does anyone here have a phobia to vomiting?

[retailtherapist]

For as long as I can remember i have had a severe phobia to vomiting. Can't stand it if anyone is sick near me, have panic attacks and then worry for days in case I am sick myself. I have never been sick yet!
In absolute state at moment as my 2yr old d/s has just had a gastric virus - he spent 3 nights in hospital as he was dehydrated. He actually threw up over me when it started and I think the shock of it all is just hitting me now that he is home and recovering.
I am now terrified of getting close to him in case he is sick again and he now feels unclean. It is breaking my heart as when he needs me most I feel I am not there for him. I force myself to hold him but I know that he can sense my distance. Am terrified of being left alone with him as d/h has been around all the time so far.
Would love to know if any other Mums have this phobia and how you deal with it, as I've been told it's quite common.

Thanks. Yes, dh is supportive (though he does get a bit fed up of my jitters) and here tonight. I am hanging on to that thought - at least he is here tonight. I have been through so many nights on my own when he has been away for work, and they are unbearable for me, so the nights he is here, I try not to allow myself to worry too much because I know he will always help me.

I think diarrhoea in this hot weather can be quite common, can't it? All those damn flies buzzing around - anyone esle hate flies with as much pasion as I do?

Married to a doctor? That was always my dream solution to living with my phobia, although I have to say, both my parents were doctors and although my mother was great when I was ill, my dear dad did have a habit of staying well away from me which didn't exactly inspire confidence!

Diarrhoea can happen for lots of reasons not just stomach bugs. How old is your youngest. I'm not sure being married to a Doctor is a solution. I'm sure you know from your parents they work long hours and then there are the conferences abroad. Luckily my family often come to stay then.

I really admire you for having 4 children with this phobia. You are very brave.

Know what you mean about flies. I should have shares in the company wh make dettol spray and wipes when they are around.

Anyway enough about me. I'm sure you'll get through this weekend.

sorry about all the spelling mistakes.

The youngest is 3.

I don't know about brave. I often feel I have been stupid (though that sounds harsh as I love my children deeply and am immensely proud of them) or at least irresponsible.

My thing about flies came from my father who used to kill them all like a maniac (well, he still does!) I used to feel a bit sorry for the flies when I was a child as I thought at least they didn't sting like wasps, but now I realise what my dad had against them and I go at them with newspaper too!

DG, last week my dd had diarrhea quite badly for 3 days. She was tired and off her food but not at all sick, not once. She went to school in the morning as usual and it really wasn't anything to worry about, just a nuisance for her to keep rushing to the toilet. About 6 of her school friends had the same thing. I went into total spinning panic about it too and haven't actually eaten a thing since last Monday, just living on nutritious drinks. So, I understand your worry, but would also like to reassure you that it may be something minor.

I always dreamed of being married to a doctor too! Surely it means they're helpful in times of illness??

Well, baseing my thoughts on my mother, I alwasy thought a doctor would at least not have a phobia of vomit and be able to reassure when the children were ill. I rarely ring my GP without ringing my mother first for her unofficial advice. But I suppose some doctors could be so blase about vomit, they would not understand a phobia. I have never told my parents I have one as I feel they would just tell me to pull myself together...

I've never told my parents either, well, just my mum as my dad died years ago. BUT I think my mum is a bit of a closet emetophobe. She can't bear people being sick and I remember being left alone to 'get on with it' as a very young child.

Incidentally, re. kids being able to look after themselves... When my dd was sick for the first time earlier this year, maybe because it went on so long, she rapidly got the hang of grabbing a little bowl and being sick into it. Apart from emergencies when she was in bed we managed to keep everywhere vomit free.

DumbledoresGirl. Sorry if I sounded dismissive about being married to a Doctor. He is great when they are ill and doesn't have a phobia about vomit. Still cuddles them even if covered in .... Tends to tell me not to panic and they re the ones who are suffering and ill not me. I suppose what I was trying to say is it doesn't cure the phobia. Can understand why you haven't told your parents.

