Can emetophobia be successfully treated? My definition of “successfully treated” means someone who is completely over the fear and stays over it. Some former emetophobics have been free from emetophobia for several years without having a relapse – even after experiencing a bout of stomach flu. That’s successful treatment.
However, there are countless stories of emetophobics who are fine for weeks, months, or even a few years that for some unknown reason relapse. This, is not successful treatment.
Courage. This is the one word that has prevented me from seeking out therapy. I just haven’t been able to garner up the nerve to search for a good therapist. Emetophobia is not the most well known psychological condition out there and therapists with experience treating it, which are far and few, have said the treatment is different than of other phobias. Needless to say, emetophobics looking for a good therapist have a difficult task and resort to shopping around to find one that understands. So until I get up the nerve, I’ll keep learning to deal with it.
When I found out my best friend was having a destination wedding, I felt I was forced into have to deal with my emetophobia. She announced the destination and instead of being excited, I had a panic attack because I would have to get on a plane – close quarters, air-sick bags, motion sickness – PANIC. I knew I couldn’t miss the wedding and I knew I had to do something. I tried hypnotherapy without success and then tried CBT. I had some success with CBT. I was calm enough to get on the plane (with Xanax!) and go to the wedding. I get the thing with the relapse… I thought I was doing OK, until flu season arrived… now it’s a quiet panic attack on a daily basis.