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Mental health

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Original poster

Etmophobia - help please?

14 replies

FreeSpirit89 · 26/05/2014 19:06

Hi all,

I suffer with Etmophoboa (fear of sickness) which I was originally told was social aniexty, after 6 months of struggling on Buspirone with no luck. My GP has now put me on Steraline (50mg). I took my first one today but I'm worring about the side effects, and due to an overnight stay and hour and half away from home tomorrow, I'm quite nervous.

Can I ask you for your coping mecanisms please?

OP posts:

kazzawazzawoo · 26/05/2014 19:13

Hi Freespirit, I too suffer with emetaphobia and am taking sertraline for anxiety. I was terrified about the possible side effects, so took a very low dose of 25mg for 8 days (half a tablet). I still felt a bit icky but it was bearable. My coping mechanism was lots of herbal tea to settle my stomach. I also took my tablet in the morning so it wouldn't interfere with sleep.

Good luck.

AnonButRegular · 26/05/2014 19:15

Hi to you both.

I suffer with emetophobia and anxiety. I'm currently on citalopram.

It's an awful thing to suffer with and people don't tend to understand unless they've been through it.

kazzawazzawoo · 27/05/2014 11:29

Hi anon. You're right, no one understands and I've given up trying to explain. I'm glad I'm taking sertraline and hope they will help. I've been taking them for seven weeks.

quellerosiel · 27/05/2014 13:15

I dont have much helpful advoce apart from breathing and maybe thinking of the anxiety as the "enemy" rather than the sickness? This has got me through a few tough patches. Massive hugs to you, it massively sucks and not many people understand.

Much love xxx

AnonButRegular · 27/05/2014 16:14

Kazza, I hope the meds make things easier for you.

Having suffered emetophobia for so long I don't think meds alone can get you over it. Have you been referred for CBT or similar?

kazzawazzawoo · 27/05/2014 16:24

I've been offered cbt but didn't feel I could cope at the time. Have you tried cbt?

AnonButRegular · 27/05/2014 19:14

Yes I have had CBT. I personally didn't find it helpful but lots of people do. I think that the problem I had was the therapist. We weren't a good fit.

The theories regarding why I have the emetophobia made sense - he felt that in my case it was a control issue. But everyone is different.

I think it may have helped had I had a different therapist, so I am self referring for both CBT and counselling.

Do you have any idea what set your emet off?

kazzawazzawoo · 27/05/2014 19:29

I think so, I remember my dad throwing up at our front door after drinking all night, not sure how old I was, but between 7 and 11 because of where we lived. I can't remember anything big happening before that.

I like everything under control too so that may play a role.

Do you know what set yours off?

AnonButRegular · 27/05/2014 22:15

I think mine was due to an unsettled childhood - lots of moving house, changing schools, my sibling was born seriously ill, nearly died a couple of times, mum was in and out of hospital with him, I saw him heammorrage from the face when I was about 4 - lots has happened.

I think this accounts for my dislike of loosing control and my massive fear and anxiety when it comes to change and my health anxiety too.

What you have described about your dad could well be what caused the emetophobia. You saw him loose control and I'm guessing that upset you? Frightened you?

kazzawazzawoo · 27/05/2014 22:28

That must have been very frightening for you. I hope your sibling is ok now.

Yes, I was very scared. I have a strange relationship with my father now, I don't get on well with him, but then nothing I've done has ever been good enough.

We moved around a lot during my childhood too, I don't know if that affected me though.

quellerosiel · 27/05/2014 23:26

I've also heard it can also be linked to events in early childhood. Little brains see things a lot more black and white so might not be able to read a situation fully and think they are to blame for a negative situation. Here's hoping we can find a positive way through this OP and kazza :-)

helensburgh · 29/05/2014 07:29

Hi I too am emmetophobia and have had CBT which helped a lot but refused the drugs due to fear of vomiting side effects.

It is a nightmare.

kazzawazzawoo · 29/05/2014 08:19

I put off taking ADs for a long time due to fear of side effects, but started on a very low dose and found the nausea minimal and coped better than I expected.

Original poster

FreeSpirit89 · 29/05/2014 16:18

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your advice, I'm back from the trip and it was fab. I even managed to eat out for the first time on months.

OP posts:

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