The best treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). If you would like more information on emetophobia or if you think it may be affecting your life, please contact a doctor. Eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep will both contribute greatly to helping you get rid of your fear of vomiting.
Full Answer
How do you deal with emetophobia?
But actively coping with your fear of vomiting and easing nausea can help you deal with emetophobia. Make sure you have Emetophobia before going further.
What is emetophobia (fear of vomiting)?
Vomiting is not a pleasant experience for any individual. Although many people haven’t heard of emetophobia, or fear of vomiting, it is an extremely common anxiety disorder — it is the fifth most common phobia, affecting millions around the world [1] — and is especially common in women and adolescents.
What is emetophobia and how does it affect you?
The fear with emetophobia is two-fold. Yes, it’s vomit—the look, smell and general experience of it. But the second and more regularly disabling aspect of emetophobia is the anticipation—constantly entertaining the possibility of getting sick, the ceaseless taunting that the worry brain can do. Did Fear of COVID-19 Bring Us Closer Together?
How do you get rid of fear of vomiting?
Exposure therapy, which exposes you to triggers such as seeing the word vomit as well as smells, videos, photographs, or eating at buffet tables. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves a more gradual exposure to triggers and ultimately helps you disassociate vomiting with fear, danger, or death.
Does emetophobia affect eating?
In fact, emetophobics may reduce food intake or avoid certain foods altogether. While emetophobia is not considered an eating disorder, it can lead to one without proper treatment. Most people have a natural aversion to illness, however, the fear for emetophobics is all-consuming and disruptive to their daily lives.
How do I stop feeling sick emetophobia?
Treating Emetophobia Anti-anxiety medications can help manage the physical symptoms of panic. Exposure therapy is commonly used to treat emetophobia, by allowing an individual to become gradually more adjusted to situations that promote the anxiety of becoming sick.
Is there a way to cure emetophobia?
How is it treated? Psychologists can treat emetophobia with talk therapy by working through thought patterns about vomit. Many therapists also expose people gradually to vomit through videos and similar techniques. Phobias don't always require treatment.
Is emetophobia hard to treat?
A disproportionate fear of vomiting, or emetophobia, is a chronic and disabling condition which is characterized by a tendency to avoid a wide array of situations or activities that might increase the risk of vomiting. Unlike many other subtypes of specific phobia, emetophobia is fairly difficult to treat.
Is emetophobia a form of OCD?
So, what exactly is emetophobia? It is an OCD-like anxiety disorder that involves an uncontrollable fear of vomiting or witnessing other people throw-up or becoming ill. This condition falls on a spectrum.
Does CBT work for emetophobia?
Although SSRI medication and anti-emetics are often prescribed to contain the anxiety and physical feelings of Norcia, the treatment of choice is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. CBT is used to alter the unhelpful thinking patterns and safety / avoidance behaviours that keep the Emetophobia going.
How long does it take to overcome emetophobia?
On average it takes two months for sufferers – even life-long sufferers – to feel free of this debilitating and isolating phobia.
Can you get PTSD from vomiting?
The current prospective data from three independent observational studies indicate that nausea in the immediate aftermath of trauma is a strong predictor of increased PTSD symptom development prospectively.
Why do you shake before vomiting?
Chemicals and hormones are detected by the brain's chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), swaying motions are detected by the inner ear, while an upset stomach is identified by the vagus nerve. Once the signal for a need to vomit arrives at the CTZ, it sets off a chain reaction.
The Fear of Vomiting
Elizabeth Pratt is a medical journalist based in Australia. She has a Master's degree in Health Communication and a Bachelor's degree in journalism.
Definition
Emetophobia is an intense and irrational fear of vomiting. People with emetophobia may fear vomiting themselves or they may also fear feeling nauseous or witnessing someone else vomiting. 2
Symptoms
Emetophobia may present as a variety of symptoms and certain behaviors.
Diagnosis
People with phobias are not always formally diagnosed. The majority of people with phobias like emetophobia are aware they have a fear, yet they choose to live their life with their phobia.
