Eek! Can anyone chat to me? Emetophobia.

[sundaybluecoffee]

Fully prepared to be told I'm crazy and to go to bed

I have emetophobia and my stomach really hurts atm. It's more of a (TMI) I need the toilet feeling rather than puking thankfully.

I do have IBS and get loose stools when anxious so that's probably what it is but it still freaks me out as I work myself up

I'm sitting here shaking, really tired and I just want to go to bed but I need to calm myself down.

Anyone else emetophobic? How do you deal with feeling sick/anxiety?

Chill. You will be fine.

@LurpakIsTheOnlyButter I wish I could😫

I do appreciate people who give it to me straight though, it does help me think more rationally!😊

Do some deep breathing. Close your eyes and breathe in for 5 then out for 4, it’s supposed to calm you down.
DD is threatening to be sick here tonight.... fingers crossed it’s just belly aches all round.

I am also emetophobe and mother and nurse.

I hate it and I hate when anyone else is sick. But you are winding yourself up for no reason. So chill, be cool and all will be well. Go to sleep

@Candleglow7475 Ah I hope so! Hopefully nothing comes of it for your DD & I. I'm sure it's just some anxiety.

Deep breathing is great, thank you!

Another emetophobe here, OP. No good advice other than to say you're not alone... perhaps some deep breathing, sips of water and nibbley snacks might help? I can't read when I feel this way but classical music or podcasts help.
You have my sympathies - anxiety gives me a bad tummy too. It's rubbish!!!

@LurpakIsTheOnlyButter how do you manage as a nurse and emetophobe? You are a saint!

Thank you your posts have a calming vibe

Agreed with Candles - yoga breathing to bring the anxiety down is your first port of call.

Then look up 'treatment for emetophobia' and see if you can do something about it. Don't put up with your brain being an idiot! Get it sorted out if it's limiting your life.

My emetophobia is more to do with others being sick.... and I have 3 kids (didn't think that through did I?)

I have a "sick plan" that is initiated whenever someone feels / is sick.

• bleach all light switches, door handles, banisters, remotes, drawer handles - anything we all touch
• deep clean the toilet
• buckets and muslins at the ready
• make sure DP is available (he deals with the actual puking )

I rarely get sick myself but whenever one of the DC gets ill, it's panic stations I keep calm for them and sob to DP

I'm now seeking CBT for this.... and other issues.

Take a bucket to bed and I'm sure you'll be ok

@willyougobacktobed deffo no snacks for me, I think it's started as I ate some junk food earlier and my IBS may have flared up.

Thank you! It is awful isn't it, then the constant thinking about it makes it 100x worse! I can usually tell when it's anxiety though as my throat feels tight (like it does right now) so hopefully I'll drop off eventually and wake up unscathed tomorrow!

@SpoonBlender I have completed the thrive programme on emetophobia and it did help, just didn't eliminate the problem completely

I agree, my brain is being an idiot!!

My daughter has emetophobia- she has a few well-watched TV series that act like a visual comfort blanket that she uses to distract herself - she watches them with her headphones on. She also eats billions of polos. And she tries to remind herself that the intense panic does pass in a relatively short time (even though it feels like forever when you are in it). Hope you feel better soon.

@Crunchymum I have a bucket next to me right now great minds eh?

I do exactly the same! (Though almost constant cleaning of surfaces, light switches etc!) I'm so scared of it it's crazy!

That's amazing your partner is so supportive, mine just tells me to stop thinking about it as if that works!

I would love a child one day but can't bare the thought of sickness in pregnancy, labour and when the child is small.

Thank you

@sundaybluecoffee you poor thing. I was only just saying today about a trip I have booked for America - whenever I go there with work I get such a bad stomach because the food is so rich. Give my tummy salad and plain bread any day!!
Hope you get to sleep soon and wake up feeling much better

@LurpackIsTheOnlyButter

You are a nurse? How? Surely every patient you see pukes? I mean you must see vomit everyday???? I avoid hospital as much as possible (hard with with a disabled DC and my own health issues. We are in once a month at least ) Hospital = vomiting people

@Bigbus I'm sorry your daughter suffers, mints actually sound quite refreshing actually so she must be onto something there!

I wish I had a TV show to watch right now, only got my phone in bed with me and it's too small to watch anything on properly.

Thank you!

@willyougobacktobed Thank you, I hope you don't suffer too badly when you go to America then! I've never been but the portions on TV look huge and very rich most of the time my IBS would have a field day!😅😫

Thank you, I hope I'll be okay.

@Crunchymum & @LurpakIsTheOnlyButter Maybe the exposure is good? I always find when I do actually throw up (rarely) that I'm not anxious anymore, it's only the lead up to & not knowing if I'm going to be sick that scares me I've found.

But I definitely couldn't be a nurse! I get scared even going to the GP or public bathrooms!

LurpakIsTheOnlyButter

Chill. You will be fine.

If it were so easy then sundaybluecoffee, me and 1,000s of others wouldn't fear puking, now would they? Silly Billy aren't you?

I always have cyclazine with me; would your GP prescribe a few? I have managed to start controlling that awful fear because of having these available. Hope it soon passes OP

My emetophobia has always been about others, so I didn't have the concerns about morning sickness / labour puking (I was lucky in both respects. No MS and only one puke in my many labouring hours!!)

However all it takes is for one of my DC to be a bit "iffy" (so off their food or more tired than usual) and I'm on high alert. Panic central.

It's not a regular thing. They are 6yo and 4yo and haven't been ill - D&V - much..... but yeah its harder for me than your average person if someone is sick!!!

@Weegobshite I used to have cyclizine! Great stuff I will ask for some more soon.

@LurpakIsTheOnlyButter suffers herself she's said, she clearly takes a rational standpoint as she's a nurse which I think is admirable!

@Crunchymum Well you sound like you've done amazingly to me! It's nice to know there are others out there that understand the fear too, we're not alone!

I take 2 paracetamol and 2 rescue remedy pastilles to help me sleep when I feel like this. Gripe water also if my stomach hurts, it's easier to swallow than Gaviscon or indigestion tablets. If I feel really sick I'll also wear the travel wrist band things.
And yes to the bucket!!
I hope you sleep soon.

Crunchymum also have children, like you I didn't think it through either. 🤢🤧 Once, queuing for the late bus home at 02:00 someone said they felt sick. I walked 5.5 miles home, in winter,, as I was so scared of being on the bus near someone puking.

@horsemadgal that's quite a routine you have! what is gripe water?

Buckets are always a good option + reduce the anxiety of not knowing where to throw up if you need too!