To be so scared of getting the sickness bug?

[geeraf]

I'm a single parent to a 3yo. For the last few weeks I've been totally over the top worried about her/I getting the sickness bug that's doing the rounds. I feel like I'm way too worried about it but just can't stop worrying.

I'm not going crazy with cleaning etc, just literally worrying all the time about what would happen if she was sick, and how I would cope on my own. How it's so likely she'll get it as it seems to be everywhere this year.

I feel like it's taking over, but don't know what to do to stop thinking about it! Do other parents think like this or do I have an actual problem, and if so how do I deal with it?? I know this probably sounds stupid but honestly it's constantly in my head and I feel like I'm obsessed.

Nobody?

Do you have emetephobia @geeraf ? You sound extremely anxious about sickness.. are you worried about your daughter being ill or you or both? I’d say you def have an abnormal concern, no-one likes being sick but I think most people just don’t think about it very much.

That said, I’m emetephobic & struggle with the idea of vomiting bugs. I understand the concept of them playing on your mind. It’s certainly something that worries me over winter in particular. But on the whole, I’ve come to accept that my daughter will at some point get sick. That’s not to say I don’t panic when I hear of sick bugs or feel anxious every time I take her to soft-play etc .. but I push through my own fears to try make sure she is entertained & not hindered by my silly phobia.

She isn’t the least bit bothered by being sick, she deals with it & moves on. I’d imagine most children are the same. It’s horrible when they get ill but on the whole these bugs are 24/48 hours max. I then go on a manic cleaning spree with bleach & pray I don’t catch it.. it’s about all you can do unfortunately!

This does seem like an excessive amount of worry. Sickness bugs are crap, but you’ll survive. I’m not a single parent but DH works away a lot. When DC was 12 weeks old me, our 5 year old and our 3 year old got norovirus. DH was was away. All three of us spent 2 days in the bathroom, while I was also breastfeeding a non sleeping baby (who managed to avoid it miraculously!). It was awful but we survived.

Thanks both.

No, I don't have a phobia. I haven't been sick for 4/5 years, and DD for over a year. Last time was when XH and I were in the process of splitting up that's how I know.

I don't know what it is - the fear of not knowing what to do or how to deal with it I think. It's definitely more a fear of her getting it than me. How to cope with her being sick all night on my own.

I just don't know how to switch off form it and get a grip for want of a better phrase. I know if it happens I will deal with it but literally the thought of it could make me almost cry, and I know how ridiculous it sounds!!