Phobia treatment (emetophobia)

[misssjw]

Hi all - first time poster so please bare with me.

Since I can remember I have had emetophobia (a fear a vomit/vomiting) and I have lived with it. It is pretty severe and it does affect my day to day life (for eg - deeply uncomfortable in social situations, traveling, drinking, watching films with vomit scenes in, am a vegetarian to minimise food poisoning risk, etc etc etc) and I am now 28 and looking to start a family in the next few years.

Everyone has said to me my whole life 'wow, how will you ever cope with children?' and this is my point. My partner wants my phobia to be 'cured' before we even start to try. I went to my GP with my concerns and he tried to put me on citroplam, which I have been on previously when struggling with depression several years ago and guess what one of the side effects was? Yep, you guessed it. So that's not an option.

Just going to the GP was a massive achievement for me (because where else are you likely to come across someone who is not well), so to go back would take a massive amount of courage that I am not sure I possess. I am thinking of going for private therapy - I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar issue and has anything worked? Just for reference, I can pinpoint why I have a phobia (traumatic childhood experiences) if that helps?

Any help/advise much appreciated and sorry for the rambling!

Hi OP, I have emetophobia as well, and I dread the kids getting a tummy bug. I didn't let it stop me from having them, though- I figure I'll survive somehow.

I'm on antidepressants, which help with anxiety as well, but I don't think they particularly help the emetophobia.

What kinds of things were you thinking of trying? I've heard good reports about hypnotherapy, but it's fairly expensive to get privately, and not available on the NHS where I am. I'm considering giving it a go, though. I emailed a therapist, and she estimated that on average it's about 6 sessions for most people with emetophobia to be "cured", but obviously depends on the person (she did say that after a few sessions she can usually tell whether it'll be successful or not.

CBT didn't help me, but I know other people have found it useful.

I have this too but perhaps not as severe. I have heard about some eye/blink therapy which seems to be effective but I don't know what it's called.

Luckily for me my DD was rarely ill. My poor little DS brought up his bottles which I could handle. By the time he was two he used to go to the bathroom himself to be sick. I felt bad but he was so good. I rewarded him every time.

As the DC got older it was a rare occurance. When they were teenagers experimenting with alcohol they were made very aware that they were responsible for themselves.

I can cope ok but if I am ever in the vicinity or see it on TV I get extremely panicky. In those cases I remove myself and do deep breathing exercises to cope.

I apologise if I have triggered anybody.

Hi guys - I didn't realised anyone had commented, I thought you would get a notification or something - thanks for your responses, it's nice to feel like I am not the only one and other people have got through it.

I have been thinking of either CBT or hypnotherapy. I don't really know where to start to be honest, it's all a bit daunting. I can't imagine ever not having my phobia, it feels like part of my life now. Everyone seems to mention hypnotherapy - has anyone tried counselling?

Thanks in advance for your help, much appreciated and again, sorry for late reply.