emitophobia and anxiety

I have severe emitophobia and panic attacks. They just start out of nowhere.


The other day I had one in the washroom and now I always feel scared going to the toilet because I fear I will have it again. I feel like i'm going to vomit. I am sick and tired and want to die.

I cant get any help that involves having to pay because its impossible for me to tell my problem to anyone and I don't have any money.

Whenever I have a panic attack I feel like i'm going to vomit and I feel scared that I will always have the panic attack when i'm in that situation.

I beg you please help me please I will be grateful

Comments for emitophobia and anxiety

Click here to add your own comments

Wish I just felt normal...
by: GoldenRose

I'm 12. Although I haven't had this for anywhere near as long as you guys have, I know what it feels like. I have this horrible fear of vomiting. Last year I got gastro, and although I only vomited twice, I hated it. But straight after that wasn't the problem. It was a month ago when a girl in my class said she had a sore stomach. Then the class started this conversation about gastro and that it was going around the school. Right after she said that I had a panic attack, but I was at school so I had to contain myself. After that, the anxiety lasted for about a week. After a week I didn't hear anything about it so it just went away. Then after the holidays a girl in my homeroom mentioned that gastro was going around boarding. Then it started again, but this time it feels slightly worse, but slightly better at the same. Worse because when I get nauseous, the feeling is more intense. But better because I know that I've had it before and that the feeling will go away if I try to forget about it. It's only been a few days since it came back but it feels like it's been forever.

I think I should tell you that for some of you here it might just be a phase. My mum told me that when she was a bit older than me she had this as well. It lasted for about 3 years. Although that is still a long time, it's better than your whole life.

I hope I'm not alone on this but whenever I get nervous for more than 1 day I get gas pains. My parents tell me this is because being nervous stuffs up all your insides. They told me it makes gas in your bowels.

I hope you guys all get better soon.
Bye!!
I knew I wasn't the only one! NEW
by: Anonymous

I am 18 and in college and I have had this fear as long as I can remember. I know that "no one likes getting sick" but I absolutely fear getting the stomach flu. I can handle a cold or even the regular flu just fine. But if I hear about a friend that is feeling nauseous, I get nauseous. I hate the thought of being around people that vomit. Also, when I get nervous I feel like I'm going to vomit and then every time I am in a similar situation that made me nervous I feel sick. This happened in my Math class last year. I felt sick one time in it and for the rest of the semester, I felt really nauseous every time I was in that class.

I am also terrified of eating at some of the dining commons here on campus because I am afraid of getting food poisoning. The last time I had the stomach flu, I was mortified. I was completely upset and scared for about 3 months afterwards that I would get it again and thinking about it right now makes me nauseous. It's nice that there are at least some other people that have this same fear.
Emitophobia
by: Charlotte

Hey, I'm 14 and have had Emitophobia for about 8 years now. It literally is the worst thing I could think of. The thought of being sick completely terrifies me. I've only properly been sick twice in my life which I can remember.

Some of the symptoms I have are panic attacks as well, whenever I feel sick or I'm around someone who feels sick I freak out big time. Every time somebody says they feel I'll the first thing I ask is 'do you feel sick?' if they say yes then as selfish as it sounds, I tell them to stay well away from me.

I get so angry with anyone who throws up because of alcohol, which leads to me having to get out of the house. I need to get out of the house if someone feels ill. Another symptom is if I hear someone being sick, this normally happens with family members, then I shut my eyes and block my ears, I've done that for up to four hours in a night before. Also, every time a family member, or if I stay around someone's house gets up in the middle of the night I am absolutely terrified that they are getting up to run to the toilet to throw up.

I've had a bad past with being sick. I had to sleep in the same bed as my auntie who is a heavy alcoholic and was throwing up and choking on her sick whilst I was in the bed, I have wondered that maybe that is why I have this fear.

I haven't found a way around of lessening the fear of being sick because I'm always wary about throwing up, hopefully I'll come to learn that it's a natural thing and helps clear your body so that death doesn't occur, but that doesn't do anything for me as I'd rather die then throw up.
Emetophobia
by: Anonymous

I'm 16 and I've had this problem for years. I would rather die than throw up. That's how scared of it I am, and I don't know exactly why it scares me. If I ever get a little nauseous or a stomach ache, I think that I'm going to vomit and that makes me freak out and have panic attacks.

