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Mental health

I am so scared, I need your help - emetophobia

18 replies

scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 20:48

Please, I have namechanged for this.

I know there are other threads like this, but I feel I need my own now.

DH is ill yet again with a bug -he has been v today.

I honestly cannot cope. I am white with fear.

DS came down with chicken pox today as well (I'm pretty sure).

I cannot cope at all. I literally do not know what to do. Please help me. I don't know how, but please.

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madmouse · 27/05/2011 20:58

Can you explain what is scaring you so much? I know that what your brain wants to do right now is go into a whirlwind of panicked thoughts, but what is the worst thing that can happen right now?

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:08

yes, the worst thing is that I would catch it.
next worst thing, the dcs would catch it.

Other than that - everything - esp the sound of it.
maybe I can't explain.
I would rather die, but I can't because I have 2 dcs.

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:09

'm trying to keep it together and be rational but I can't. I've had therapy and it didn't work.

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madmouse · 27/05/2011 21:11

Listen I understand - when I'm sick I get flashbacks to some very bad child abuse and it freaks me out - but at the end you survive and it is gone again.

You don't need to rationalise it - but you can force yourself to calm down by not allowing your thoughts to run riot willy nilly

So when you get it what happens that is so bad that it is bad enough to die for?

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:16

when I get it? ie a bug? I don't. BUt 'm scared that one time I will.

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madmouse · 27/05/2011 21:19

What is so scarey about having a bug? Why does the thought of it makes you feel bad enough to die?

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:31

I can't explain. I'm going to ruin my whole life over this fear, I know I will

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:32

It i=overtakes and supersedes anything and everything else
I don't know why
I can't stop crying
I dont' understand what's wrong with me

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:33

This thing is never going to go away.

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Artichokes · 27/05/2011 21:35

You have a choice in this. Choose to stop it ruining your life.

I know it's hard, really hard , the same fear has ruined periods of my life but I refuse to let it ruin any more of my one and only life.

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madmouse · 27/05/2011 21:38

woah there calm down - you are now totally overreacting and getting in a total flap. You are panicking, no one is saying anything about ruining your life - it takes more than that.

You need to take some steps to stop this. Go do something. Make a cup of tea, I don't care of you actually drink it. Step into the garden if you have one and pull up some weeds. Pay attention to what you do - run your hand under the tap when you feel the kettle, feel the water, see the steam from the kettle, listen to the spoon tinkle against the mug. And keep breathing, out twice as long as in.

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:42

ok, madmouse, I'll try

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:42

but even if it goes away for a bit, it always comes back

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:43

the time of my life that I waste getting upset and scared when I should be doing other things - important things
I feel like nothing - what a waste - to be reduced to wasting my life away over this stupid fear

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scaredmummy · 27/05/2011 21:44

everyone will leave me in the end
no-one will want to be around someone like me

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madmouse · 27/05/2011 21:47

scaredmummy now you are being a silly sausage - stop the thinking machine

right now you have a slightly irrational fear of being sick

that's all

stop overthinking

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Joolyjoolyjoo · 27/05/2011 21:49

Are you on your own? I am pretty emetophobic (brings back horrid memories of my mum being ill when I was small) and DH is very understanding, and deals with much of it.

For me, it isn't so much the actual vomiting as the waiting for the next bout, iyswim? I feel hugely anxious, can't settle, heart racing. I also worry about getting sick myself and not being able to cope with the children, so i feel for you.

First thing- most bugs last 12-36 hours. There is a time limit.

Take lots of hygeine precautions, as much to reassure yourself as to try to prevent cross-infection- hand gels etc.

Try to distract yourself from the anxiety. Your child might go to sleep and not vomit again. Do a puzzle, read a book, watch a TV show.

And don't give yourself a hard time for feeling like this. Lots of people do, as I've come to realise. here's hoping your dc will be fine in the morning.

P.,S Chicken pox doesn't usually involve vomit, and I found it relatively easy to deal with. You will be fine. Even if you are a wreck, I bet you will deal with it for the sake of your children. Hope they have a speedy recovery.