Emetophobia in children - will this go away? (fear of throwing up)

[Anonymous]

Hey OP if you're out there, I heard about this book called Guts about emetophobia in kids. Made me think of this post and thought I'd follow up.

https://www.amazon.com/Guts-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545852501/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=guts&qid=1571878070&sr=8-1

[Anonymous]

I have pretty severe emetephobia that started at age 6 with a bad stomach flu.

I wish my parents had gotten me therapy as a kid but I had to go seek it at age 20 when it turned into full blown agoraphobia and I dropped out of school.

Took years to recover. In a good place now but I’m on anxiety meds and I abuse anti-nausea meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely therapy. I will say that I still deal with this as an adult and it is HARD. I haven’t thrown up since I was 5 and DH handles ALL stomach issues, but it is still very scary for me if the idea or threat even enters my mind. Full-on panic attack if I hear it, see it on TV, etc.

That’s crazy. Since you were 5? Lucky!

Fellow emet who unfortunately vomits fairly often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a variety of anxiety disorder, and she needs treatment for anxiety.

It is NOT a category of phobia for which experiential exposure is medically recommended.

Interesting that you say this. I'm currently in treatment for emetophobia and exposure is part of the treatment. Can you share some background about why you think exposure is not recommended?

+1

I received exposure therapy for my emetephobia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a variety of anxiety disorder, and she needs treatment for anxiety.

It is NOT a category of phobia for which experiential exposure is medically recommended.

Interesting that you say this. I'm currently in treatment for emetophobia and exposure is part of the treatment. Can you share some background about why you think exposure is not recommended?

I am an emetophobe and have been treated for it (with some success, not 100%).

Exposure (to TV/film depictions of vomiting, etc.) was part of the treatment. The specific kind of exposure therapy that is not recommended, per multiple providers who have been involved in my treatment, is induction of vomiting in emetophobic patients. Take it for what you will!

I mention it because I think many people believe that if the person with the phobia just gets really sick and vomits a lot and gets over the illness s/he will realize it's not really a big deal. That does not work.

Agreed.

My exposure therapy was watching/listening to vomiting. It progressed slowly.

I ended up getting sick naturally and it honestly was a backslide if anything.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread to see if the OP has seen any improvement for her daughter/what she has (or anyone else reading this thread) has tried? My 11 year old also has this phobia . . . not ruling her life at this point, but I'd like to keep it from getting to that stage!

[Anonymous]

My sister never got over it. She never had therapy, however, as my parents thought she’d outgrow it. She had to drop out of medical school and is terrified to go on any public transportation for fear someone would throw up. She could handle the worst poop diaper but had to leave the room when her child puked.

Please get your daughter help now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely therapy. I will say that I still deal with this as an adult and it is HARD. I haven’t thrown up since I was 5 and DH handles ALL stomach issues, but it is still very scary for me if the idea or threat even enters my mind. Full-on panic attack if I hear it, see it on TV, etc.

That’s crazy. Since you were 5? Lucky!

Fellow emet who unfortunately vomits fairly often.

I can’t imagine. I live in pretty constant fear of getting sick enough to throw up. I have been VERY lucky to never get food poisoning or a virus that causes vomiting. At this point I truly think my body suppresses it out of fear, or something.