Emetophobia - has anyone ever got over it?

[LittleOldLadies]

Just wrote a long post and lost it!

I have had OCD/emetophobia for about 10 years. I excessively wash my hands and am massively hyper vigilant about vomit/illness but it’s been going on so long now it feels like it is just me.

However we’ve just had a holiday where my DP and DS had D&V for a day or so and my anxiety about us all being ill, being unwell on the flight home etc has really ruined our holiday. I haven’t eaten anything other than beige food since Wednesday in the huge fear that I would have D&V on the flight home (which is a really HUGE fear of mine).

Whereas before I just lived with the worry/anxiety/OCD, I feel like it’s ruined our first holiday in 3 years and I guess I am wasting my life and the possibility of fun experiences because this is always in the background.

But, I don’t know how I would ever get over it. Is it even possible?! Has anyone ever attempted to work on this and improve things?

Or if you’re a fellow emetophobe and just want to come and say hi then do that!

Exposure therapy for emetophobia sounds terrifying. Can you say anything more about it?

@DisgruntledPelican it started with people (staff) mentioning my trigger words within my vicinity and refusing to answer when I grilled them... did you mean it? Is it real? Do you/they actually feel sick? Etc. It progressed to looking at sick photos, sticking them up on my wall, listening to sounds on a puke app (yes that's a real thing), eating scary food, going on public transport, watching YouTube videos.

It was gradual (you make an exposure ladder) and master each step before moving to the next.