Trying to be brave enough to seek professional help!

[jasminemarie]

Ok, so I have been posting on here more often than usual in the last few weeks because since being at university, this phobia has become even more debilitating for me and I don't feel like I can cope anymore.
I've been hoping that speaking to a doctor who can perhaps refer me to someone specialist may help but I am terrified of voicing this fear to people. It took me years to tell my mum and a very few friends know and when I was seeing a psychiatrist back home a few months ago for depression and anxiety, I eventually spoke to her about it too and she did start some CBT work with me on it but because this wasn't the main issue I was seeing her for (at the time), there wasn't an ultimate focus on that.

I am currently sitting here, so close to tears because my stomach is feeling all horrid again and its probably acid or IBS but what if it isn't this time? Im all alone and no one here knows about this! I can feel a panic attack coming on because all the thoughts are constantly circling in my mind.

Anyway, aside from my worry, my main post is to enquire whether anyone has had positive feedback from a doctor when telling them about this fear? (Sorry if there has been similar posts before). I live in the UK but as I have recently moved to university, I am registered with a new doctor whom I have never met before. My notes have been transferred to this practice but I doubt if they will have read the notes and if there is anything about this phobia in any letters anyway.
My appointment is for next Wednesday so I have a week to psyche myself up for talking about this. Is anyone else really afraid to talk about it? I'm not entirely sure why I am so scared to tell people; maybe it is because they will dismiss it as nothing, think I'm odd/weird and I think I am ashamed of having this fear that is so irrational and yet takes over my life... I can't even imagine what a normal life without this would be like but I'd like to know if it is possible.

So my main questions to any of you reading this are: have you sought professional help? was it a positive or negative experience for you? did it help? What treatment options were available or suggested? Was your GP able to prescribe you anti-emetics? (I buy Motillium over the counter but it is so expensive and I wondered if there were any alternatives/bigger packs that are more effective and would essentially last me longer). I am really apprehensive about talking about this but I feel I have reached the point where I simply cannot carry on without trying some treatment option. I have looked into hypnotherapy but I simply cannot afford it.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts or advice on this

P.S. can a funny taste in your mouth be from acidity in the stomach? I have slight uneasiness in my stomach and have had some juice (which I didn't drink completely as I think it needed to be thrown out :s I also had some cereal and yoghurt and soup with a slice of bread. And some more juice of a different sort. But yesterday I had quite a lot of sweets... What could this be? I have taken some peppermint antacids but have no anti-emetics at the moment so am freaking out! )

[RedSoxNation]

Just wanted to share my experience. My anxiety and Emetophobia got so bad, I decided to get help. I also have agoraphobia so it's hard to leave home. I figured instead of dealing with this for the rest of my life, I would take a little time to get better. I checked into a psychiatric unit of the hospital for 5 days. They were a GREAT help!!! I got the right medicine I need, therapy that helped, and coping tools. I would highly recommend taking the short time from your life to get help...it is worth it!!! Hope you get better

[Elphiba]

Hey there Jasminemarie

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to reply!

I absolutely know how you are feeling; I myself was where you are about 4 or 5 years ago now. I too felt lost and scared and completely fed up, it was then I knew it was time to get help. And the best time to get help, is when you feel ready for it; only when you can help yourself can others help too

I also feel the same about not telling anyone; only my partner and mum know. I feel as if it's my dirty little secret and feel quite ashamed in myself. But please, do not let your fear of telling people stop you from getting help.

I didn't actually know that my fear of v* was a genuine phobia, but I became such a recluse and so nervous of everything, I confronted that fear and went to the doctor (with much pushing from my mum!! ). I explained all of my symptoms, how I felt day-to-day. I saw this particular doctor on an emergency apppointment, so he wasn't even my designated doctor, but he actually diagnosed me with anxiety. He said he could see I was suffering unnecessarily and pescribed me with an anxiety med called Cipralex. He also booked me in for Cognative Behavioural Therapy, and a few weeks later I was sat in with 2 councillors who questioned me and eventually diagnosed me with emetophobia! My meds worked pretty much instantly, and the CBT (without sounding too dramatic) pretty much saved my life.

I now live in a house with my partner and 2 cats and even hold down a part time job. Sure, I still worry about v* but it doesn't control my life nearly half as much.

Pleasepleaseplease seek asvice and help if you feel ready. University doctors will actually be the best people to see, as they see so many people everyday that they woukd definitely have come across someone who have the same problem as we do. So many people suffer anxiety, people just don't speak up about it. You are not alone, you are not weird or odd and getting help can really change your life.

[Elphiba]

Argh, stupid phone pressed the wrong button, here was the rest of my post :

I was also on motillium before being diagnosedwith anxiety. I actually developed an emeotional dependancy on these, and the best thing I did was got rid of them. Nowdays, I use herbal remedies like peppermint tea if I feel a little iffy, and although my Mum will argue it is swapping one addiction for another, atleast peppermint tea won't hurt my body! howevee you cab get them on prescription, you may get a bigger pack from the docs for less!

I really hope I have shed some light on the subject. Please private message me to talk some more about my experience and your experience, if you would like

Elphie x

[jasminemarie]

Thank you for all your replies. I think my stomach trouble is a flare up of IBS well at least I'm hoping so anyway! Elphie that was a really sweet comment. Please pivate message me as I don't know how to do it! Would love to chat I think preparing a list of points in my head will help me to think about what I need to say and not make me panic. I just hope that I get an understanding GP. I don't use motillium a huge amount just on occasions where it is really bad, but I will be wary of it!

Thanks again xx

[kam00096]

Hey don't know if you've been to the docs yet or not but just thought I'd say that you should try not to worry about explaining to them. I was convinced mine would laugh at me or tell me to come back when I had a 'real' illness but they were completely understanding. I do think it helped that I understood a fair bit about emet (from reading posts on here and on other sites) and felt I could explain myself pretty clearly. I also kind of knew what I wanted to do about it (meds and therapy!) and the docs were happy to set it up for me. And although it's not brilliant to take anti-emetics all the time, I find it reassuring to have them in, and get them all on repeat prescription which is so much cheaper than buying them OTC.