Had to laugh at the idea of marrying a doctor! My dad was a GP and never looked after me when I was ill, just gave me whatever medicine I needed. My mum was an ex-nurse and definitely emetophobic!!!! I am sure that my phobia comes from their attitude to my travel sickness - they used to get so cross and my mum still talks about "Dreadful" incidents to this day. Sorry for being such a nuisance!!! I was so terrified of unexpectedly getting sick in theirs or someone elses car, and that made me become agoraphobic (had to sit on the end of rows in cinemas etc in case I had to get out quickly) as an early teen. Things have escalated from there.

Doctors are very good with patients and terrible with themselves and family in my experience and other people's (inc my husband whose father was also a doctor).

Anyway, I am planning to phone a psychotherapist tomorrow, see if I can find an english speaking one, and I'm thinking of asking for anti-depressants. We're off to Portugal for a wedding next week and I am dreading it, even though I lived in Portugal for a year and was never ill.....this is so stuipid and annoying, I have to DO SOMETHING.

Sorry, for wittering on, but I am at the end of my tether.

PS - DG, how is your youngest? Hope nothing came of it.

Ughh, you are just confirming my worst fears!!!! I have ematophobia and have had it as long as I can remember, it rules my life completely and I won't even go to the pictures because of it, I watch everyone to see if they look like they might be sick and the same on public transport. I refuse to go on ferries and spend the whole of a flight terrified someone might be sick. On the other hand I'm better with myself being sick but it happens so rarely.

I now have a six week old baby and although I can cope with the baby sick (i.e. bringing back milk), I don't think I'll handle it when he's being sick properly any better than you have and was hoping it might improve a bit. My step-father died of cancer years ago and I'm ashamed to say I avoided him for months towards the end because I was just terrified of him being sick and that doesn't make me feel good but I just couldn't handle it.

footprint, I've also suffered from agoraphobia / claustrophobia and always had to be on the end of a row. I totally relate to that feeling of having to be able to escape. Some situations I've been awful in ... Dp's father's funeral I was panic stricken about traveling in the hearse and not getting an end of row seat in the crematorium. I felt so selfish and pathetic to make a fuss about such things at that time. Dp has never quite forgiven me for what seems, understandably, total selfishness on my part.

Thans for asking footprint (and for being there yesterday imaginaryfriend and ills): ds3 is fine today. he hasn't been to the loo all day so I guess it was a one off yesterday. I woke up feeling like i had the same as him today, but I knew it was either the heat getting to me or a psychosomatic reaction. Either way, I can cope with that. Phew.

Glad ds3 is fine today.

DG. My dd is recovered now too although still off her food. I can't help but wonder sometimes about the effect on her of seeing me not eating all the time ...

I know what you mean imaginaryfriend I am worried about passing this phobia on to my 2 children.

Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't been here for you in your hour of need. Hope all d/s's and d/d's have recovered now.
I impulsively took off on Saturday to stay with all my family on their annual camping trip. I just felt I needed to get away from d/h and d/s. How awful am I? Anyway armed with anti-bacterial wipes and sprays i planned to stay in my parents tent but chickened out and d/h bless him booked me in a Travel Inn next to the camp site!
I really enjoyed the break and actually felt relaxed (almost) for the first time in days. I know it sounds dreadful but I didn't want to come back to face 'real' life again.
D/h cleaned the house thoroughly so I am now trying to stop seeing it as a 'germ zone'
I can't imagine being married or related to a doctor as I would be terrified of them catching bugs from their patients!!!!
I also have to have an escape route in public places and sit a the end of rows etc. Was a huge relief when Channel Tunnel opened so I don't have to go on a ferry again!
I want to find out if there are any anti-depressants that are safe to take during pregnancy. I wonder whether I will want to start trying for another baby when I start to feel better so ideally would like AD's that wil allow me to ttc if I want to.
No matter how hard I try my posts are always so long. Sorry!

Hi Retailtherapist
Glad you have had a break and managed to relax. Your dh sounds great. Will post later as ds has just woken up