Fear of being sick - emetophobia

[DavidSamsonHypno]

I have read with great interest the number of messages on this site concerning fear of being sick (emetophobia). I am a Clinical Hypnotherapist based in London and treat many ladies suffering from this unpleasant phobia. Emetophobia is the fifth most common phobia but it is rarely highlighted in the media because it is (according to an editor I spoke to recently) too yucky to read about in a newspaper!
This is an extremely complex phobia that can lead to a number of other issues such as fear of pregnancy, fear of flying, claustrophobia, social phobia, fear of eating out, fear of travelling, fear of illness and in extreme cases sufferers are fearful of leaving their own homes.
Using Regression Hypnotherapy, the subconsciously hidden root cause of the issue can be located and subsequently fixed.

Would you be willing to explain in more detail what your therapy involves? Either here (where I know there are many sufferers) or privately by email. My address is [email protected]

I would love more info too if possible

David emailed me and directed me to his website
www.fear-of-being-sick.co.uk if you would like more info.

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That is amazing, didn't know it had a name. Last time I had a bug, about 2 years ago, I was so scared of vomiting I lay on the bathroom floor from 1am til 7am taking shallow breaths and concentrating on not being sick. I was on the point of sick the whole time.

Thank goodness it's not just me!!!

Had a quick scan. Tbh I'm not scared of going to restaurants, cinema etc. Don't have to sit at end of row or anything. Do have a bit of claustrophobia and have a fear of flying. Flew about a month ago for the first time in YEARS and was nearly crying with fear. Panicked when I realised there wasn't a sick bag. Don't they do sick bags on planes anymore?? Wasn't feeling sick or anything but needed the reassurance.

Scotchick, I read the website and don't fit the descriptions very well either. I think the phobia comes in many forms! Oh and I was flying this week and there was a sick bag as far as I could see - the sight of them always makes me feel ill, rather than reassures me, so I didn't look too closely!

Please everyone with emetophobia be very wary of undertaking hypnotherapy without first checking out the therapist.
I went for hypnotherapy in Cambridge several years ago now and the therapist planted false memories in my mind. It was a very traumatic experience as it involved sexual abuse with someone very close to me. Whilst I know that the images I saw were not real memories i can still recall the very sick scenes he led me to describe whilst under.
I am not saying that all hypnotherapists are the same (i'm sure there are many geniune practioners) but I urge anyone considering going down this route to be very careful.
I really thought the man I saw was a qualified professional as he was a member of the International Association of Hypnotherapy. It sounded very impressive but it turns out that he was a director of this association and trains many others.. for a large fee of course!

retailtherapist is quite correct to warn of 'rogue' hypnotherapists. There are many minor associations out there that sound impressive but are not. I strongly recommend that any therapist is checked out fully before any therapy takes place.

I am a member of both the General Hypnotherapy Register (an association that is now actively participating within the Joint Working Group for Hypnotherapy whose primary purpose is to bring about professional self-regulation for the industry) and the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (The GHSC acts as a link between the hypnotherapy industry and the Department of Health).

With regards to planting false memories - the role of the Regression Hypnotherapist is to allow the client THEMSELVES to remember particular incidents of their own accord without any 'steering' on the part of the hypnotherapist. If there is a hidden issue that is 'troubling' the subconscious, it will very quickly reveal itself whilst the client is in hypnosis.

I visited a clinical psychologist for this problem about 8 years ago and it has improved vastly.

It does not restrict my life in the way it used to, but I do still feel some anxiety about it. A year ago I caught a bug from DD and we were both sick. It was really horrible but I survived! Then 6 months later DH got food poisoning and was sick, and I actually found that really quite traumatic and keep suffering 'flashbacks' to that - sounds completely ridiculous, I know.

The clinical psychologist told me in our first session that I would never be 100% cured - only about 95%, and that is how it feels. I am potentially interested in hypnotherapy but not sure if I'm candidate.

Poor you, BB. How old is DD?

BB I am here for a bit though cooking dinner. Stop giving her anything to drink if it is making her sick. I am glad your dp is there for you. Try to stay calm and think to yourself her stomach will soon settle - hopefully in time for you to have a proper night's sleep.

Is this the first time she has had a tummy bug?
I do empathise with how you're feeling - I hate tummy bugs, but you may not catch it, so try not to panic too much. (I know that's easier said than done though!)
You are lucky to have a DP who can step in & help out though. I have always had no choice but to deal with the children when sick, because H would start throwing up at the very sight of any vomit!

No it is highly unlikely you wil get it. Her stomach is not as strong as yours and her immunity against bugs is not as great as yours either.

Anyway, she may well have picked up some dirt from somewhere and that is making her ill, rather than that is a bug she has caught.

Stay calm (panicking will make you feel sick too - I know, because I always feel sick with panic when mine are ill!)

No you won't definitely catch it. The last couple of bugs my boys have had have wiped out everyone excluding myself! Think this may be due to the fact I was washing my hands constantly! (& remember, I was the one dealing with all the vomit!)

If it helps, I have never been sick after my children have been sick. I have sometimes caught the bug and had diarrhoea, but I have never been sick.

Isn't part of being an emetophobe having a very strong stomach so that we are never sick?

Try & stay as calm as you can, as like DG says, panic could make your stomach churn so much that you start to feel sick yourself. It will be ok.

Ah, I see I'm too late; was going to suggest contacting DG.

Belgianbun, my friend is a very senior nurse and she says washing your hands every hour or so will reduce your chance of catching ANY bug when your child (or indeed anyone else) is ill, and also your immune system is much stronger than that of a young child.

Sorry I don't have any other advice - but I do have panic attacks sometimes so can relate a little bit (Hope you're ok soon - and dd