Any fellow emetaphobics/reassuring people able to talk me out of my stressed state?

[MunchyCrunchyy]

Posting here for traffic as I am 100% being unreasonable but the rational prt of my brain isn’t great.

I have an intense phobia of sick and my child has just been sick.

What are the chances of me catching it from clearing up the sick/sleeping next to DC tonight?

I am most scared of actually being sick myself and have coped surprisingly well with the actual ‘event’. DC is only 2 so can’t communicate how they are feeling which makes me feel even more uneasy.

@MunchyCrunchyy how are you doing today? Hope your little one is feeling better.

Oh no, how stressful for you for it to happen again after three days.

How are you coping now? Have you been unwell or got through it okay?

Have you had any therapy for the Emetophobia? I've had CBT, which seems to be the main treatment for Emet and EMDR (eye movement desensitization) but not found either hugely helpful. I'm wondering about starting hypnotherapy for it.

@KT727 I found emdr to be useful for single sessions of trauma, not for phobias to be honest (especially in my case where I can’t pinpoint an exact cause for my emetophobia). I started cbt but that ended due to covid so am considering hypnotherapy too. It’s comforting in a way to know there’s so many of us- I feel totally alone at the moment.

Sorry to double post but @MunchyCrunchyy you are doing so well, and you should give yourself a huge pat on the back. My little one has had a couple of bugs where she’s been okay for a few days in between bouts of sickness. It’s worth noting that sometimes their tummies can be very sensitive following vomiting so it could be that, as opposed to the bug still lingering.

@Pinkyxx @KT727 thank you for checking in, I’m a lot less stressed now and have managed to avoid it so far! House has been bleached x 30 Dr think it’s a virus that is just affecting DC everywhere - blocked nose, sore throat, glands are up - so I guess it’s not your standard d+v bug. Which for some crazy reason makes me feel a bit better?

@melonthehippo thank you. I know what you mean, I find it comforting to know other people are the same as me. Tbh I’m half way through CBT but don’t think it will work for me, I had the ‘exposure’ and it has not helped me what so ever… I’ve just contacted a hypnotherapist so will have to let you know how I get on. I’m totally willing to throw money at the problem as I can’t live like this! Sorry to hear you feel alone with it, if you do ever want to chat then just let me know.

Sorry…Me again… DH has now also been sick multiple times (surely it can’t be the same thing??)

I am seriously struggling to cope. I can’t go on like this for much longer… I just feel like running away and I know that sounds totally ridiculous. I haven’t eaten properly for well over a week now. Has anyone ever tried anti depressants to help with the anxiety side of this?

Oh no, you poor thing!
It might be something different but might be the same thing, I think stomach bugs can stay contagious in your poo for a while, so as your DD is only 2 I assume she’s either in nappies or still helped with the toilet so it could be that.
But the good thing is, your DH is an adult and can presumably be sick in a much more “tidy” way, in the bathroom etc. He can also much more reliably wash his hands, isn’t putting his hands and various toys in his mouth, and won’t require the same close contact care as a child. So the chance of you catching it from him is less than from your toddler I think. If he’s well enough, hand him some bleach and get him to make sure everything in the bathroom is clean. If you have more than one bathroom, give him one and you use the other.