Any emetophobes around? Had my first talking therapy session today

[Tatties]

I feel a bit lighter for it I think. It is quite a big thing for me - starting this thread - I don't generally like to admit to this problem / talk about it. It was important to me that the counsellor said, "let's call it a phobia," when I had been referring to my "problem" and "fear" - it felt like I was being taken seriously, which was a big relief. And it was just good to talk to someone who is interested in helping me, and who, hopefully, has the capacity to. I know it's still early days though. I was asked to think about some questions I really don't know the answers to (yet). How helpful have other people found talking therapies?

[mumtoo3]

hi i have not had talking therapy, but i do have a nurse i see as i have pnd, ocd and am a fellow emet!!!
admitting it to her has helped, i am now waiting to see a doctor who can give me more help with this.

there is another thread going, and are some lovely fellow emets on there who really understand it all, so you know your not alone. how long have you had your phobia? does it take over your life? sorry to ask so many questions x

[pinkbubble]

Hi Tatties, I have seen someone for my emetophobia, I think it was physchotheraphy(sp)
helped me enormously, took at least 6 mths, but now although I do not like sickness etc, it is not ruining my life, it doesn't rule it anymore. I can rationalise it, put it where it belongs. I am now getting on with my life after having this fear for 7 yrs.

My advice to you is believe in your counsellor, if they ask you to do any thought rationalising(sp) do it, it really helped me.

I do so hope that you get as much as I got from my sessions, it saved not only my career but family life too!

Good luck

[Tatties]

Thank you all for replying. I think the problem has always been there; but it has really only interfered with my life over the past 18mo or so. It takes over my life in the sense that I cannot think about meeting people or going anywhere really without worrying about catching something. It is always a consideration. And the sad thing is that often I think, "I'll not go here / do this just in case" - and I know that is not right. Sometimes I do it anyway, despite the fear, but sometimes it seems easier not to take the (pretty non-existent) risk. I just don't want to be constantly frightened of what might happen. I want to be able to deal with it when it happens and forget about it the rest of the time!

[Tatties]

BB I remember you talking about starting therapy a while back, I was wondering how you were getting on.
It is great to hear that things an improve!

[TooTicky]

That sounds like a positive step Tatties

[Tatties]

TooT

[Tarantulip]

Hi Tatties

I posted briefly a while back on the other emet thread, and have continued to follow it since. I am a veteran emet (have suffered all my adult life). I found it a huge comfort to know that I wasn't alone - I wouldn't wish emetophobia on my worst enemy but just knowing that there were some other people who felt the same way as me really helped. In fact, I plucked up the courage to visit my GP to ask if I could be referred for CBT. Following a series of 'assessments', I now have my first appointment this afternoon.

I must admit that I don't believe I can ever be 'cured' - I just can't imagine it - but if CBT can help me feel less terrified it will be worth it.

I do wish you the best of luck with your treatment and would be very interested to hear more.

BB - don't know if you remember me from the other thread, but I've been following your progress. Really pleased that CBT has had positive effects for you.

[Tatties]

Good luck for this afternoon Tarantulip, let us know how you get on

[Tarantulip]

Thanks Tatties, will do

[artichokes]

I have suffered terribly from emet on and off. After the death of my mother it was out of control. I had CBT and it helped so much.

Occassionally I still have bad days but since CBT it has not affected my every day life (and I finished the therapy 4 years ago). I have been able to travel to places I never dreamed of and got through two bouts of morning sickness. I am sooooo thankful I got decent therapy and changed my life.

I really, really hope you have a similar experience. Good luck!

[DumbledoresGirl]

Glad to hear you are having therapy. Would be very interested to know how it goes.

I know what you mean re being taken seriously and using the term phobia instead of problem or fear. I had a similar moment of lightness when I first called my "problem" a phobia too. And another good moment when I found out it had a proper name. It helped me to feel more of a victim which was helpful to me.

[TigerFeet]

Sounds good Tatties, good luck with it all

[mumtoo3]

it would be great to hear how your therapy goes and we could share our experiences as i think i may be staring some kind of therapy soon as well.

how are you feeling today???

[Tatties]

Really encouraging to hear your positive experience of therapy, artichokes!

DG, it is interesting what you say about identifying the phobia and acknowledging it. I have been (and still am) scared of being ridiculed, and have never expected other people to understand or acknowledge it so have found it hard to talk about.

Mumtoo3, I hope you can get the help you need as well.

The session yesterday was thought provoking and I have been thinking today about the questions I was asked: "what is it that scares you?" and "why do you allow it to?" I don't expect the answers are supposed to be clear yet but I have a lot going on in my head!

Thanks for the good wishes TF

[wiggleit]

Hi tatties, i've just stumbled on your thread. I am a regular on the other emet thread.

Good to here you are getting therapy. Please let us know how you get on and give us some tips if you can!

