Aa
Anxiety & phobias
I suffer from emetophobia & have done nearly all of my life-Im 46 yrs old. What is the best form of treatment.
I'm perscribed a medication, hydroxizine pam, its an anti-anxiety, but also an anti nausea/vomiting pill. They give it to surgery patients often. It really really helps me because like you, I'm nauseous A LOT and its debilitating. Its great because it not only takes away the anxiety, but also the nausea (which essentially causes the anxiety in the first place) maybe ask your doctor about it and see what they think!
Thank you all for your replies. For the most part Ive managed to live some sort of 'normal' life. I got married (& divorced!), had a daughter & I work yet this phobia is always there. Obviously certain events trigger it but for several years now its been an almost constant. Almost daily I feel nauseous, frequently I think Im going to vomit which triggers a terrible panic attack & Im almost paralysed with fear. I take so many anti-emetics daily & my I never get enough sleep cos night time brings my fear to the surface for some reason. Ive tried asking for help via my dr but all that was offered was some form of group therapy & after some research & my own personal opinion I dont think talking to a group of strangers who dont understand what Im going through is going to be of any help.
I have had this fear since I was a baby. I am 19 now, and officially can't say I have it anymore. If you asked me about it 1 year ago I would tell you I would never be able to function in society as a normal human being, I would never have a job, never marry, never even live very long. It got to be so consuming I was very suicidal.
Im going to tell you my story because maybe it will help you, maybe it wont. Maybe it will at least give you hope.
.
I had been on meds, 4 different ones at different times, sometimes combinations of the 2. No meds ever helped me. I've seen 3 therapists in the past, no one could even help a little.
I had concluded years ago I would never be a happy person. I would never go even an hour without a severe panic attack. I used to think if I didnt kill myself I would surely die in a few years anyway because my heart rate was constantly so high my chest would become so weak I could hardly breathe.
Last year (freshman year of college) I decided to give therapy another shot. Although the therapists here are interns, and not even licenced therapists yet. I pretty much had no hope but tried it out anyways, and let me say it changed my ENTIRE life.
All it took was me understanding the root of my anxiety. I always believed it was random- I had no traumatic event or anything. But I'm going to tell you what it rooted from with me because maybe you could connect on some level, or maybe not but anyways.
I was a very anxious toddler- naturally, genetically, and I learned it from observing my mother. I had a close bond with my mom as most babies do, and I had horrible seperation anxiety from her. Whenever she would leave me (to go to work, a store, etc) I would get anxiety. For me, anxiety always meant overwhelming nausea. As a toddler, you dont have the awareness yet to just say "okay, I am feeling anxious and that is why I am nauseous and shakey". I just associated the nausea with something horribly traumatic happening (my mom leaving). So in turn, I began to fear the nausea because whenever I had been nauseous, it meant my world was ending (my mom leaving). Obviously, I grew out of that seperation anxiety, but the association with nausea and something horrible happening stayed.
Thus, I developed emetophobia.
It ruined my entire childhood. But now, honestly (knock on wood) if I feel anxious once in a couple months its amazing (granted- I haven't been through stomach bug season with my new-found epiphany yet) but I guess we will see how that goes.
I NEVER thought I would overcome my fear. I was literally anxiety's bi*ch and it controlled my every thought. I have never been so proud to be alive. I honestly didnt think I could survive it, and I did. Dont give up hope, you are definitely not alone, as emetophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world.
Good luck---and I encourage you to seek help through therapy!
Im going to tell you my story because maybe it will help you, maybe it wont. Maybe it will at least give you hope.
.
I had been on meds, 4 different ones at different times, sometimes combinations of the 2. No meds ever helped me. I've seen 3 therapists in the past, no one could even help a little.
I had concluded years ago I would never be a happy person. I would never go even an hour without a severe panic attack. I used to think if I didnt kill myself I would surely die in a few years anyway because my heart rate was constantly so high my chest would become so weak I could hardly breathe.
Last year (freshman year of college) I decided to give therapy another shot. Although the therapists here are interns, and not even licenced therapists yet. I pretty much had no hope but tried it out anyways, and let me say it changed my ENTIRE life.
All it took was me understanding the root of my anxiety. I always believed it was random- I had no traumatic event or anything. But I'm going to tell you what it rooted from with me because maybe you could connect on some level, or maybe not but anyways.
I was a very anxious toddler- naturally, genetically, and I learned it from observing my mother. I had a close bond with my mom as most babies do, and I had horrible seperation anxiety from her. Whenever she would leave me (to go to work, a store, etc) I would get anxiety. For me, anxiety always meant overwhelming nausea. As a toddler, you dont have the awareness yet to just say "okay, I am feeling anxious and that is why I am nauseous and shakey". I just associated the nausea with something horribly traumatic happening (my mom leaving). So in turn, I began to fear the nausea because whenever I had been nauseous, it meant my world was ending (my mom leaving). Obviously, I grew out of that seperation anxiety, but the association with nausea and something horrible happening stayed.
Thus, I developed emetophobia.
It ruined my entire childhood. But now, honestly (knock on wood) if I feel anxious once in a couple months its amazing (granted- I haven't been through stomach bug season with my new-found epiphany yet) but I guess we will see how that goes.
I NEVER thought I would overcome my fear. I was literally anxiety's bi*ch and it controlled my every thought. I have never been so proud to be alive. I honestly didnt think I could survive it, and I did. Dont give up hope, you are definitely not alone, as emetophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world.
Good luck---and I encourage you to seek help through therapy!
I believe the best, as well as the ONLY treatment for your phobia is therapy, especially with a psychiatrist or psychologist who specializes in phobic disorders.
I'm sorry you have suffered with this for so long, but find you most courageous to seek help now.
What a joy life will be once you are finally free of this disorder!
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia
I'm sorry you have suffered with this for so long, but find you most courageous to seek help now.
What a joy life will be once you are finally free of this disorder!
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
