People who call themselves emetaphobes - are they for real?

[haychee]

I hadnt even heard of this until a thread i started which mentioned the word puke produced an effect on some that they coudnt even come on to mn until that thread had died. They couldnt even bare to read a word?!

Another thread running now, is talking about how some are affected by this phobia. Some of them i can see it is a real big problem and for them i do have sympathy. But some, who like me, do not like to see others being sick but are classing themselves as emetaphobic - this im finding difficult to comprehend. I dont like it at all - i avoid being too close to someone (eg kissing dh or dc if they have been ill in the last few days) for fear of exposing myself to a possible bug. But im not emetaphobic - please tell me im not.

doesnt agree with me either - was just angry the entire time. Hated life and everybody else. I have stopped at 2.

I don't think I'm one but I do have a very weak stomach, sometimes even brushing my teeth makes me gag and I'm particularly bad first thing in the morning as my sense of smell seems to be heightened then. I feel truly sorry for anyone who is a sufferer.

Where are all the bogus emetophobes then? What is making you think that this term is being bandied about? Do you really think that someone would describe themselves as an emetophobe when they were merely being a bit namby-pamby about cleaning up sick? I didn't notice anyone on the other thread describing only "minor symptoms" as you describe (and so what if they did?) Haychee I gave you the benefit of the doubt on the other thread - fair enough if you really want to understand how this affects people - but you have shown nothing but insensitivity in your posts.

Why does it matter to you if some people suffer more or less or in different ways to others? If you really want to understand this it suffices to read one of the other threads on the subject. Absolutely no need to start a thread like this.

Oh i get that teeth brushing thing too. Especially when brushing my tongue.

Apologies tatties. I will of course check with you if i want to start a thread of any kind.

Flossing does it to me as well, especially the back teeth! I'm going to have a wisdom tooth extracted at the end of the month I know I' going to be in bits afterwards as I suffer fro dry socket. Dentists, now there's where I'm phobic!!!

I don't mean that Haychee... of course you can start a thread about anything you like. This just isn't very nice that's all

A bit of an aside, haychee if you want to avoid the "MN Attack" phenomenon then here are some tips.

THE AIBU topic. It seems to me over the course of this year that this is likely to be where most flamings occur. Generally it gets people backs up (lots of different reasons why). If you want a reasoned, well balanced and argument free thread then imo this is not the topic to post in.

Thread title. This imo also makes all the difference. If you post something that says "I would like to understand/learn more about abc", then MN posters will usually (and helpfully) come and talk to you about abc. The phrase " are they for real?" in whatever context in your mind you thought it meant, is inflammatory, and you are likely to get responses thus.

Search for messages. It's at the top, above active convos. It's a great resource. If you really want to know about something that is possibly going to upset other posters, it's always worth checking other archived threads.

My DC had chicken pox the other week....I got loads of helpful advice about what I could do from search for messages (I did go on to post another question about it that I couldn't find the answer for).

Using MN is an art (I got hideously flamed shortly after I joined...the first time), and actually I got what I deserved, even though my point was entirely reasonable). How you express yourself is key to how other posters respond to you.

IMO

HTH

As an aside Slubber your post should be up there alongside the MN philosiphy! Brilliant post imho.

Thanks Mhamai.

Tanks for the advice - will condsider it carfully before starting threads.

I expect it was childish, Haychee but I am feeling infuriated with you. You were so rude about the subject on the last thread and obviously took absolutely no notice of what people told you at that time. To come on here and start a new thread implying that people are making it up, to require them to talk about what is a very painful subject for them for your own edification, and then to post idiotic things that show you still haven't listened or understood a single ruddy word they are saying - well, I don't think it is hard or harsh or tough or any of the things you like to describe yourself as. I think it's either cruel, or thick. One or the other, or possibly both.

My thoughts exactly Franny.

Sorry, I didn't see the other thread.

I give ematophobe threads a miss, usually, because I know they have a phobia and I don't consider mine to be.

But still, I'm extremely claustrophobic and definitely not making it up so wouldn't assume someone else is.

Well said Franny.

There's nothing that goes in. No lights on. Nothing.

Honestly Haychee. It's like trying to have a conversation with The Terminator.

I havent the time to read this whole thread, but as a life long emetophobe, if anyone wants to know what my life is like and how I am affected daily by this phobia, not just when someone is being sick, please feel free to ask. Just don't expect my answer to be short!

I know I am feeling particularly bad at the moment (ds3 woke up in the night, clearly felt wrong but did not tell us what exactly, then did not eat breakfast today) but this thread has really got me going.

I know you must think I am a baby for feeling the way I do. Welcome to the club: I think I am a baby to have this stupid phobia. But the way I see it is this: despite a mild claustrophobia and an increasing fear of flying (neither of which prevent me getting into a lift or flying) emetophobia is my only irrational fear. Yesterday, for instance, I discovered a spider on the curtain that was simply the biggest I have ever seen outside zoos. It was bigger than the spider someone photographed and showed on MN a few days ago. And loads of people there were half fainting away at the sight of that photograph of that spider. Inwardly, I thought to myself "How can you be scared of this picture of a spider?" and when I found my spider yesterday, I was not scared, did not scream or jump away from it. I picked it up in a jam jar and popped it out the window. Meanwhile, my dd screamed and screamed with sheer fright Damn! I never wanted any of my children to be phobic about anything, but she obviously is scareder of spiders than she need be. However, I did not say anything on that MN thread because, although I think it is irrational to be scared of a spider, especially a photo of a spider, I know what it is to have an irrational fear.

So laugh at me with my daily fear of vomit if you will, but I won't laugh at you with your fear of tiny spiders (or big ones) because I know that fear is never to be laughed at or sneered at.

Sorry, feeling really raw today.

I've not read this thread and I'm not an emetaphobe, but dp is and I find the thread title infuriating and offensive.

You obviously have no idea about what it's like to have a phobia (lucky you).

dp's life is wholly affected by this very debilitating phobia -

School trips as a child were out of the question

She can't accompany her ds's on school trips
going to the pub is out of the question - particularly later in the evening

Every single day of her life she worries about whether ds's are going to be sick.

Any meal that any of us have had before we've been ill is then automatically out of the question for the future

She would love to work as a teacher or teaching assistant but this is out of the question.

Even having children was a hugely risky and fraught decision for her

Dp is a very intelligent, rational, wonderful person who has had CBT and hypnotherapy to try and help but so far nothing has worked. I feel incredibly sad and sorry that this phobia has a daily impact on her life.

So don't you dare, even by a thread title, try to suggest that people who have this or any other kind of phobia are not for real.

Hi DG Dp's going through a tough time with it at the moment so I'm feeling raw on her behalf as well!

I love you Dottydot. {{{hugs}}}

And the heartbreak of being a mum and not being able to go straight to your baby or child when they're being ill is awful. I can see it on her face and it's something she gets incredibly upset about

I am sorry but this OP just made me lol.
in summary: I haven't experienced it, therefore it doesn't exist .
for you haybchee, empathy is just something that happens to other people isn't it

aww - thanks

oh dottydot how awful .
your dp sounds like an exceptional woman.

You should see me now then. I am tearful and slumped in depression just because of what might be happening.

I get so enraged when people use the word phobic lightly. I often see people mention it on MN and know they are not talking about a phobia but about a dislike. When you are phobic about something, it affects you in so many ways, and not just when you are confronted by the thing you fear.