Serious anxiety about child being sick...

[BR1007]

Hi guys, I know this may sound crazy but I have recently started getting so so anxious about my child vomiting. I know...its silly! And what makes it worse is that I am actually a health professional myself, but for some reason it is still bothering me! I know how to spot the signs if my child is seriously unwell, so that is not much of a worry, the main stress is over them vomiting. I think it stems from my childhood...when I was sick, I was really unwell (even if it was just a virus!) But my blood pressure would drop, causing me to faint from a young age, so when my children caught a stomach bug a couple of months ago, it brought back huge feelings of anxiety/worry!
Every night for the past 2 months I have gone to bed worrying one of them was going to vomit during the night, and this morning my youngest woke up with a high temp....causing my anxiety to spiral 😢 deep down I know she has just got a cold/virus...but my head is getting into a spin worrying she is going to vomit.
Even just writing this makes me feel stupid...I think "it's just sick...what are you worrying for?" And to be quiet honest, I don't know 😔
Has anyone else experienced this? Or does anyone have any tips to help?

It's getting pretty desperate!

I feel your pain. I have suffered with Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) from a very early age (5-6) My fear is worse when it is others bring sick, rather than myself. Fortunately when my son was young, my husband could deal with any vomiting episodes, I would just go into a mad panic, to the extent that I could pass out. The fear has spoilt holidays and social occasions too. I’m over 60 now, and it hasn’t got any better. I remember years ago (maybe when I was 40ish) I mentioned it to my GP and he just shrugged it off and said get on with it. So, unfortunately I can’t offer any advice, but just wanted to let you know you’re not alone and apparently it’s a very common problem. Maybe there’s some kind of therapy or something available nowadays?
Good luck OP.

I have started a thread about this recently (Emetophobic parenting). Is your fear related to your child being very unwell as opposed to the vomit itself? I am pregnant at the moment and the anticipation of my child being one who has a weak stomach makes me feel very anxious. You can get CBT to help the phobia. I hope you find some strategies to help you cope.

It’s a phobia so no, it’s not silly. When DH works late or night shifts I can get myself in a right state worrying what I’ll do if I see a spider and he’s not there. What might seem silly to one person can feel very real to another.