How many people in this crowd have Emetophobia?
Emetophobics live with this condition quietly. When I meet people it’s not the first, second, or even third thing I tell them about me. Due to the embarrassing nature, it’s not something I even want to bring up. That is unless, a situation comes up that I feel comfortable mentioning it or someone happens to vomit standing next to me and I’m forced to tell everyone why I’m freaked out.
Recently I was talking to a woman and by the nature of the convo, I could tell she might have emetophobia. Possibly not even knowing she had it. That’s when I casually brought it up and sure enough I found another one like myself. A closeted emetophobe.
The similiarities and differences about our condition was striking. I’ve always contended that I suffer moderately whereas saying the word vomit or seeing someone do it far enough away, such as across the street, doesn’t bother me too much but if they are near me and I can hear it, see it close up, or worse yet – SMELL it, I panic to no end and will actually start gagging.
This woman can’t even stand to see the fake rubbery vomit they sell in the ‘practical joke’ areas in toy stores
I just wanted to let you know I cried the minute I started reading your blog. I have suffered from emetophobia after a PTSD incident 2 years ago. I was starting to think I was the only one who understood what it was like. Now I know there are others. It’s comforting to know. I have subscribed to you blog and will continue to write in mine about this subject that is so debilitating. Do you know if there are any support groups out on the internet specifically for this? I don’t just want to cope, I want to find a cure.
One of the best support groups online ist he International Emetophobia Society at emetophobia.org. Good luck
Hi. My name is Linda and I’m an emetophobe.
Is it ok to start like that?
Like GadgetGeekGirl says, it is such a relief to find others suffering from the same condition.
I am 45 years old.
I can remember watching a film at an aunt’s house, when I was about 4 or 5 and a diver was trapped underwater – when they got him to the surface, he vomited up a little water and I freaked out. It played on my mind for such a long time.
Around the age of 7, there was a boy in class at school who vomited on his desk. I freaked.
When I got to about 18 or 19, I suddenly became obsessed with the possibility of other people vomiting.
After a particularly bad bout of Noro at 22 years old, it hit full force – I became terrified of germs, food poisoning and after a while… eating.
At 5’5″ I weighed around 105lbs. I was never hungry. If I ate, I would eat something like a packet of crisps, or dry biscuits/toast. – something which in my mind, could not possibly harbour germs, or irritate my stomach.
All of the things you’ve mentioned in your blog… I remember the way it took control of every aspect of my life.
The positive thing is that I feel as though I am recovering. The sad thing is, I have no idea when or why exactly. I am just so happy to not have this constant fear nagging at me.
I would love to help other people and I will try. My friend’s daughter is particularly bad. My friend was not very sympathetic to the condition. I had never mentioned it when it started getting particularly bad and then we lost touch for many years, until recently in fact. She was surprised when I confirmed that Leanne was not alone and that I suffered from it too.
The Jeremy Kyle clip made me cry as that poor girl feels exactly as I did when my children were younger- and as Leanne does now. It’s a major problem, bringing up children when you are emetophobic.
My kids are well balanced 24, 22, 19 and 15 year olds. They remember me cowering up a corner somewhere when they were sick, but they just grew up thinking ‘that’s what mum does as mum doesn’t like it.’ and it hasn’t affected them when it comes to being sick, although the 22 year old is obsessive when it comes to use by dates and cooking thoroughly, although it does not affect him eating out, etc.
I lost a huge part of my life to this phobia – especially my children growing up, as so much of their upbringing was geared around not catching bugs, hand washing – constantly questioning them to see if they had tummy ache or felt sick. I feel very relieved that they are not profoundly affected by my behaviour.
Like I said earlier – I have no idea how I came to recover so well. I can’t say I’m ‘normal’ yet, but it’s not there affecting everything I do.
I guess I just wanted to say that, it can be overcome. I never thought I would recover one iota. I thought I would live like it for the rest of my life and my life was very, very sad.
Living with fear, any kind of constant fear/obsession is not really living at all.
I hope my story gives someone some hope. I have also sent a link to Leanne, my friend’s daughter. I think she will be very interested, as hers seems to be getting worse lately.
Thank you both for writing about this very sensitive subject in your blogs. We really need to raise awareness…..
Thanks for sharing your story with us Linda. I have also recovered quite a bit, but still at times, revert back to this phobia.