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Original poster

Looking for a cure for my phobia

173 replies

Lonelymum · 10/10/2005 14:32

OMG I have just rung up a charity that offers group behavioural therapy, discussed my phobia with someone over the phone and she is sending me details to join one of the groups. I feel completely wrung out and can't stop crying, but it is a step I have to take. O M G.

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Heartmum2Jamie · 12/10/2005 21:01

Steala,

You have described it perfectly! I have also hidden under a pillow, with my fingers in my ears and humming so i couldn't hear dh being sick. Poor blole is forced to sleep on the sofa if he so much as hints that he feels unwell.

crazydazy · 12/10/2005 21:04

Lol Heart, my DP always warns me if he feels unwell and then make sure I can't hear it!!! Bless him!!!!

crazydazy · 12/10/2005 21:06

I love Little Britain but after I saw that episode with the woman being sick I just couldn't watch it anymore. It was so upsetting for me but DP thought it was hilarious!!!!

Didn't look very realistic though

Aimsmum · 12/10/2005 21:13

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Lonelymum · 12/10/2005 21:15

Don't you think it is because you sometimes can't breathe when you are being sick? Sorry to be graphic. I used to be scared of not being able to breathe when I was sick as a kid.

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crazydazy · 12/10/2005 21:17

No that didn't scare me Lonelymum, it was the feeling and when it was coming up.....oh how gross this is getting???? I always close my eyes too!!! Can't look down the toilet no way!!!

swedishmum · 12/10/2005 21:24

Lonelymum and everyone else, I have every sympathy for you. I have a very strange phobia and I know how hard it is with your other half away.

My phobia causes hilarity and I've always made sure the children I've taught don't find out - I am terrified of mis-shapen fruit and vegetables. Go on, find a name for that one!! It's really serious for me but I've never met anyone with the same problem.

crazydazy · 12/10/2005 21:28

I'm sorry if this is true Swedishmum but I did laugh very loud!!!!! Sorry, I really am and should have sympathy but its very hard to believe.

I do apologise profusely if this is not a wind up!!!

Original poster
Lonelymum · 12/10/2005 21:28

Lord! Going to the supermarket must be a nightmare! Or do you buy the specially chosen and packaged fruit and veg which would be sure not to be mis-shapen? You poor thing. But you know, you could probably be cured of that. Have you ever sought a cure?

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Original poster
Lonelymum · 12/10/2005 21:29

Oh and it is not the oddest phobia I have ever heard of. I did once hear of someone with a phobia of buttons. Now imagine that!

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crazydazy · 12/10/2005 21:32

Am so sorry for laughing Swedishmum, feel quite ashamed of myself now!!!!

I feel very embarrassed about my phobia so I cannot imagine how hard it must be for you.

I once saw a woman who was scared of tissues and another scared of feathers!!!

Heartmum2Jamie · 12/10/2005 21:54

Aimsmum,

It does seem that it is a commonish phobia, although I am not surprised that you haven't met anyone IRL who suffers from it, afterall, I know that I don't make it common knowledge as I am soooo ashamed.

mummylonglegs · 12/10/2005 22:13

My phobia started seriously when I was 7. Before that I was frightened of being sick and couldn't bear to hear my brother ill and every incident I'd experienced of myself being sick (which was hardly any I was NEVER sick) was etched in my memory. But when I was 7 I remember being at school one day and I'd had some ribena with my packed lunch and I suddenly got into a real panic at the thought that I might throw up something that colour. I ended up in the sickroom with my mum coming to take me home. I wasn't sick then at all between the age of 7 and 15 when I threw up after getting pissed with my mate on my mum's gin. The reason I went all that time without being sick was because I either starved myself whenever there was a risk or I only ate incredibly 'safe' foods. I was terribly underweight. I remember being utterly disgusted at the thought of other people being sick whether it was in films or whatever but it was always the thought of me being sick that most terrified me. I've no idea really why it began. I think it was connected to a fear of death for me because I used to think I'd vomit and vomit so violently that I'd turn inside out.

crazydazy · 13/10/2005 20:42

I believe my Mum started mine, like MummyLL I too have never liked being sick but who does? My mum although doesn't mind other people she used to be very dramatic when she felt ill herself and wouldn't let me cuddle her and that used to upset me, I just think somehow in my mind I linked it to the fact that it was really unpleasant and quite frightening. My mum really should have brushed it off and not let me see how it affected her, as I wouldn't let my kids see if I felt ill.

I know it must have been within me though to have this phobia as I have two younger sisters and they don't have the same phobia, although they are scared of blood/injections etc and so is my Mum and that doesn't bother me - really weird I reckon!!!

Heartmum2Jamie · 13/10/2005 22:13

I think that my phobia started when I saw a horror movie when I was 12 that had a woman deperately trying to escape from someone (murderer, freddie cruger, jason....I'm not sure!!) and she got in a lift and started throwing up everywhere. By the time she got to the ground floor, she was dead. Totally freaked me out and I had horrible nightmares of the exact scene from the flim for months afterwards. Don't get me worng, I know that you can't die just from being sick and that's not why I am scared (I don't think!)

mummylonglegs · 13/10/2005 22:47

It's so interesting trying to trace where our phobias began. I know my fear of being sick was already in place before it started affecting my daily life. Whenever anyone said the word 'sick' I used to slap my right arm, kind of as a magic defense if that makes sense? And I remember seeing a kids swash-buckling type film at the cinema in which there was a duel and one of the men was sick with fear as they drew their pistols. That scene didn't leave my mind for years afterwards.

lulabelle · 14/10/2005 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Lonelymum · 14/10/2005 17:42

Lulabelle, so sorry to rea your post as you seem as bad as me and as resigned to having it always as I am.

Just to correst you, my dd wasn't sick in the car - ds1 has done that twice and I scarcely even get in the car without thinking about the last time! . We were walking home so dd was just sick on the pavement. That was Monday pm and it has taken until this pm for me to summon up the courage to go past the spot again! Amazingly, given how much she was ill, there was no sign of anything but then it has been raining a lot here this week.

I really don't think desensitisation will be the cure for this. I am hoping to find myself a hypnotist.

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Original poster
Lonelymum · 14/10/2005 17:43

Lulabelle, did you used to have another MN name?

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Aimsmum · 14/10/2005 19:26

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Lonelymum · 14/10/2005 19:27

What's up Aimsmum?

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Aimsmum · 14/10/2005 19:57

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MarmaladeSun · 14/10/2005 23:00

Hi everyone
I have only just seen this thread as I haven't been on here for a while. I am really interested in this, as I am a qualified hypnotherapist and hypnoanalyst and I run my own practice in Suffolk. I treat all kinds of phobias, and emetophobia is a very common one. If I can be of help to anyone, answer any questions or anything I'd be happy to help.

Original poster
Lonelymum · 15/10/2005 11:07

MarmaladeSun, i would be very interested to know more about what you do and what sort of success rate hynotherapists have with emetophobia. I shan't ask you about your specific success rate as I don't live near Suffolk but if you would be kind enough to talk to me in more detail about the way the therapy works and how likely it is to be successful, I would be indebted to you. Are you willing? Either here or by CATing me? Thank you.

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Aimsmum · 15/10/2005 11:21

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