents if I could be homeschooled, but through your logic, it seems like it was a bad idea. Thanks Again, you helped alot.