Emetophobia - DD is developing it and I don't know how to help her

[castille]

She had a vomiting bug in January - it came on very suddenly and I think she was frightened by the violence of it.

Since then she has come to me several times saying she's frightened she's going to be sick, not that she feels sick but she works herself into such a state of anxiety that she ends up nauseous.

She used to be fine with it - even nursed her seasick sister on a ferry - but not any more.

How can I help her get over it?

She's 10 btw.

Poor thing. That is exactly how it started with me. I would give myself nausea through anxiety and of course the nausea then added to the anxiety. I am not sure what to suggest. I would try underplaying how bad being sick it. Make it clear it isn't as bad as she fears. Tell her nothing bad will happen even if she is sick etc etc etc.

If it continues to develop and seems to be interfering with her daily life then take her to a GP asap and ask for a referral to a Cogntive Behavioural Therapist who is experienced at working with kids. CBT really helped me (as an adult).

Thanks artichokes.

She seems to know that nothing bad will happen, she says she just hates the feeling and doesn't want it to happen again (I think that's all it is, maybe there's more to it than that). I have reminded her that she's only ever had 2 bugs like this in her entire life so she's obviously not prone to catching things, whilst agreeing that it is horrible while it lasts.

She is quite worked up about going to secondary school in September which I think is causing some mostly health-related anxiety - she hates going to the doctor because she's terrified he'll find something wrong, for example, and this could be part of that.

I hope she likes secondary and her anxieties calm down