Emetophobia - Help me to help a friend

[colditz]

A friend of mine is having her life over run by emetophobia and I don't know how to help her. I can do things like let her stay for the night when her kids are ill, but she wants rid of the phobia. It's causing her so much anxiety, she's miserable because of it. She has gone down all the traditional channels of councelling and anti depressants, none of it is working, and I just wondered if there is anything I can do? she can't stay on beta blckers forever!

I know you said she has done counselling but there is one that I have had recommended to me called ETF (emotional freedom therapy).
Its meant to be very very effective. Its basically acupuncture but without the needles and can be done over the phone, one 2 one or even via email.

Heres the link to their site EFT
You'll be able to find a local counsellor and get in touch.
I've been emailing my local counsellor and he has been brilliant.

HTH

I don't know much about this but could hypnotherapy be an option?

hypnotheraphy for emetophobia

My friend has this phobia quite badly. She has just started posting on here, so she may well see this thread later.
She is having CBT (think that's what it's called) atm, which she is finding really quite helpful in understanding the reasons behind her phobia.
Not really sure what else to suggest.

i watched Jeremy Kyle the other day and there were two ladies on the show that had/have it. It sounds like an awful thing to suffer from. One was cured after having counselling and the other was just about to start the counselling.i'd never heard of it until i saw the programme and its clearly not a rare phobia. I hope your friend finds a way to manage/cure it. x

It is in the top five of phobias. I have it, as do many many people here on MN. I haven't got a solution for your friend colditz as I live with it and have not really tried any therapy, but it may help a tiny bit for her to know she is far from being alone.

I have a sneaky feeling that the only real way of dealing with it is to face up to each situation as it arises and learn from each episode. Also, I do feel I know my way around my phobia quite well - eg I spend a lot of time analysing the feelings I get and working out why I am scared etc. If your friend could find anyone who could help her with that process, I think that might be beneficial for her.

Hey DG, just spotted you on here. Why no msn? just nudged you....

Hello... no real help from me either, though I am a fellow-sufferer. I suffer quite mildly by some standards, but I do worry about me or one of the kids being sick fairly frequently. I've tried counselling (he told me to put a clothes peg on my nose if I needed to clean any sick up ) and am currently considering hypnotherapy. I will have a look at NBG's link too.

Does your friend have other phobias too? My emetophobia is currently overtaken by the fact that I have to get on an aeroplane in a month's time. Aaargh! [phobic scaredy-cat emoticon]

www.gut-reaction.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm

A support group called Gut Reaction are very good and would recommend that their website is visited (link posted above).

Cognitive behavioural therapy is supposed to be beneficial for emetophobia.

Who are you Losty?

Is that you N? Why so many name changes? And why not tell your besty friend?

I have emetophobia but am so, so, so much better than I used to be thanks to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Before CBT I was finding everything a challenge and enjoying nothing due to the fear. After CBT I managed to go on a trip of a life time to Africa (how likely to get sick was I there?) and I even enjoyed it. I got pregnant and coped with morning sickness and I am generally so much happier. If your friend has not tried it then it is worth a go. You need a good therapist though. I was lucky enough to get mine through my GP's surgery.

Just a note to say me too, I've had this phobia for as long as I can rememeber. I have to say it has eased a bit recently since I've had children and have had to deal with it. It still freaks me out and I live in fear of stomach bugs but having faced worse case scenarios (ie. having to clear up after the event), I've realised it's not as bad as all that. Mind you, it's something I'd only ever do for my kids!!!

Yes Lulabelle, I was once Lonelymum. I "came out" about my phobia on MN about 2 years ago, having never really told anyone about it before in detail except for dh (though anyone who knows me well would know I have it as I can't hide it at all). I do have to say that since coming out about it on MN, my attitude to it has very much changed. I am no better - possibly even worse - but I am not as ashamed of it as I once was. I have even told people in RL about it - eg people you meet in the playground - and even found out that one of the few mums I know since moving also has the phobia! I don't know if this new release will lead anywhere, but I do regard my coming out on MN as a major watershed in my life.

PMSL at Califrau. She wanders in because she can't help but look!!! and then she wanders out again!!! You exhibit such obvious symptoms CF!

Oh dear, that was 3 years ago I came out. Or 2 and a half anyway. I think I remember the circumstances that led to it....