I have dealt with panic attacks for many years and recently they flared up again. I started taking Klonopin again but found it was making the anxiety and panic worse by causing me to need more and more and more just to make it through the day and now I am tapering off of it.

I have a severe fear of throwing up and no idea where it came from. It's happened less than 10 times in my 26 years of life and the last time was 3 years ago yet there's not a day that passes that I don't worry about it.

I would rather self injur than throw up. In fact, that just happened. I felt nauseated and went into panic mode took extra Klonopin and then scratched myself repeatedly until the nausea subsided.

I don't want this to be my life. I've tried CBT exercises as well as an Emetophobia Recovery system without help.

Has anyone here successfully gotten over this debilitating fear or at least made it tolerable to live everyday life? If so PLEASE share. This isn't a phobia a lot of people "get" which makes it so much harder to feel supported.

[Millitoria]

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

[Neptune83]

No, but just wanted to say you're not alone
I have a severe phobia of illness but more specifically stomach related illness. It controls so much of my life and I absolutely DESPISE it.

[Silent Void]

I am so with you on puking. I'd rather sing the "National Anthem" naked on global TV than barf.

I hope you find a way to resolve your issue. I feel for you.

[The_little_didgee]

You are not alone.

I am petrified of vomiting. It is a sensation that I find intolerable so I will go to great lengths to avoid it. Whenever, I see and/or hear someone doing it, I panic and flee. If someone has a stomach virus, I avoid them until they have recovered, because I don't want to contract it.

My fear started in childhood, when I had to take antibiotics for 9 months. It was 9 months of stomach aches and nausea. Yuck.

I think the fear developed into a phobia, because I need to feel in control. Vomiting isn't something I can control so I feel very threatened by it.

I take Cipralex for GAD. Shortly after I started taking it, I discovered it has eased this daily worry.

Whenever, I feel nauseated, I sip, watered down juice and try to do some deep breathing. If it gets bad, I take Gravol or Stemetil.

Is the phobia related to OCD? If it is, treatment for that condition should help improve your quality of life.

[Lilykins85]

Hello,

I have Emetophobia too. Its a lot more common than you think (I didnt realise this until a nutritionist told that she has a lot of clients with it).

For me, the sensation of throwing up emits similar feelings that I get when having a panic attack and I also get scared of losing control (another anxiety thing) so...it all comes back to anxiety.

I restrict what I eat a lot because of Emetophobia (feeling too full makes me feel sick which makes me anxious and etc etc). But I am getting better at dealing with it and as annoying as it is - it just takes patience and acceptance.

You dont have to be perfect. We are all mucked up in our own way. Breathing definitely helps