Emetophobia panic

[Whatintheworldgirl]

I have emetophobia (fear of vomiting) this has caused a lot of issues in my life. TW (talk about diets and emetophobia)?

I tend to restrict food and only eat 'safe' foods because I'm always scared of food poisoning or food contamination. Anyway this will sound so stupid so just hoping for reassurance. I know you can't give me true facts but hopefully sane peoples opinions can help!

Normally I love hot chocolates. Specifically from costa. I have the vegan version with oat milk and all this just for extra safety and comfort. My partner bless him surprised me with a hot chocolate from Tim hortons. It was so sweet of him to think of me so I've been drinking it but I'm feeling really sick. I just keep remembering as a kid getting food poisoning from an ice cream van in wales and now dairy scares me. Is there anyone who used to work or currently works within a fast food chain and can reassure me that the machines are safe? I'm so sorry I sound so crazy!

You probably feel a bit sick because the drink is so sweet!

Try brushing your teeth, then don't eat or drink anything for at least an hour and you will feel fine, most likely.

Honestly OP, it won’t matter how many times we tell you you will be fine. You know that logically, but your anxiety won’t let you accept it. Focus on getting help for your phobia, it’s no way to live, I really feel for you.

I think the combination of sugar and milk can be sickly sometimes but not make you be sick. I have Emetophobia too- it's the worst and affects all areas of my life.

In general for Emetophobia and OCD, you're supposed to avoid seeking reassurance. If it helps, some of the Tim Horton's score 5 for their hygiene rating so it's probably quite likely that the machines all get cleaned out very frequently.

Emmetophobe here too
I understand.
Try and chill it is too soon for food poisoning.
I'd guess it's just too much sugar.
Deep breaths

The trouble is with a phobia, it doesn't matter how man of us reassure you that it's vanishingly unlikely you have caught anything, your brain will still interrupt with "what if..."

I have emetophobia as well but far better and more controlled than it was.

Are you getting help for it?

I'm on a waiting list for CBT however last year (sorry if this is too much info) my daughters caught norovirus and it scared me so much I stopped eating so I was hospitalised and tube fed and I'm trying so hard to start eating again but I hate going out of my comfort zone. I've tried googling how to combat it but I'm really struggling and the wait for CBT is 16 months 😭 all the doctors have done is put me on anti anxiety (which causes nausea) and Im struggling so much

They get good food hygiene ratings.

It’s horrible living like this. Have you tried Sertraline or similar or therapy of some sort.

I promise I'm trying but the waiting lists for mental help is 16 months and I'm hugely struggling. I'm trying tips from Google but it's hugely messing up my life 😭

I'm sorry, OP, this sounds so debilitating I agree that no reassurance will ever be enough. Is there anything you can look at privately? I've heard people mention Thrive courses before?

I have it too, there was another thread last night /early this morning on it. I feel your pain. In these situations (when I have started to eat something then question it) I either stop eating it (if only just started) or decide that it's too late now, everyone else has eaten it etc so I best find a way to distract myself rather than stew on it. It's so hard though. I seek reassurance from my partner but then I try to break down his reassurance with counter arguments. I can see I am doing it and can't stop myself sometimes. But it I have stuff I have to get on with I can usually forget about it at least for a few hours. I don't think you would get such a quick reaction from a drink you have only just drunk, it would more likely be that it's just a bit too sweet or the anxiety is causing the nausea. Hope you feel better soon x

Honestly with your update about having to be tube fed because of it previously, I would be taking whatever money I could get together and getting something done ASAP privately if at all possible. It's no way to live.

I'm sorry you feel this way Op. can you go private for therapy?

I suffer from this too. Not so much it massively impacts my life. But I have IBS so I feel always worried about what I eat.
If you feel nauseous, drink some peppermint tea or suck on a peppermint sweet. It really does help for me, and I think it's a little bit of a mind trick as I know peppermint is good for settling stomachs, so I think just having it helps calm my nerves.

This sounds a lot like contamination OCD to me, but I'm not a medical doctor. The waiting lists are so long unfortunately. Do you have any way of accessing mental health care through work? Some professions and industries have charitable arms that fund reduced or free therapy. Possibly worth looking into, even through your DH's job as another avenue.

I’m so sorry you feel like this. I posted last night with a similar issue. I find taking control is the best for me to calm my anxiety. I carry cyclizine at all times and travel bands. They do help - even if just psychosomatic but it helps I’ve tried to do something.

I sometimes feel nauseous after dairy especially in a hot drink but it usually
passes quickly 1-2 hours max. I hope your ok xx

Thank you so much for your honest and relatable post! I live in cyclizine at the moment so I feel your pain. I hope we both can get through this however please feel free to message me sometime. It's so hard to find someone who understands emetophobia. Keep well and keep smiling xxx

Hi OP

I think frozen is worse if its not been properly stored as if its been allowed to thaw and then refrozen its more likely to build bacteria.

Milk in a busy shop is more likely to be stored in a stable temperature and also open only a really short time before being completely used and a new bottle started. It's not one of the food items that often causes food poisoning (eg rice, cured meats) that most people avoid.

Milk that is heated enough to make hot chocolate will likely kill any bugs

Also milk that's been left out tastes rancid - you'd likely taste it and reject it before you ingested enough to make you ill

When you had an ice cream as a kid there might not have been things like hygiene ratings and health and safety procedures that large franchises will follow

I hope that reassures you and the fact you will be absolutely fine will help you to drink dairy again (though clearly its not just about this).