Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

Original poster

I'm Emetophobic and need help

13 replies

endlesslove · 22/10/2010 22:59

Please help. I just need to know from others in the same situation what the best cure is please? I'm considering CBT but not sure if there is anything better? I just can't stand living my life like this anymore.

Thank you. xxx

OP posts:

Avocadoes · 22/10/2010 23:13

CBT is very much worth trying. It got me from a stage where my fear encroached on every aspect of my day, to a stage where I happily booked a holiday in Africa and ate and drank there without really thinking about it. I even enjoyed myself!

Original poster

endlesslove · 22/10/2010 23:18

Thank you so much for your quick response.

I have been suffering with this for years and i now have a DS who is 3. The thought of him being ill is on my mind 24/7 and I just cannot snap out of it. I am supposed to be going on aeroplane in Feb and i just can't be excited as all i'm worried about is travel sickness.

How long does is take for CBT to work? I have been on NHS waiting list for a while now and have got to the point where i'm willing to pay to get my treatment started as its got so bad. Did you use NHS online one or see a therapist? xxx

OP posts:

Avocadoes · 22/10/2010 23:35

I was referred for one-on-one CBT on the NHS. I was very lucky and my therapist was great. I think I saw him fortnightly for about four months. And then monthly for a couple of months.

I have always had emetophobia which has always become more severe at time of stress. I was referred to the therapist after my mother died when I was 23. My phobia was debilitating at that time. The therapy turned my life around. The fear was still there but it no longer affected everything I did. I thought about it once every few days rather than all the time. It was amazing.

I am actually about to go and see another CBT counsellor because now, 7 years after my first therapy, I am worrying about sick a lot more than I should. Its nowhere near as bad as it once was but I don't want to waste any more of my life ruining my enjoyment of things.

peanuthead · 23/10/2010 19:38

Hi Endless
HAve been wondering the same thing myself -mine was under control for about 10 years but now I'm terrified of 3 yr old DD being sick - every time she wakes int he night I feel sheer panic. I've had a terrible year and I presume this has brought it back. There used to be a support thread on here and I used to sometimes read it and think, thank god I'm over that... wish it were still active now.

Re CBT - do they use exposure therapy?

Original poster

endlesslove · 24/10/2010 23:14

Hi peanuthead

Its awful isn't it. Totally sympathise with you. With CBT I don't think the exposure therapy is used. The thought of that makes me want to curl up and never wake up.

How did you get over it before? xxx

OP posts:

corblimeymadam · 25/10/2010 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NanaNina · 25/10/2010 23:12

Can someone tell me what emotophoba is please. I gather it's to do with illness but not sure whether it is general illness or fear of being sick. Is it different from hypocondria?

corblimeymadam · 26/10/2010 08:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pootletootle · 26/10/2010 08:57

Hello

I have just started CBT for this. I've only had one session though so can't really say what is going to happen with it yet but I am hopeful. I just know that I can't go on like this.

The counsellor did say that exposure therapy isn't used with acutal vomit so I'm guessing it will be like what you had belgianbun. I think that anything that stops this constant panic is worth it.

I've had mine under control on and off since a child and every now and again it flares up again. I think it's more a symptom of a bigger picture and I become more aware of it when the rest of my life feels less brilliant.

Until I read this thread I had no idea it had a name and it's comforting to see that other people have it too. And to say that we can live with it and turn down the worry is a good thing.

I just went to my GP endlesslove and she referred me. Just actually telling someone, as I never have before, was a relief. I think CBT is a good way forward. I had to wait a couple of months for an appointment if that helps?

Avocadoes · 26/10/2010 11:07

Peanut - like Belgian Bun's therapy, my CBT involved exposure to things that worried me but not to being sick itself. So I had to watch videos of people being sick, and my partner even had to make sick noises in the bathroom while I remained calm! Then I had to eat and drink things I normally avoid (I had not touched poultry or blue cheese for over a decade). One thing I had told my therapist I would never do was travel to Africa or India or any country where stomach bugs were likely. DH and I were planning on a holiday to the USA during my treatment and my therapist persuaded me to go on safari instead. I accepted his advice and we spent three weeks in Namibia. I ate the local food which was a huge step for me. I actually had the time of my life and did not get ill at all.

peanuthead · 26/10/2010 13:29

Hmmm. I've just seen an nhs cbt therapist to decide what to treat me for and how - have just had 2 quite traumatic second trimester miscarriages in under a year on top of life long depression and anxiety plus emetophobia!! We discussed whether I should have CBT for the em and she said it would be exposure therapy and I would be made to be sick. I had always thought it was more about managing feelings and dealing with situations - I immediately backtracked and said it would be better to focus on my lost babies and generalised anxiety!

No way I'd do proper exposure therapy. Have had this phobia always - but for 10 years I got over it mainly as I discovered I'm never sick, can retch and retch but nothing comes out (3 lots of bad morning sickess)I can still walk past it or see people do it on Tv or even listen but can't cope with my daughter having bugs. She was randomly sick over the car a few months ago and my reaction was so ott - couldn't sit with her and was awake all night long. She's 3 and about to start nursery and I just have to deal with it. So it's come back with a vengeance at a tiem when my aniety is through the roof and I'm kind of hoping I'll get a grip on it again when i "get over" my lost babies. sigh....

corblimeymadam · 26/10/2010 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peanuthead · 27/10/2010 10:24

I'm in S London but she wasn't going to refer me to the Maudsley - I know they have a big em unit - went to a fantastic man a good few years ago for social phobia. As you can see the trouble is there;s so much to deal with it's a matter of deciding what's most important! I kind of agreed with the assessor that to a certain extent the emetophobia will hopefully calm down once I've addressed some issues of loss. She also thinks it's generalised anxiety disorder rather than a pure phobia. And that by treating it we'd just be papering over the cracks. I kind of agree but it's not much help when every time DD comes in in the night I feel panic. I may have to find some money to pay at some point but we need more fertilty treatment so money is very scarce.ie non existent.

Anyway had successful hypnotherapy?? That's a damn sight chearper....

Flip