Like previous people have said, sometimes these feelings come out of nowhere, like it happens when I'm in the shower occasionally, everything is going fine and then suddenly I get nauseous for no reason. And whenever I do get nauseous, I don't head for a garbage can or a toilet, because that means that I'm about to get sick. I just close my eyes, breath deeply and keep telling myself that I'm not going to get sick. I am afraid of anything to do with vomit, the smell, the sound, the look. I CANNOT stay around somebody that says that they feel sick or looks like they will be sick, as selfish as that may sound. And I will occasionally get panic attacks if I watch a movie and somebody gets sick in the movie, even though its fake. Whenever I talk to people about this, the just say: "nobody likes getting sick", but I'm absolutely terrified of even the thought of it. I have not vomited in a very long time, and I hope that it never happens to me again, I would not be able to stand it.
:(
by: Anonymous

I get the worst anxiety before seeing this guy that I've talked to on and off for about 7 months. I love him but I think our relationship had kinda messed me up because I always worry if he's just gonna drop me again. He moved about 4 months ago but he still has family and friends here so he'll come and visit and want me to come over. But I always feel like I'm going to vomit for the longest time, and often do. It is the absolute worst feeling in the world but no matter what I do I can't stop it. I hate throwing up so much. I'd rather just be sick and get over it than being nauseous for a long period of time. This anxiety also keeps me from eating and I love eating. I just wish this would stop.. I hope its just a teen thing and I grow out of it. Cause there's no way I can live with this for my whole life. I've only told my close friends that this happens and they encourage me and try to help me but there's no-one that can relate to me. I just want to be normal.
please help.
by: Anonymous

im 14 years old, and im not sure if i have an anxiety disorder or anything, but i know that the thought of vomit absolutely freaks me out. i need help.

i want to be a normal teenager, but for some reason whenever i'm at a friends house for a sleepover, no matter how well i know them or the family, i start feeling really sick, and freak out that im going to vomit, and then feel even worse. it happens mostly around night time, usually dinner. the thought of having to eat dinner at the table with everyone makes me feel so sick and i have no idea why. i wish it didnt and i really need to change this.

i know that its all in my head, because never once in this situation have i actually vommited, but i still freak out about it anyway.

please, please help me. i'd love to be able to eat out, and have sleepovers and eat dinner with other people without feeling sick and being on the verge of vomiting.

thankyou.
Life
by: Anonymous

Here are my tips:
Use positive self-talk:
But don't confuse this with reassurance. Reassurance will feed your fear and make it grow, positive self talk helps you understand your fears and change your thinking patterns. Instead of thinking about how worried you are or how sick you feel, say to yourself "All is well. I am fine. I trust the process of life. etc" You have to kind of give up trying to control everything and realize that its better to think positively than to think of the worst.

Exposure:
I hate this one because it's all about facing your fears. If you're afraid to leave your house, you slowly start to venture out in public one step at a time. For me even walking in my own backyard seemed difficult at times, but thats where I started and I'm working towards going out to stores/public places. One step at a time. You also have to try to stay with the anxious or scared feeling that you have while you are doing exposure until you feel more calm. If you leave when you are very anxious it will strengthen your fear. Stick it out! I know this tip sucks but it's one of the proven methods that works.

Educate yourself:
After reading a ton of other people's posts and stories I'm starting to realize that throwing up is natural, gross but natural. If a baby can throw up and survive why should we be so afraid? I threw up a few years ago and it was terrible but I survived and I actually got stronger because of it. I was able to go out in public with less worry. Besides taking normal precautions such as washing my hands and not touching my face too much, I've realized that I will never be able to protect myself totally (no matter how much I wish I could). Even staying inside my house won't protect me fully.

Understand the problem:
I've stopped trying to find out why I am afraid of this. I just am. I will never be completely satisfied with anything I find out so I'm going to have to stop even trying. I read a post once that said something like even if you throw up its only a few minutes, or at the worst a day, and the time you spend worrying about it is much more. That really hit home with me..... I spend so much time worrying about being sick/who is sick/getting sick that its disproportionate to the amount of time I'd spend even if I was sick. Spending hours worrying about something that is unlikely to happen and if it does is short lived doesn't make a lot of logical sense.


I'm not saying that any of these things are easy to do... but after 10 years of going to a therapist off and on these are the things that work. You just have to do them.

Good luck!
Me
by: Anonymous


I've had this fear since I was a child. I am now an adult ready to start a new life. I don't think there is any easy way to end this fear, but I have been fortunate enough to be able to go to therapy for years (for this and other problems: ocd, anxiety, etc) and I have a few helpful tips that have worked for me in the past. The key is to keep using them and don't stop.