BB is an absolute star. She helped me a lot on the other thread and she really has got on great with her therapy.I'm so pleased to read on here that it has changed her life. (You're still my mentor bb, don't go away!) xx

I have had this phobia all my life and it ruins and runs my life. I am exactly like you as in i dont' like going anywhere or meeting people for fear of catching something. It totally runs my life..well i let it i know i need to take control. I didn't get a good response from my Dr but i'm going to try another Dr and see if i can possibly get some help. I can't see that i will ever be cured, i've had lots of treatments in the past and have been told the fear is too deeply rooted.

Good to see you on here mumtoo3. bb - please stay in touch hun xx

[Tarantulip]

Hi everyone

A quick update on my first session last Friday. It was more of a 'catch up' than an actual therapy session as I am seeing a different therapist to the one who assessed me.

She tried to get me to understand the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and to try to explain exactly what it is aboout v-ing that I am so terrified of. Of course, I couldn't - but hopefully once the therapy gets going I may find some answers.

I don't know if there are different 'types' of emetophobia but for me it really is totally related to a terror of v-ing myself. I can just about deal with it if I know I am not in a situation where I could catch something (ds getting travel sick for example). For others it seems that it is more related to others being sick.

I would never willingly put myself in a situation where me being sick is a possibility (such as fairground rides, ferry crossings, taking medicine where v is a side effect), but I don't go to such strenuous lengths to avoid situations where others might v.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a ramble, but am sending lots of positive vibes to all who are starting/contemplating therapy.

[wiggleit]

Thanks Tarantulip for updating us. Hope you get something out of it.

Maybe you could share with us some of the things that happen in your sessions so that maybe we can help ourselves? I'm trying to get help for my phobia but not finding much support from my new Dr's surgery since i've moved. xx

[mumtoo3]

thanks for letting us know that is great, i agree with wiggleit, please let us know so we maybe able to help each other

Wiggleit - i cant believe how unsupportive your gp is have you tried seeing another gp, or going private, not sure if you can or how much but i really am sure and just chatting rubbish cause i am tired

hope everyone else is keeping well x

[Tatties]

Hi wiggleit, I was on the waiting list for nearly a year I think, and months ago I decided I couldn't wait that long for some help, so I tried to find some coping mechanisms for myself. Another MNer recommended me a good book, "Coping with Anxiety" (I think) by Helen Kennerley. It deals with phobias and anxiety and helped me to think a bit differently (more rationally) and challenge the thoughts I was having. It also explains how to do breathing exercises which can help if you are having a panic attack or are feeling very anxious about something. So reading that really helped, as did finding ways to calm myself when I get worked up - for me that is deep breathing, having a mint/chamomile/green tea, dabbing lavender oil on my wrists - basically things which get me to stop, focus and eventually calm down.

My first counselling session covered similar things - about asking what exactly is it that scares you and why do you allow it to - so challenging the thoughts. I am happy to share anything that may be helpful.

Tarantulip thanks for the update. I think we all must have variations within this phobia. I think I have identified that my fear is also mainly related to it happening to me, and being in situations where I might catch something. It has always been there, but I think this recent flare-up coincided with it happening to me for the first time in about 7 or 8 years. Up until that point I believed I was immune or something, and really believed that if I willed it not to happen to me, then it wouldn't. But it did. And I think that has shaken me up. Nearly 2 years on I get flashbacks! Ds has been ill (just him) since that time and that is barely on my radar. I often get anxious that ds will be ill, but I am not so concerned that I will not be able to look after him, more concerned that I will catch it. It happening to other people does bother me (less so if it is not catching) and I would also avoid situations where it was likely to happen. I wish I could guarantee that it would never happen to me again.

[wiggleit]

Hi Tatties, thanks for that, it would be great if you could share some of your therapy thoughts/sessions with us so that we can at least make a start on helping ourselves. Thanks for your support, it means a lot. xx

[wiggleit]

Hi mumtoo3 - I have an appointment with another Dr in a couple of weeks so hopefully she will be more supportive and helpful. I recently saw her for something else and she was ok so i'm going to try her about this. Wish me luck! I may look into going private but i would imagine it being very expensive. Thanks for your help hun. xx

Hi to everyone else! Hope you are all well. xx

[Tatties]

Hi mumtoo3 and wiggleit and everyone. I agree, see a different gp and say that you want to be referred for some counselling. If you can get them to recognise that your life is being affected then I don't see how they can refuse (even if they are not more sympathetic, iyswim)

[OrmIrian]

Sorry for hijacking a little but can someone advise me please? My family have all had the sickness bug this week. Last one to go down was DS#1 this evening. He was nearly hysterical at the prospect of being sick, I mean shaking and crying. It has always made him very distressed and angry afterwards. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I found it quite a shocking reaction and didn't really know what to say or do TBH.