Recovering emetophobe needs a bit of support

[Crunchymum]

Huge norovirus outbreak at kids school. Every year group affected, Public Health England involved.

It's particularly hit Y6.

I've had therapy and been in recovery for some time now but this is really setting me off.

I'm trying to hold it together (we're all fine!) but I'm looking at the kids and thinking they all look pale. Keep asking them if they are okay and looking for "signs". Couldn't sleep last night.

I hate that I'm like this, I hate that the older kids (11 and 9) are picking up on my behaviour I would loathe to pass on my stupid phobia but I'm spiralling a bit.

Doesn't help that we have 3 days left and I have a Y6 child who is desperate to attend his last few days next week and we go away on Thursday.

Urgh. It's been so long since I've been like this but it's a serious incident taking out people by the hour (the WhatsApp groups are keeping me abreast.... I need to mute them as a start!)

I used to have bad emetophobia, but have largely recovered.

The question I always ask when I can feel the anxiety creeping in is "okay, then what?"

If one of the children vomits all over the carpet. Okay, then what? Am I going to die? Is the world going to end? No. I know that my heartbeat is going to rocket. I am going to get shaky. Okay, then what?

I will take a couple of minutes to compose myself before acting. Panicking isn't going to make the vomit magically disappear. So I will take a few minutes to calm down, then gather the things I need to deal with it in the most effective manner.