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child emetophobia
How can I help my thirteen year old daughter? she has sever emetophobia.
At 5'1'' she weights under 5 stone, and has become house bound.
At 5'1'' she weights under 5 stone, and has become house bound.
Hello Susan,
Number one your child isn't suffering from anorexia. She's suffering from an extreme fear to food due to her Emetophobia. The reasons for knowing this is I suffer from this phobia myself and am underweight due to lack of food. Firstly you need to get your daughter to be as open as possible to you at what it is she fears about Emetophobia itself. Tell her to write it down if it's easier and let her open up, be incredibly supportive with whatever answer she gives you and through this tough time. She needs someone to understand and support her as not doing so will only push her further into her comfort zone and make it worse. Start by slowly taken her out into the garden and just having chats and then introducing bread for a start off even if she takes one bite a day that's better than having no food at all. Once she's able to leave the house introduce the idea of going to see a doctor and get her referred to a therapist for help. Make sure you support her all the way and keep introducing food slowly to her and when she really panics and has attacks due to fear of eating hold her close and ensure her everythings okay and it is just anxiety, this is the treatment she needs, do not accuse her of anything else and listen to everything she says. Good luck and I hope all is well x
Number one your child isn't suffering from anorexia. She's suffering from an extreme fear to food due to her Emetophobia. The reasons for knowing this is I suffer from this phobia myself and am underweight due to lack of food. Firstly you need to get your daughter to be as open as possible to you at what it is she fears about Emetophobia itself. Tell her to write it down if it's easier and let her open up, be incredibly supportive with whatever answer she gives you and through this tough time. She needs someone to understand and support her as not doing so will only push her further into her comfort zone and make it worse. Start by slowly taken her out into the garden and just having chats and then introducing bread for a start off even if she takes one bite a day that's better than having no food at all. Once she's able to leave the house introduce the idea of going to see a doctor and get her referred to a therapist for help. Make sure you support her all the way and keep introducing food slowly to her and when she really panics and has attacks due to fear of eating hold her close and ensure her everythings okay and it is just anxiety, this is the treatment she needs, do not accuse her of anything else and listen to everything she says. Good luck and I hope all is well x
Susan, this is really beyond what a message board can help you with. Your daughter is suffering from a severe psychological disorder - but more importantly for the moment, is at risk for starving to death.
She needs long-term inpatient therapy - both to medically force calories into her body, and secondarily for the moment to deal with her phobia. Most phobias are relatively easily extinguished - by having the patient come in more and more safe contact with the fear - but in her case, it sounds like she is suffering from both emetophobia and anorexia, which seems so much more difficult to address.
I think she needs inpatient therapy. Best wishes.
She needs long-term inpatient therapy - both to medically force calories into her body, and secondarily for the moment to deal with her phobia. Most phobias are relatively easily extinguished - by having the patient come in more and more safe contact with the fear - but in her case, it sounds like she is suffering from both emetophobia and anorexia, which seems so much more difficult to address.
I think she needs inpatient therapy. Best wishes.
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