Emetophobia

Emetophobia

Template:Search infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Emetophobia is the irrational fear of vomiting, being around others who are vomiting, and/or the vomit itself.

In worst case scenarios, people with the phobia tend to avoid eating out, socializing and going to parties. They may hardly eat at all and that's why many are often diagnosed as anorexic, but not bulimic as this illness involves the induction of vomiting. Emetophobes will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid becoming violently sick, or seeing someone else becoming sick.

The phobia is extremely life encompassing for many; the phobia is not only felt when the person is ill, but an ongoing, constant fear that they will vomit. It can affect them day in and day out, with many sufferers reporting feelings of sickness between 5 times a month up to 30, which will induce a panic attack for many as they will believe they will actually vomit. Many emetophobes fear others vomiting too. They will constantly worry that someone near them feels sick and that they will be sick.

Emetophobics will often go into panic attacks. Symptoms of a panic attack include:

• sweating
• shivering
• clammy hands
• whimpering / even shouting
• a feeling of unreality
• a feeling of losing control

Most emetophobics will hate and/or avoid public restrooms. Also, they may feel mutual to the aspect of public transportation. This sometimes leads to social withdrawal, for fear of anyone getting sick or themselves catching a virus.

Not much research has been done on emetophobia and can be hard to treat for the patient that fears themselves vomiting. However, possible treatment options include Exposure Therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

This phobia can easily take over the sufferers life and some women have been known to terminate a pregnancy, even though they desperately want a child, as the fear of morning sickness or the child being ill is too much. People have also been known to refuse cancer treatment in case the drugs induce sickness.

References

• Nicolette Heaton-Harris, "Living With Emetophobia: Coping With an Extreme Fear of Vomiting" (2007) ISBN 1843105365

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