Will I get sick? :(

[sickofbeingscaredofbeingsick]

I'm a huge huge emetophobe/terrified of getting any form of gastro illness so hoping someone can help me (and hopefully someone is a psychic 😂😭)

My sibling has had diarrhoea for over 24 hours now (started Tuesday morning) - no idea why or what's caused it.

I saw them Monday night at my parents (they live at home still) for about 20 minutes.

I haven't seen them since they've got ill but I briefly had to go to parents house today to collect something. I was there for about 15 minutes and didn't touch anything. Sibling remained in their bedroom the whole time as was asleep.

Sorry this is such a menial, pathetic question to everyone who doesn't have this horrific phobia but I'm absolutely terrified.

What are the chances that I'll get diarrhoea too?

Sorry and thank you :(

No more or less likely than that of catching a bug from any one of the no doubt dozens of strangers you interact with or have physical contact with in a daily basis and whose health status you have no idea of. I’d put it out of your mind.

@ComtesseDeSpair

Do you think?

I work with the public too and my brain (phobia wise) has been relatively calm recently but this has just set me off in a whirlwind of terror.

Not very likely at all. Unless you ate something the sick person ate, or cleaned up after vomit/poop-accidents (yeah, I have a toddler) - in that case, getting infected is likely. If you didn't touch anything and then stick your fingers in your mouth, eat something they prepared, change diapers, or clean up icky things, then no.

Unlikely.

Dd is an emet

She had cbt and emdr and has been helped hugely.

I would
Look into some therapy if it affects your daily
Life x

@whenwillthemadnessend

Thank you - I've heard good things about emdr but never actually had any.

I've seen a therapist for years regarding the emetophobia which has helped but nowhere near to the level I need help. I completely 100% understand the pain your dd goes through so I'm pleased they've helped her. Xx

@Cantbebotheredwithausername

Thank you.
I've not been anywhere near him since Monday night before he got ill. Just been with my parents who have been with him but that was very brief (15 mins) and kept my distance hugely. X

Bump

Deep breaths, OP. You're catastrophising.

I’ve been vomited on by my DC when they had a bug and not caught it. I've cleaned up diarrhoea and vomit and not caught it. It's amazing how resilient our bodies are! Most bugs like this, you have to eat it to catch it - not all, but most. You haven't seen sibling since before they got ill, and you haven’t been anywhere near any of their effluent. You’ll be fine.

I get the cycle of disaster and the panic, honestly I do. But you’re so so vanishingly unlikely to get it.

Gentle hugs. Try and breathe deeply and do whatever calming exercises you have in your repertoire.

I genuinely think you'll be ok. It's just like you've spent some time next to someone on the bus.

For anxiety and phobias like this, reassurance-seeking (ie what you're doing through Mumsnet) is not a healthy way to cope. Do you have some other strategies you've learnt in counselling?

I completely empathise though!

Realistically it's possible you caught it but it would depend on how closely you were sharing their space etc.

who knows! not us

Highly unlikely to catch it. As a former emetophobe I do empathise with the panic though.

Please don’t offer reassurances as this doesn’t help emetophobes. I hope you’re seeking the help you need

Do you understand what a phobia is? It is a debilitating, life-limiting anxiety disorder.

You're going to be fine, op.

How much has this therapist cost for years and years? Yet they've not suggested EMDR?

@Stepstepmother

Thank every single inch of your existence that you don't have to be the one dealing with this phobia. Thank it every single second of every single day as your functioning throughout your life.

So yeah 'ffs', really does suck to be the one struggling to function.

@louderthan

Thank you!

I'm so so mad at that horrendously disrespectful, pathetic comment!

@JubileeTissues

Nhs :(

I've actually mentioned it before and they seem unsure as to what it is 😳

@beebopper6

I know I'm my own worst enemy :(

I have very few coping strategies unfortunately. My treatment has been very exposure focused rather than how to deal with the (constant) negative and catastrophic thoughts x

@blaydon

Thank you so much for being so understanding.

I feel ridiculous asking on here but I knew I'd find people who understood xx

You're not very bright are you??
Get off this thread.. the OP needs understanding and support not stupid nasty comments.

Go for EMDR OP. It worked for me.
Good luck with it.

Zippo. But does that reassure you? Or do you think we're not caring, fobbing you off etc. You really need to find a way to reassure yourself of these things but it's difficult to clamp down on the worries. Routine practice is the key. And note down all the times you feared you might be ill but weren't. The overwhelming number of false alarms might hopefully start to reassure you.