Causes
Phobias like emetophobia don't often have a singular cause. Typically, a number of factors can contribute to the development of a phobia.
Treatment
If those with emetophobia don't receive treatment, their fear is likely to persist. However, there are some treatment options that can help alleviate the fear of vomiting. 1
Coping
Emetophobia can feel all-consuming, and it may interfere with daily life. In addition to the treatment strategies outlined above, there are steps you can take to help cope with a fear of vomiting.
Why are emetophobics misdiagnosed as having Anorexia Nervosa?
Many emetophobics are misdiagnosed as having Anorexia Nervosa because they are terrified of eating. However, body image is not involved. They’re anorexic because they fear food, or some foods, or too much food, will make them sick.
What does it mean when you can't eat?
“Anorexia” literally means “not eating.” If someone is unable to eat, for any reason, they are said to be “anorexic.” Don’t confuse this with the eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa which is marked by a fear of gaining weight or appearing overweight, especially when one is already skinny like a zipper. Many emetophobics are misdiagnosed as having Anorexia Nervosa because they are terrified of eating. However, body image is not involved. They’re anorexic because they fear food, or some foods, or too much food, will make them sick.
What to do if your child is not eating?
If your child is not eating, or restricting the foods or amount they eat and is losing weight, this is a medical emergency. Take your child to a family doctor or paediatrician immediately for monitoring and assessment of their BMI ( Body Mass Index ). Sometimes you won’t notice that your child is not eating.
Can kids restrict their food?
Younger kids seem to restrict (or even count) their treats and “junk food.”. They hear in health class that eating such things can lower your immune system leaving you vulnerable to sickness. They can also restrict the amount of food they eat.
What to do if you have emetophobia?
If your emetophobia and related nausea are severe, your doctor may prescribe medication to help you deal with both. Ask about taking an anti-emetic, which can prevent nausea and vomiting, and an anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication to deal with underlying disorders.
What are the triggers of emetophobia?
Some common triggers are: Seeing or thinking of another person or animal vomiting. Pregnancy. Travel or transportation. Medication. Scents or smells. Foods. ...
How to stop vomiting when you are scared?
1. Schedule a doctor’s appointment. If your fear of vomiting impinges on your ability to have a normal life, schedule an appointment with your doctor. She may be able to help you with coping mechanisms or prescribe anti-emetics, which may ease nausea or vomiting.
How to deal with fear of vomit?
Making peace with yourself about fearing vomit may help you relax, which could actually help you deal with the anxiety related to your fear. Accepting your emetophobia may also help others accept your disorder. Embracing your disorder may not happen overnight because the fear can be significant.
What to eat when you are having a stomach attack?
If you are having an attack of nausea or vomiting, you may want to eat using the BRAT principle, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These foods may settle your stomach and ease fears of vomiting because they are easy to digest. [19]
What is the best treatment for vomiting?
Exposure therapy, which exposes you to triggers such as seeing the word vomit as well as smells, videos, photographs, or eating at buffet tables. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves a more gradual exposure to triggers and ultimately helps you disassociate vomiting with fear, danger, or death. ...
How to relieve tension in the body?
Some possible exercises include: Deep breathing to relieve tension. Inhale and exhale in a balanced pattern. For example, breathe in to a count of four, hold for two counts, and then breathe out for four counts. Make sure you sit upright with your shoulders back to get optimal benefits from deep breathing.
Causes of Emetophobia
While there is no known cause contributed to emetophobia, clinicians agree that there are likely both biological and environmental influences. For example, a person who struggles with an extreme fear of vomiting may have been predisposed to developing anxiety type disorders.
Treatments for Emetophobia
Individuals who struggle with emetophobia are often confined within their fears, typically unable to function in many social situations. This is a serious condition that warrants professional help and therapeutic interventions for treatment and recovery.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
If you have struggled with emetophobia, what forms of treatment were helpful for you?
