I think my 8yo is an emetophobe

[8yoemetophobe]

Particularly the fear of feeling sick. So he's worried he's going to feel sick.

I'm not sure what to do.

It started in June when he ate too much breakfast cereal and threw up a tiny bit. Stupidly I kept him off school as per policy but then this seemed to reward the behaviour. This has gone on all summer. I tried to tweak his diet.

I actually think it's an anxiety and an inability to recognise other emotions like being tired or worried.

I don't really feel I can go to the GP about it.

Tonight he just stared to cry at bedtime and said he was nervous about feeling sick tomorrow . I don't think sympathy has actually got me anywhere so I just breezed past it rather than trying to indulge him. He was asleep pretty quickly.

He's gone up to Y3 with children he knows. No other massive changes.

Any experiences or advice please?

Well managed

Lovely update OP.
In our family, we now talk about "worry tomatoes" thanks to that book. If DS starts to dwell on something I will tell him, "that's a worry tomato mate".
Then we do the normalise thing 😁

Please be gentle with your son. I started with Emetophobia at nine years old and my parents regularly shouted at me. It made me worse.

Everything has improved greatly here. Thanks for all advice.

He's had 2 lots of tears since starting this thread. Both were when tired. I gave reassurance, but no 'fuel'.

He prefers soya milk (fair enough) but other than that we have had no special treatment. He hasn't needed it thank goodness.

The book has helped massively.

@fireandflames666

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@8yoemetophobe Can you please tell me what the book is that you found so helpful? I've scrolled back through the posts but can't find it. Thanks v much

No worries, I've found it