I stopped using them and my fear came back. I wish I was normal and didn't have a crippling fear of throwing up. Its so bad for me right now that I don't go out of my house, I've missed work, courses, social events, etc. Every night I feel sick with worry and I even worry that my family might get sick and don't know how I would deal with the repercussions. I'm seeking out a new therapist and I know it's going to be a lot of work to get to where I want to be, but nothing good comes easy.

Tips in the next post.
emitophobia
by: Anonymous

I am 17 and I have suffered from mild-severe emitophobia all my life. Off an on. It started when I was really little, after I got my first severe stomach virus. After that virus throwing up has terrified me ever since. If I see someone vomit it will haunt me for months. This fear went away for a while and just recently came back. Now its back and worse than ever. I have random panic attacks when I dont even feel sick. All the sudden I will just start freaking out and shaking and thinking im going to puke but i never do.

I didnt used to do this but recently i've dreaded going out of the house worrying that i might be sick. this problem is killing me and i hate it. its good to know that other people have this same problem.
Pregnancy and emitophobia
by: Anonymous

OMG, I thought I was the only one who had this! I'm horribly embarrassed about it. I'm scared of vomiting AND being nauseous.

I also would love to have children one day but the thought of possibly enduring morning sickness every day for 9 months is just too much to bear.

Anyone know what the chances are of having a miscarriage if one suffers from panic attacks (brought on by nausea and vomiting)whilst being pregnant?
Phobia
by: kris

I'm 14 and have had this phobia for years now. I get the panic attacks, and I have to avoid milk, sushi, going out and other things that constantly effect my life.

I would love to have a medical career - but I don't want to be vulnerable to gastro and other stomach bugs. I would love to be a mother - but I couldn't handle the morning sickness.

The worst thing is the feeling of inevitability. you know it will happen again. you just never know when it will strike.
ruining my life!!
by: Anonymous

I have this problem too. I feel sick whenever i have to go out because I get anxious, and I get so scared that I will be sick that it stops me going places.

I try to avoid eating out as it terrifies me in case i'm sick. I don't like going to school in case I am sick there or there's germs.

This is soooo horrible. I hadn't been sick 4 seven years, then last Xmas I had severe vomiting and it lasted for a whole day. It was soooooo horrible.

After then I was fine then slowly it got worse and the phobia started, I have only had it for about 9 months but it's getting worse and ruining my life and my confidence.

I also have to go through rituals in my head and say things like "please don't let me be sick" ten times before I go out.
Emitophobia
by: Anonymous

hiaaaaaaaa I am 13 years old and I have been scared of being sick for quite a while.

This fear is wrecking my life I can not be a regular teenager, I cant go out with friends, have sleep overs, eat out, and when I do feel a bit sick stop eating for days I know this is stupid but I believe that if there is no food inside me I can't bring anything back up , but I still have panic attacks about being sick even when I haven't eaten.

I know that my thoughts are irrational but I can't help it no one understands me. About a month ago I started eating properly, and put on 5kg in 2weeks I was so pleased, and I thought my panic had just gone but it hadn't, it's slowly coming back again.

My mum found an article in the paper and I found out that I wasn't alone, and that being scared of being sick is a real phobia. I need help!!! I have had counseling and that didn't work so I don't know what 2 do I have tried everything I might get hypnotherapy.
Emitophobia
by: Kay

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Positive Personal Growth.

What you are going through must be horrible. Part of the problem I feel is that when you focus on the fact that you think you are going to vomit, this actually brings about the anxiety and the vomiting.

If you can instantly dismiss the thought that you are going to vomit and replace it with other words, this may help you.

Can you perhaps try saying repeatedly when the first anxious thought comes to mind "I am fit and healthy," "I am fit and healthy," and keep saying this until the anxiety passes.

Really believe these words, and visualize yourself smiling and laughing, throwing your arms up in the air in excitement, and then feel how great this is, and concentrate on this feeling as long as you can.

The sub-conscious believes everything it is told, it cannot tell a lie from the truth, so when the anxiety starts and you think you are about to vomit, it brings on the nausea, and you probably vomit, because that's what the sub-conscious has heard and believes you are going to do.

If you can make a complete change in your thought pattern, and tell the sub-conscious you are fit and healthy, it is going to believe this also.

You have to be strong and determined to change those thoughts from "I might vomit" to "I am fit and healthy", and keep saying them until they are believed, by you and that sub-conscious of yours.

Try saying "I am fit and healthy" at all times of the day, not only when you feel anxious, because the more you feed yourself these words, the quicker you will become this way.

You do have the choice of staying with your anxious thoughts or changing your thought pattern to get rid of the anxiety.

I wish you luck and I really hope you find the courage and strength to change the way you are.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Need Personal Growth Advice?.