Should I do it?

[Matilde Mar]

Ok, I can't believe I'm actually considering this but I want to know if forcing myself to watch v* pictures/videos/gifs/whatever would help desensitize my emet. I'm an EXTREME emet, I freak out with EVERYTHING that has to do with v*; even if it's a cartoon, it scares the hell out of me.
I read LuckyNumber's post about watching a video on youtube and how it helped, thinking "yeah, like I could do that..." But then, I don't know why, I started to think "why not?"
My concern is, could it make my emet worse? (I have very vivid images of almost ALL v* scenes, real life or not, I've ever seen) could it help me? What should I do before doing it? (like taking anxiolytics and stuff). I'm kind of scared of making my phobia worse but on the other hand, it's already out of control so...
I don't know. Any advice will be appreciated.
(Sorry if in advance for my English, lol)

[carrie_281]

Hello Matilde Mar,

First, I would like to congratulate you on your courage to even begin considering exposing yourself to v* stimuli. This is a great step and portrays your willingness to fight through it and overcome your emet. However, I do think that simply diving into watching videos or pictures by yourself without guidance may be counterproductive. That being said, I don't think self-administered exposure will make it worse for you (as you said, it's already out of control), if anything it will remain the same.

When I started cognitive behavioural therapy for my emetophobia (which has helped tremendously), I began with the help of my therapist with really small steps. For instance, we began simply writing out the words v* or s* (which I won't do here in case it really offends you or others) and rating how anxious/afraid/disgusted I felt after each time. After I was no longer bothered by writing out the words, we began looking at pictures of people who looked like they were about to v*. Then, we moved up to actual pictures and videos. However, for me, by that point seeing others v* was no longer a problem, the problem was me. I was still petrified of v* myself. What worked for me was cognitive behavioural therapy; and in that, it was less about exposure and more about reformulating of how I perceived and thought about myself v*, with the help of a trained specialist. For instance, we examined questions like what am I really afraid of, how likely is it that I will die if I v*, etc. The exposure part was really only at the beginning so I could start talking about it without having a panic attack. So, if you want to start exposure, I would strongly recommend it; it has helped me and others tremendously, and I encourage you and support you! However, I do think that you will get better results by taking smaller steps and asking for help. I'm not sure where you are from, but there are many community based therapists that offer free or low cost advice/therapy that could maybe help a lot more.

I hope this helped!

Good luck!

[Felle]

If you feel like you could handle it, then do it. Maybe start with no sound, then turn it up a little?

[ditchy_jon]

Watching others Vomit never really bothers me, its only myself feeling nauseous that makes me panic.

[jptk]

If you are going to go this route, do a bit of research first because if you start watching really graphic videos right away you could make your anxiety worse. You would need to start slowly. I'm sure you could probably find some advice on the web somewhere as to how you should organise your exposure and how to start. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Cynna]

check out directions at emetophobiahelp.org

[jkl81]

Gradual desensitization is what you should aim for, start with the thing that upsets you the least and then work up to something scarier. That's how exposure therapy is usually advised. Also, nothing wrong with your English that I can see.

[Maddie-_-]

Honey Dont do it! I dont know you but i watched im a celebrety get me out of here the other night and they were gagging and V*ing everywhere, It actualy made me feel better about my emet because they handled it soo well! But listen to me right now. If you want to vomit when you arent ill, it will come out very strange, and scarier than when your ill and you V*. And you wont have that special ill feeling before. Just wait until you get flu or somthing! Sounds strange, i know but then you will know the feeling before you V* . If you really must go for it then do but I personaly think it wil make your emet worse as it will be worse this time than when theres somthing to V* about like a bug. Sorry if that didnt make much sense.... Good luck with whatever you choose hun xx

[AnxiousCanuck]

Based on years of personal research, therapy, and my own phobia (which has me confined to my apartment at this point) I can say that some might be a good idea, but you should know where the line is and not to cross it.

My Emet is so severe that I cannot leave the apartment without extreme anxiety. I've ended up in the hospital many times due to malnourishment because I refuse to eat out of fear. Trust me when I say that I completely understand just how severe this phobia can be. It keeps me in a nightmare every single day.

I'd suggest that you conduct your own basic CBT. Create a list of say, 10 things. You arrange these things or situations based on how anxious they make you. Then, over the course of a few days or weeks, slowly expose yourself to each item, and continue the exposure of that item until you no longer feel anxiety, or until you're able to comfortably control the anxiety you experience. Keep doing this until you've gotten through the entire list. Here is an example of my very first list I made in CBT, I've been through at least 10 different lists because there are SO many things that make me anxious.

Number 10 is least anxious, number 1 is most anxious.

10. Talking to my husband about his vomiting experiences
9. Talking about my own vomiting experiences
8. Looking at a photo of someone in front of a toilet, appearing ready to vomit
7. Looking at a photo of someone who has just vomited
6. Looking at a photo of someone vomiting
5. Listening the the audio of someone vomiting
4. Watch a video of someone vomiting, with no sound, and where the vomit itself is not shown
3. Watch a video of someone vomiting, with no sound, with vomit shown
2. Watch a video of someone vomiting, with sound, no vomit shown
1. Watch a video of someone vomiting, with sound, with vomit shown

Each step seems similar, but each and every one caused me a great deal of anxiety and panic. This particular list took me about 2 months to get through successfully. I'd suggest you try the same thing. Forcing yourself into watching a video of someone vomiting may essentially put you into a phobic and anxiety overload and may reverse any progress you've made. And just about every single medical professional who has studied Emet will say the same thing, forcing a Emet to vomit proves to only trigger the phobia and most often, make it worse.

Good luck! I hope my advice can be of some help to you

[lemontree]

My emetophobia is about me vomiting, not someone else. So desensitizing myself to vomit by looking at pictures and watching videos helped me overcome the anxiety I used to feel at vomiting in general - so now I can see a puddle of vomit on the street and not freak out - but it has done ZERO for my fear of me vomiting. So I think this kind of exposure therapy is great for someone who's fear is of others vomiting but it probably won't do much for those of us whose emet is about us vomiting.

[Matilde Mar]

Thanks all of you! This was very helpful. I guess I'm gonna tell this to my therapist and see what she thinks, maybe she could help me on the process.
I really wanted to ask you guys first, because although I don't know you in person, I trust you more! I mean, come on! Who knows better than us??

xx