2:20 am Is someone around to comfort me?

[User1110]

Hi, I suffer from terrible emetophobia (fear of vomiting) and have always lived quite an extreme fear from a young age. I have tried CBT, tablets etc and none of it has seemed to work.

My DP and I have come away to see my family for the weekend and he just woke me up in the night feeling unwell. He said he felt like me might need to be sick so I said ok, let’s get your pillow, blanket and a glass of water and to just go and lay in the bathroom for a bit to see he feels.

He’s since (very aggressively) been several times. We didn’t eat the same today - so can’t tell if it’s food poisoning. My concern is that it’s a stomach bug and that I will catch it. it would literally be the worst thing to happen to me (I am not being dramatic!).

I’m currently sat in the lounge shaking head to toe and taking some anti sickness myself just in case. I feel terrible for him as he’s clearly feeling really unwell. I’ve tried to give him water etc and be comforting. I’ve heard everything, poor guy is so so unwell.

Is someone around to talk me down right now as my anxiety is absolutely through the roof I literally cannot stop shaking.

You poor thing.

I have a sick phobia, just not as extreme. I find lying on my side rocking rhythmically helps keep it down usually.

The smell will likely send you. Do you have any vapour rub or anything?

Oh dear, you sound very upset. Whatever is wrong with your DP, it sounds as if it has only affected him, and not you. I hope he feels better soon.
Can you read, or try to think of something different? I think it's very unlikely that you will be ill yourself.
Sending hugs

Oh you poor thing @User1110, do you have any distraction techniques you can use? Can you watch something on your phone?

Hi all, thanks so much! The night is such a lonely place when you have anxiety, it’s nice to have replies.

I have got my phone here trying to listen to a podcast.

It’s so so hard. I won’t eat now for days because I’ll be worried the symptoms will start with me and I’ll end up ill. We’ve got to travel back on the train tomorrow and I’m petrified!

To calm yourself, breathe in through your nose for 5, hold for 5, then slowly breathe out through your mouth. Have you ever considered trying Hypnotherapy, find a reputable one though.

Thank you @Gothichouse40. Doing that breathing now.

It’s come on so suddenly bless him. He had really terrible chest pain before which was scary. Seems to have subsided a bit now.

I feel so so bad for him.

And yes, I would love to try hypnotherapy! Like you say l, it’s finding a good one..

How are you feeling now @User1110

@TTCAbroad not too bad. I’ve taken a anti sickness tablet. DP has managed to go back to bed, he’s stopped (touch wood) feeling sick although still has pain.

I am still in the lounge as I know I will be just tossing and turning all night, I would rather him sleep and feel better.

Does anyone know if this sounds like food poisoning? We’ve literally eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner out today. He’s been drinking a lot but wasn’t drunk...

He had a pastry for breakfast, lamb for lunch and beef for dinner. Rather a lot of food so perhaps also heartburn with the chest/upper stomach pain?

Thank you all so much. ❤️

Hey, I am just heading to bed but if you are still awake I hope you are ok, thinking about you 🌺🌺🌺 keep well.

@noodledoodler goodnight and thank you so so much. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this ‘bug’ won’t get me...

Sorry to add to your worries but if your DP is having severe chest pains along side nausea/vomiting he needs to go to a&e ASAP

Hi @ConfusedAdultFemale, no severe chest pains (he said just heart burn feeling) and seems to be feeling okish now. But I also thought the same re A&E

Oh sorry, I’d have put “really terrible chest pains” which were scary in the severe category. Hope you don’t catch the bug too.

Not much help for tonight but please look up EMDR you’ll find a list of accredited therapists on the UK website.
Absolutely brilliant for phobias.
Hope your ok

Hi OP

I am an emetophobic too - I am doing better these days. I am in A&E myself with chest pains so I'm here to give you a handhold and some company!

If it was food poisoning or the like, you'd have gotten ill at the same time.

I know how you feel about it being the end of the world to be sick. Do you have any coping mechanisms? Mine is to suck on a mint

You'll get through this

@ConfusedAdultFemale I think they were bad at one point (before he was ill) but the pains seem to have subsided for now. I am going to keep an eye on it though. I think where he was pointing to more in the end was the top of the stomach, just below the ribs.

@giggly thank you I will take a look now. I can’t carry on with this phobia. It’s actually part of the reason I have decided I may not have children

@CliffordMouse I am so sorry to hear you’re unwell too. I hope you feel much better soon. How’s A&E, do you find it difficult to go to hospital at all with your phobia?

I’ve actually got a ginger sweet I’m sucking on. Trying to listen to a podcast and flick through MN, it’s helpful to know people are around this time of night to chat.

I really do appreciate all your replies!

I absolutely find it difficult, anywhere there could be someone sick or illness lurking. But I know it's important to get checked out. I've been here 5 hours now and you know what, it's not been as bad as I imagined!

I remember the first time my partner was unwell in the same house as me and it was really scary. It actually helped me to go and talk to him - it made it seem less of this huge scary uncontrollable thing. Just asking if he was alright etc.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I missed a lot of college back in the day because I was scared I would pick up a bug. Since then I've come so far and I've even been unwell and coped completely fine, I still panic sometimes but it's a lifelong phobia, but I promise you with help it can get better

@CliffordMouse 5 hours is a long time to be in for. I can imagine it’s not the best place to be on a Saturday night, but the main thing is you’re getting checked out. I really hope all is ok and you start to feel better soon, please keep us updated if you feel like it and I’m here to keep you company too!

I actually missed an entire 6 months of 6th form back in the day, due to this phobia. I go through phases where the fear flares up again and I feel like this may trigger a bit of a rough patch for me now. thank you for your kind words and I’m definitely feeling hopeful that it will eventually get better x

The chest / upper abdomen pain with the vomiting sounds like it might be gallstones to me. That’s how mine came on - sudden onset of severe pain with vomiting.

If that’s what it is then you certainly won’t catch it yourself, and your husband will be ok when the gallstone attack passes. But he should seek treatment ASAP if he thinks that is what it is, because it can be completely debilitating.

I hope you’re ok and able to get some rest

Hope you're feeling better op. My daughter (she's 15) has emetaphobia too and one of the things I keep telling her is in this "pandemic world" where everyone is more on top of their hygiene than ever before, masks, hand washing/sanitising. Sickness bugs (and lots of other illnesses) aren't as easy to catch. So it's less likely to be a bug. Hopefully your oh is feeling better and you've both had some rest. X

Thanks so much all. I managed to sleep for about an hour so not great but I’m glad it’s light now.

DGPs have woken up and sort of not made a big deal out of it so that’s made me feel better! He hasn’t been sick again so hopefully whatever it is will pass pretty fast now.

@User629202 yes I thought this! He’s not been diagnosed before thought. I said next time he speaks to his dr maybe he should just mention this episode and get it checked out.

@ditsyprint
sorry to hear about your DD suffering from this horrible phobia. When I was 15, I had no idea what emetophobia was and found it really hard to explain myself to others (when I couldn’t eat etc). It’s good she knows what it is and you’re totally right about the covid measures helping with the other bugs too. Fingers crossed it not contagious!