How do I stop the physical anxiety symptoms

[hopskijump]

I have emetophobia and have done for as long as I can remember. It's got a lot worse since having kids as I can no longer avoid it!

Last night DS said he felt sick, looked pale sweaty and a bit green. My logical side can take over sort DS, get spare bedding, bucket, bleach etc but I cannot help the physical symptoms from taking over.

I immediately feel shaky, cold, heart racing, complete emptying of bowel and bladder to the extent I'm often dehydrated the next day, inability to sleep.

It's so draining as DS quickly recovered and felt fine this morning whereas I feel rubbish!

Any tips for helping the physical side?

What you've described is the perfect example of a phobia. While your rational mind is quite able to cope with the actions required to deal with the situation, your subconscious mind has freaked out, decided you can't cope with it, and triggered a flight or fight response which tells your body it's in mortal danger; hence the physical reactions.

Can you remember how old you were when it began and how it started? It IS possible to stop it.

Been there.

The only way to cope is to know what's happening to your nervous system and how to heal it.

Read Claire weekes book SELF HELP FOR YOUR NERVES.

it's a life changer

Pretty sure it started when my sister used to get car sick as a child.

I have a lot of memories of travelling in the back of the car, her looking green and clutching a sick bucket, then puking everywhere and the overwhelming smell

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Your subconscious mind - which is active from birth, unlike your conscious mind which only starts to develop at around 9 - saw that and decided it was going to avoid anything to do with vomit at any cost.

From an evolutionary viewpoint it makes sense; if one person is being sick the health of everyone is potentially compromised so that's another reason your young mind developed this reaction - it has just hung onto it far longer than needed. A couple of sessions of hypnosis would deal with this quickly and permanently by telling that part of your subconscious that the reaction is no longer necessary or helpful. Every hypnotherapist will be experienced in dealing with phobias like this.

Personally it only got better when I got on medication, the 'dramatic' physical response made it really hard to put any therapy style strategies in place because I couldn't process any of them while my brain was making me react like I was being murdered to normal situations.
Physical symptoms sometimes need physical solutions, like beta blockers that lower your heart rate. They mean your heart rate never hits up that high and it lessens the panic/fight or flight symptoms like the adrenaline rush, the sudden need to evacuate, feeling sick and the dizziness and gives you a little space to do the breathing and coping strategies that help you get yourself right again.

I am exactly the same - it’s awful and so debilitating. And you worry that the DC will see you as unable to look after them.
Other than beta blockers I’m wondering what other meds can help? I tried Valium but it made me feel drunk which triggered my phobia!
I’m sorry for anyone suffering too

Thanks all.

Totally agree @Ghostlight I find it hard to use any strategies when in the flight or fight response because it is so overwhelming. Do you find beta blockers helpful?

@Breadandbutterandjam did your GP prescribe Valium? I thought they didn't like to use benzodiazepines anymore. To be honest feeling drunk wouldn't bother me.

Yes I really do, personally they helped me much more than SSRIs did. The panic response is still there but its way more manageable now. Its like the feeling of it used to overwhelm me completely and there was nothing I could do except panic and vomit and pass out. It was a very fast and unstoppable feeling. Now its more like its happening softer and at half speed, I can talk myself through it and none of the feelings hit as hard.
I haven't hit full panic mode since I have been on them and the little things that would normally become a big deal just don't register now. It's really nice having normal reactions to things- like I get to have a go at having a way healthier brain.

What can help us thinking about your physical response as your brain trying to help you. Anxiety is a wave and it will pass, you have to surf it. Deep breathing, relaxing muscles and distractions can be a big help. It will pass. The more you do it the better it gets.

Good luck.

No, I got the Valium from a private psychiatrist. He only gave me three - probably in case I liked them!

Hey @Freespirit12 Do you mind me asking what your physical symptoms were?