Calling all emetaphobes

[NorthernNell]

Just wondered if my DD (9 yrs) could possibly grow out of this increasing phobia, or if we are likely to be stuck with it.

There doesn't seem to be a reason for it, no horrific experiences etc, but it is getting worse, one of our elder DDs is travel sick and any journey is fraught with younger DD 'checking' older sis is ok, refusing to sit next to her (she has never been sick in the car! and thanks to the wonders of modern drugs and seabands, very rarely even feels sick now)- this has now progressed to school trips and she has even asked to stay behind at school rather than go and risk someone on the coach being ill! If anyone complains of feeling unwell she shrieks and leaves the room sobbing and had to be carried from her oldest sisters 18th party shaking and hysterical 'cos one of the guests was a bit 'poorly'.

Hello NorthernNell. My DD also 9 yrs is currently undergoing CBT though CAMHS due to her phobia. We sought help in the end because she was at a stage that I just did not know how to help her and we were all getting distressed. I realised that she was not going to grow out of it and did not want her to continue in to adult hood with it like so many people do. I do understand exactly how hard it is for family life with a child who suffers from this rotton phobia .

I've been an emetophobe since childhood (though two unfortunate experiences with my own children heightened the phobia by 100%) and recently decided enough was enough and sought CBT. CBT has really helped and I would recommend seeking help for your DD. The phobia is unlikely to go away on it's own.

My 18 year old is seeking help for her own phobia, last year she had to move out for a few days because her brother contracted Norovirus and even though he wasn't sick when she was around she couldn't stay in teh same house as him. We know where her phobia stems from and in her calm moments she knows that situation is extremely unlikely to ever occur again but when teh panic sets in no amount of calm talking can help her.

Thanks for your supportive replies- sorry it took so long to get back!

She doesn't seem as worried that she will be sick (although she has stomach migraines these never lead to actual sickness) it is the terror that someone around her is going to be sick.

We are at the docs next week re the stomach so might mention this and see what he says, I do know that the waiting list for CAMHs in this area can be quite long so maybe getting started now is a good idea!

Once again thanks for the support - nice to know we aren't alone

I was suprised at how quickly we got seen by CAHMS. Initially we went to the doctor as she was experiencing physical symptoms such as stomach aches and nausea so I wanted to make sure there was nothing going on. The doctor said although the symptoms were real, they were in fact caused by anxiety. I ended up talking to the school nurse as she was becoming distressed going in to school as she was worried that she would be ill or someone else would. It was the school nurse who made the referral and we were seen within weeks for her initial assessment. She is now seen every 2 or 3 weeks and we are about three sessions in to her treatment (if that's what you call it). It is very early days but I think there may be light at the end of a very long tunnel. Good luck Nell.