Re: emetophobia (fear of vomiting)
Quote:
Originally Posted by jitters
emetophobia is a word that most people have never come across, but it is the fifth most common phobia. And it is the reason for my agrophobia indirectly. Due to my refusal to go anywhere that may cause me to vomit i.e. anywhere where there may be a sick person. and from doing anything which will make me feel ill such as drinking or going on fast rides.
Wow, someone I can finally relate to. I was extremely frightened starting in 2nd grade, when I suddenly developed these stomach pains, this strange nausea I had never felt before. Before this, the only time I had stomach pain meant I was going to throw up. So for about 2 years, I lived in constant fear of throwing up. My cousin (who was born right before this started) had a tendency to get sick often, and I would just be horrified to be around her when she was sick. Or anyone who was sick, I was terrified beyond belief. During this period I dropped 30 pounds and kept them off those 2 years, I probably only ate enough to sustain myself. I was paranoid (I was 8-10 when the episodes were at its worst), I was hooked on Zantac and Mylanta, one time (and this is the only time it's ever happened) I got heartburn after eating a taco, I nearly jumped out of my skin, and I think I had only one other episode of heartburn during this time too (and i havent had it anymore since).
They ruled out acid reflux and everything under the sun, and after they did the ultrasound that was it, they didn't try anymore, and I had gotten so used to it. It took quite a few years (especially because I entered a new, very stressful situation that has lasted for years now) before I got off of mylanta all the time, but it happened.
Anyway, about the emetophobia, it has stuck around to a certain degree.
The last stomach virus I had before the one I got last november had been 9 years previous. This came on suddenly, I had just finished my first day at a new job (this was the day after thanksgiving) and had dinner and I got this weird feeling like it was a hunger cramp but it obviously wasn't. I went to go to bed and I felt something try to come up and I was like "Oh no X_X" but it went away and I went to sleep.
As usual with any stomach bug I have ever had (that I can remember, but this was exactly like the last time) it wakes me up, I sit up, think "oh crap" then spew everywhere. I can't really tell when I'm about to throw up, because it seriously had been a nearly 10 year gap since I got sick.
Which is weird, when I feel nauseated bad like im gonna spew I dont, but when I feel just slightly off, then I get sick =/ it's weird.
The best thing, is once you throw up you feel better. I will psyche myself in the future to realize if I NEED to throw up, that it will be ok afterwards and it won't happen again. I normally just throw up once (get it ALL out) then I don't have to again for the duration of the stomach bug.
Here's the thing, if you feel anxious, taking the Mylanta or some sort of antacid will help your stomach. If it doesn't help, you might have a stomach bug/ate something nasty. It always helps me if im just anxious, but it will have no effect is something is really off down there (and it makes diaherrea worse, so dont take it if you have that)
Now I'm dreading thanksgiving because I dont want to see those relatives again who got us ALL sick. My mom gets stomach bugs easier then anything, and she may get one but I normally dont contract it. This time EVERYONE ELSE not in their immediate family who hadn't already had the bug caught it. I normally don't catch stomach bugs either, but this had to have been particularly nasty.
And there are other things I do to help myself calm down and realize I'm not going to vomit. The only times I have vomited are times with stomach bugs (or the stomach flu I had for a week one time). I'm always:
1. Light headed
2. Fever
If I'm feeling super nauseated from anxiety or something, I check myself "you aren't sick, so you aren't going to throw up." It helps. Same with when I got major nausea that lasted for 2 straight days taking augmentin, I somehow psyched myself quickly into thinking I wasn't going to puke.
I don't get any warning sign before I puke, it just happens. So if I feel so nauseated like I'm going to barf at any second, I'm not going it. It always just spontaneously happens (which is bad because I end up covered in it), but that really helps to keep my fear in check so my anxiety goes down and I can start to untense.