The Emetophobe's Support Club.

[Lonelymum]

OK, well those of you who know what the title means probably know that I suffer from this phobia. I came out about it on Mumsnet last year (no-one in RL knows about it properly except for dh - I am very ashamed of it). Anyway, thanks to the support of mainly other emetophobes (it takes one to know what another is suffering!) I went to my GP and was referred for therapy. Well, one move later, and another quick referral and here I am, facing my initial assessment this morning at 11:30. I am getting tense and shaky just writing this so goodness knows what I will be like in an hour and a half. Anyway, I promised to keep the other emetophobes informed of how my therapy went, so here I am. Could do with some good luck messages to send me on my way!

[Titania]

hi hun. good luck with the therapy. hope it helps you x x

[Lonelymum]

Thanks Titania. Don't hold out much hope TBH.

How are you feeling today?

[littlerach]

Good luck, I think you are very brave facing up to it and wish you all the luck (if that's the right word).xx

[Nemo1977]

good luck hun hope it goes better than expected.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Lots of luck LM.

I really hope it helps you

[Lonelymum]

Thanks for your support. It really helps to see familiar names. I don't know why I am doing this though! It is self inflicted torture. I really don't know how to broach the subject or how to convince the therapist that I have a real problem.

[charleepeters]

godd luck hun i didnt read your last thread as i wasnt usong mumsnet then but just wanted to say you'vehelped me with alot of things so wanted to say i hope everything works out for you xxx

[footprint]

Hi Lonelymum, I suffer from this too and so I understand. I really hope it went well this morning.
Please let us know how you got on....

[Newbarnsleygirl]

How did it go LM?

[Lonelymum]

I'm back but no time to post now as have to fetch children from school. Will post again later. (PS for those who can't wait, there is no miracle cure - what a surprise!)

[Lonelymum]

Right, report time: well it wasn't as bad as I expected. Basically, I was told I am a classic phobic. There isn't anything counselling can do for me becuase she said I didn't sound depressed (hooray! I'm glad she worked that out as I have long thought I am not depressed, just stressed out by my phobia). Apparently, phobias are very hard to cure and more so when, like mine, they have been around all my conscious life and not triggered by a particular experience. So, there is nothing the pyschiatric unit can do for me. She gave me some numbers to call of phobia charities/self-help groups/whatever which is apparently all that can be done for me. I do feel a bit cross that I had to go through this lengthy interview and give her lots of personal information about my life that I feel has no bearing on my phobia and which presumably will just be filed (for what purpose?) when all I was going to get from it was a list of phone nmbers to call (why couldn't the GP just give me them?) but, at least someone in the know has told me I am a classic phobic and acknowledged that I have a condition which is not normal. That helps.... a bit.

BTW if anyone with a phobia would like the contact details, I am happy to give them to you although one of the charities does seem to be locally based (Bath) and only has a very few centres in other parts of the country.

[Lonelymum]

Apologies for spelling errors. Ds3 is sitting on my lap and the other three children are clamouring to be next on the computer!

[jampots]

im sorry to be thick but what is an emetophobic? glad about your good news though lonelymum

[jampots]

sorry just googled it!

[Lonelymum]

Fear of vomiting and all things associated with it. Pretty hard to cope with with 4 children! (or any number of children!)

[womba1]

LonelyMum, i'm so proud of you for trying to get on top of this! I've recently found out i'm pregnant and i have this overbearing dread of being sick this time round. I didn't so much as feel the slightest bit of nausea during my last pregnancy and am convincing myself that i'll now get it twice as bad.
Am overjoyed at being pregnant, but this phobia puts such a downer on things..

[footprint]

Hi LM, it is a shame that there is not much that they can do. My own GP said something similar when I tried ot get help a few years ago. However, just by doing SOMETHING and feeling more in control, you may feel better.

Just as a matter of interest (hope I'm not being nosey) how did you deal with pregnancy? I was terrified when I became pregnant but my wanting the baby overrode my fear.

At least we are not alone (I've actually read that emetophobia is one of the ten most common phobias!!)

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Just caught up LM.

Do you feel a bit better now you've been?

I know they haven't really done much but you hear so many people say they feel a bit better after they've talked to a pro.

[Lonelymum]

Womba, congratulations on your pg! Try not to worry about the sickness side of things. I never felt sick in any of my 4 pgs, except very mildly and for about one week only when pg with ds3 (then the nausea stopped and I bled and thought I had lost him but it turned out I was losing an undeveloped twin - so unless you are expecting twins, you should be fine!

Footprint, perhaps that partially answers your question too. I didn't get morning sickness or feel sick in labour. I suppose I just risked it for the first baby and after that was confident (unlike Womba!) that if it hadn't happened the first time, it wouldn't happen at all. BTW Womba, I have since learnt that severe emetophobes are capable of suppressing the vomiting reflex which might explain why I have had so many tummy bugs that only give me diarrhoea when others are vomiting. So, yes the phobia is hard to live with, but if you believe in it enough, so to speak, you might be able to escape the sickness you think you are going to get! Think positively!

So what happened to you Footprint when you went to your GP? Did you try anything? See anyone other than your GP?

Newbarnsleygirl, I don't know how to feel. Part of me feels I am no further forward and she more or less told me there is nothing that can be done. The numbers she gave me are more support groups than therapists. I am not saying a support group won't be a good idea, but it isn't the same as a cure (not that I expected one of course).

[Steala]

I'm an emetophobe too. Mainly others being sick rather than myself (although that is scary enough!). How disappointing that there is no miracle cure. I tried therapy about 16 years ago. It didn't really work but it did get me to the stage where I could have children - for years I didn't think I would be able to. I'm still holding out for some wonder remedy....

Good luck with the phobia charity etc.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Do you think you'll give the groups a go?

I've also seen a uk Emetaphobe support website, similar to MN. Don't know if that would be any good to you.

[Lonelymum]

I think I have to NBG. I have to try anything offered so that at the end of the day I can say I tried to get better, even if nothing helps.

[Lonelymum]

"Meeting" all these emetophobes who have had therapy and found it didn't help, doesn't really inspire me though! Sorry to hear you are still a sufferer Steala. I too fear the children getting sick more than I do myself.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I'm glad. I really hope it does help you.

I know my anxiety/phobia is different to yours but I know how you feel. It's horrible and like you say you have to give it a go.

Keep us posted about it when you go.