Anxious about childhood illness and bugs

[Mumagain2017]

Hiya

I get really anxious about my children getting Ill. Not serious worries about disease but vomiting etc ....as soon as my 6 year old says she has a tummy ache for any reason I get hot flushes and my heart races and I feel sick.
I have now got a 6 month old baby and I'm paranoid about her catching bugs from my primary school child.

How can I get past this I've got years and years of them being Ill to come....

Hey. It sounds like you suffer from a phobia of vomiting? It is called emetaphobia. I have had this phobia since I was a child and did not know what it was exactly, but if someone said their tummy hurt I would get all anxious and my tummy would hurt worried they might vomit. If someone vomits in front of me, I feel like I need to get away ASAP and makes me feel sick and anxious. It has gotten worse since having kids, in the fact I know have a fear of germs (that might cause tummy bugs and vomiting).

You might be able to keep you second one from catching bugs, as its easier to contain the older one when she is sick to one room. But if the younger one gets sick, much more difficult as they touch everything and drool everywhere and put things in their mouth when young.

I have also learned to cope if my kids feel tummy sick by having a plan. It is straight to the bathroom with a bucket (as my dd doesn't like the idea of doing it in toilet). Anyway, that seems to help a little. I still feel panic, but it seems to help to have a plan of action. Also, if someone is sick the way to prevent spread is bleach toilet, floor etc. Keep the person contained and using one toilet. Wipe everything with dettol, washing laundry on 90 etc.

I have emetaphobia, it’s very frustrating! Obviously no-one likes being sick but I’m terrified of it. I do really worry about my daughter getting sick. I could cope looking after her, it’s thought of me catching it! One thing that’s helps me is having some anti-sickness meds’ on hand. I use buccastem, which is primarily for sickness with migraines but it works to block the vomiting centre in the brain. Not 100% fool proof but it helps. You can get it over the counter.