Hi Miss J94

I'm so sorry to hear you are having a tough time right now. I don't have emetophobia, but a close friend did back when I was at school. I understand how debilitating a phobia is and hers really did affect her on a daily basis. When she felt nauseous or worried she would be sick, we used to find somewhere quiet just the two of us and then work through some breathing exercises until she felt a bit more in control. I realise that's only a short term solution, and when panicking it can be hard to do that without someone with you to guide you through it. I know when my anxiety gets really bad I often can't think clearly enough to remember my self help/soothing mechanisms, but it's worth a try if you can. Even if it only works some of the time that's a start.

Although we aren't in touch regularly any more I know my friend managed to conquer her phobia with psychoanalytic therapy to get to the root of it and then CBT. You said you have already tried CBT but it may be that another form of therapy suits you better, after all not everyone responds to the same things.

I mostly just wanted you to know that someone is reading and thinking of you. Also that if my friend managed to work through her phobia there is hope.

If you think the breathing exercise will help, the one I find most effective is to breath in normally (not slower or quicker just however fast you are breathing at the time) for a count of seven and then breath out for a count of 11 at the same rate. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't.

I am sorry I haven't got anything more useful to say.

Milli

x