The life of an emetophobe
By mbs730
@mbs730 (2147)
Canada
December 29, 2006 3:22pm CST
That is me, I am emetophobic. Any idea what that is? So many people don't and it's the 7th most common phobia in North America, Australia and in the UK, and probably in the top 10 of phobias in other places as well. Emetophobia is a phobia of puking. Those who are affected by this horrible phobia are affected by it in different ways. Some emetophobes are only phobic of themselves puking, some others are phobic of themselves AND others puking and there are others like myself who are mostly phobic of others puking, but a little of themselves being sick. If I get sick like that, I do panic and get scared, and react to it worse than someone who doesn't have this phobia but I think I handle it much better than other emetophobes who are only phobic of themselves being sick. However, I am MUCH more phobic of others puking to the point that even if I so much HEAR about it happening I flip out! It is a very difficult phobia to be affected with if you are a parent or in a relationship. I sadly cannot care for my kids if they are sick in that way, and one time my husband got sick months ago and I ran out of the house. His brother ended up picking him up and taking him to his place. I feel terrible about it but I also know this is something I cannot help. This is a PHOBIA of mine, and it's not like I am trying to slack off! When the kids are sick, my husband deals with it 100% and is great about it! When it comes to other issues that doesn't involve puking, I am there in a flash. I resent those who say I am a bad mother or a bad wife because I cannot take care of my kids or husband if they are puking! That is so unfair. There is no known cure for this. And another thing that gets to me is that it's "acceptable" to be phobic of spiders, snakes or heights but not of puking! I have had people laugh at me because of this and accuse me of being insensitive towards others just because I cannot hear about them being sick! I am not TRYING to be insensitive but it just freaks me out! I get so frusterated and wish that people would get it through their thick skulls that this is something I cannot help! I have TRIED therapy, even through a specialist in phobias, even hypnotism! Nothing has worked! I don't expect non-emetophobes to understand what I am going through nor would I ever wish that on them! I just want them to be understanding towards my condition and not to be so quick to judge.... there is a lot of info on emetophobia, just google the word!
3 people like this
7 responses
@xelissa (776)
• New Zealand
15 Feb 07
I also have the phobia. Anyone who pukes near me, in sighting distance from me or on me, I will scream for ages and my heart will be so fast and will begin to sweat quickly and I begin the have a panick attack, or I will run a for ages in the opposite and I know exactly what you're going through and its really hard
1 person likes this
@newfiechic (3)
• Canada
21 Sep 07
I get the same way! Infact, I once fled my house during a blizzard one night and tried to sleep in our car when I heard my SO vomiting. Thank god he is so understand! I ended up becoming too cold and came back inside. It sounds so silly when I think about it now, but it was a really frightening experience.
@the_vicar (1477)
• United States
19 Feb 07
It is stranger that people would like to puke. I guess those are called bulemics. I doubt most people like to puke and many probably fear choking. As far as my phobia, I HATE rodents. Mostly rats and mice. I know it is a phobia and there is no foundation for the fear but I just can't help the way I feel. I know when there is a mouse or rat nearby, I can "feel" their presence. I am the first one to "know" they are around.
@breeana (1)
• Australia
6 Jun 07
just got on this board for the first time and wanted to comment to this - hell no! A bulemic doesn't "like to puke"!! They don't go around bingeing and purging because they "like it". They more than probably hate it, detest it even. It is much more complex. It is a bizarre condition that becomes an addiction, a way of coping, an eating disorder. I have it alas, trying to recover, but just want to set it straight. NOBODY LIKES TO PUKE.
1 person likes this
@96vidalias (344)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I am one of the people who had never heard of this phobia before. It's hard to even think of how you would go about therapy for this phobia. Maybe we don't hear about it because it usually goes along with something else, like fear of germs, or hypochondria and would be thought to be a result of those fears?
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
24 Apr 08
I am glad to say that I do not have emetophobia. I did enough puking while pregnant with both of my kids that I would not have survived if I was. I do not like other people throwing up, but it does not send me into a fit of vomiting right along with them. I know some people who are like that. I never realized that it was a phobia. You learn something new everyday.
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
24 Apr 08
Oops I replied before logging in!! I hope it doesn't start a separate discussion. That would NOT be good. I am less phobic of myself being sick than I am of others. It's others who I am really phobic of. And its a pretty bad phobia, quite common actually.. but luckily in my case its mild compared to what some other emetophobes deal with. Sorry to hear you had a rough pregnancy with that. With my daughter I had nausea but never got sick.
@lorbo0618 (62)
• United States
21 Apr 08
i, also am an emetophobic and i agree 100%. when loved ones are sick i leave the house and feel terrible that i cant offer sympathy. i dont have children yet, but i know when i do it will be the same way. people ask me all the time "how are you gonna deal when u have kids and they are sick?" i have it both ways. scared of vomiting and scared being around those who are vomiting. as soon as someone mentions even having a stomach ache, i go into full blown panic attack. i'd like to hear more from u. im new on mylot so maybe u could send a friend request. i havent really figured out how everything works yet.
@Jaytech (2251)
•
14 Jul 07
I hear you on this one, I've been an emetophobe as far back as I can remember. It had a profound effect on my childhood because I was scared to eat in case of eating which made me close to anorexic, although I fought through that episode.
Later in life it had a knock on effect by manifesting itself by way of causing panic attack problems & long term anxiety, which has totally destroyed my life & career prospects.
It turned into agoraphobia as well, i becaome a recluse & lost touch with most of my friends & familly. I fear germs because of it, but I;'m sure you recognise a lot of these issues related to emetophobia.
The one thing unlike most other phobias is, you can't avoid it or run away from it when you get an upset stomach or bug & this alone makes it more frightening as you develop a fear of the fear.
As for treatment, I really don't know. I'm nowhere near as bad as I used to be but I'm not cured, I just think I've become used to it & have learned to deal with it & function the best I can.
I hope you find inner peace & get through this, I truly understand your pain & anguish, & if you ever need to talk, send me a pm :)