What is the most common fear among children?
The fear of vomiting , or emetophobia, afflicts millions. It is in fact the most common fear among the children I see in my anxiety disorders practice. Many adults come to treatment for that fear as well.
Can Ipecac cause vomiting?
Some therapists use ipecac to induce vomiting to help patients see it is survivable. ( Atlantic Monthly editor Scott Stossel describes his most unfortunate experience with this in an article and memoir ). I don’t. The fear with emetophobia is two-fold. Yes, it’s vomit—the look, smell and general experience of it.
Is emetophobia a fear?
The fear with emetophobia is two-fold. Yes, it’s vomit—the look, smell and general experience of it. But the second and more regularly disabling aspect of emetophobia is the anticipation—constantly entertaining the possibility of getting sick, the ceaseless taunting that the worry brain can do. So how can sufferers of emetophobia overcome their ...
What happens when you start to have anorexia?
Once anorexia starts to pick up steam, you may begin to develop a host of physical and mental symptoms that are tougher to hide than your eating rituals or meal skipping.
Is eating a fear of food?
Anorexia is the fear of eating, which is different than the fear of food. The fear of food, officially known as cibophobia, is not an eating disorder per se but it is a psychological issue that can stem from emetophobia.
What to do if you have emetophobia?
If you have Emetophobia, you shouldn’t hesitate to speak to a mental health professional such as a licensed psychologist or a psychiatrist. Being diagnosed by a specialist is important, as is seeking help to deal with the disorder.
Can eating more food cause anorexia?
In extreme cases, the refusal of emetophobics to eat more food for fear of becoming ill can lead to an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is defined by PubMed Health as “an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than is considered healthy.”
Definition
Symptoms
- Emetophobia may present as a variety of symptoms and certain behaviors. These may include avoiding the following:4 1. Food not considered "safe" 2. Medications that may list nausea as a potential side effect 3. Eating in public 4. Eating too quickly 5. Eating late in the day 6. Social activities 7. Places that may contain lots of alcohol, like parties and bars 8. Pregnancy 9. Bathro…
Diagnosis
- People with phobias are not always formally diagnosed. The majority of people with phobias like emetophobia are aware they have a fear, yet they choose to live their life with their phobia. However, avoidance can be counterproductive and make phobias worse. A diagnosis may be a helpful starting point for treatment.6 To reach a formal diagnosis of emetophobia, a doctor will …
Causes
- Phobias like emetophobia don't often have a singular cause. Typically, a number of factors can contribute to the development of a phobia. Emetophobia typically has an early age of onset and may be due to a number of reasons.7 Possible factors that can contribute to emetophobia include: 1. A traumatic past experience involving vomit 2. An observational learning experience, f…
Treatment
- If those with emetophobia don't receive treatment, their fear is likely to persist. However, there are some treatment options that can help alleviate the fear of vomiting.1 Possible treatment options are:1 1. Hypnotherapy, which utilizes hypnosis to facilitate treatment 2. Cognitive behavioral therapy 3. Counter conditioning 4. Reframing of past ex...
Coping
- Emetophobia can feel all-consuming, and it may interfere with daily life. In addition to the treatment strategies outlined above, there are steps you can take to help cope with a fear of vomiting. Some coping strategies to try include: 1. Look at the evidence logically: Rationalizing your phobia can help alleviate some of the unnecessary fear or anxiety that you may feel in resp…
Summary
- Emetophobia is an irrational and intense fear of vomiting. Those with emetophobia experience extreme levels of distress in the presence of vomit and may fear the anticipation of vomiting. They may go to great lengths to avoid situations that could result in vomiting like drinking alcohol, taking public transit, or flying. Emetophobia can be difficult to treat, but treatment options includ…
A Word from Verywell
- A fear of vomiting can make daily life difficult, but support is available. If you are struggling due to emetophobia, consider reaching out to a mental health professional to learn more about the condition and how to improve your symptoms. There are various treatment options that may help alleviate your irrational fear of vomiting.