Different type of emetophobia

[ZoWeeMcfly]

Iv been snooping around the forums and was plesantly surprised to see how many other emets there are on here. However, all of you emets seem to struggle with phobia of yourselves vomiting. Now, my phobia is of other people vomiting, although I do also have panic attacks when I vomit, which is not very often. However, I constantly panic about others being sick. I start to panic when:
travelling (public transport like buses and trains are an absolute nightmare!)
in a crowded room
people say they feel ill
people look unwell
people look upset
people have been ill lately
someone is pregnant.
in a restaraunt

And probably more situations. but its really bad, in all of these situations I start to get shaky and it takes all of my energy to calm myself down.
So far, I have only had 3 panic attacks in these situations, but thats more than enough.
I dont really know what to do or how to cope. It pretty much controls my life, because I hate travelling anywhere. It means that when my friends are having a laugh, I cant because I am worrying about people being sick !

[LauraCow]

You're not alone with that, I'm exactly the same. I work in my local cinema so when I find out someone is sick I start to have panic attacks which causes me to close off to try and stop them. As you stated it takes all your energy to calm yourself down, as it does to me too, afterwards I cry to let the "anxiety" inside let go.

Public transport -
I used to love going on public transport, listen to my music in my headphones and watch people do whatever (bit nosey but enjoyable :D). Ever since around a year ago I feel sick on a train journey and I have a mini anxiety attack every time I go on one. Best thing to do, put music on, sit near a window, put something on the seat next to you and just spend the journey looking out the window.

Crowded room -
I used to go to around 30-40 gigs in a year, so cramped conditions lots of alcohol etc. Someone threw up by the amount of alcohol they drank, ever since then I've been anxious in any crowded place. Still need somehow to control this one :(

People say they feel/look/were unwell -
Same as the panic attacks, overdrive in the OCD. If they look unwell - it could just be their complexity, or they could be cold/tired.

Pregnancy -
One area that doesn't bother me as much oddly. Had two pregnant co-workers, was talking to the one whilst cleaning a screen and every 2 minutes she gagged and each time I did go to cover my ears but I had no attacks, really weird one.

Restaurant -
Not sure if you mean through food poisoning or catching something. For myself its to do with food poisoning, my boyfriend, his mum, my mum are fed up of me asking "is it cooked right?"

I went to pick my boyfriend up from a pub he works at at 1am, he asked if I would stay for a drink and I agreed, he said one of his old friends was in and was going to stay for a drink with him but he was too drunk, one of his friends came outside to smoke and I had this feeling the guy who was drunk would come outside and throw up, alas 2 minutes later he did, my boyfriend escorted me to go inside as I covered my ears and eyes, I enjoy going to pubs, as long as it's in the day time and not busy.

One for myself that might not be for you is public toilets, I used to be cautious over which I would use, now I use none, I'd rather keep everything in until I'm at a "safe toilet".

What I do to cope? Ring or curl up on my boyfriend and cry lots to him, hes figured out how to calm me down. If I don't have him, I read a book or put music on. If there are extreme measures I listen to a relaxation CD I received.

I know I've spoke a lot, I do that at times. None of this might be what you wanted but its to help you know you're not alone :hugs:

[ZoWeeMcfly]

Hi, and wow, thankyou for your long reply !
It means alot to me that I am not alone in this.. I often start crying whilst having a panic attack, which usually results in me making myself panic even more. Afterwards I am usually just shaking and very quiet..

And although I do have a problem with public toilets, it is not related to my phobia, it is just that I do not like using them because of how dirty and rundown they can sometiimes be!
As for pubs, I am only 16 so I do not have a problem at the moment, butI do really worry about going out when I am older, like many of my older friends do. Like my boyfriend went on a night out a few weeks ago (he is 19) and he was telling me all about it and it sounded like he had a really good night, and I would love for me to be able to do the same thing, but I just know that I will spend the whole night worrying about someone being sick, because seriously, crowded room with lots of alcohol...

Thankyou for taking the time to reply to me.. I always feel like I am alone with this because none of my friends really understand. They know that if they feel sick, they should move away from me, but they dont really know how bad it is. Although, I go tto air cadets, and there was a problem with a cadet being sick a few weeks ago, and I ran into the NCO room almost in tears, about to have a mini panic attack, and they were great, they managed to calm me down and made sure that I didnt have to travel home with the ill cadet, which if I'm honest is the best way anyone has dealt with my phobia and it made me feel better about it that none of the laughed at me for it..

x:hugs:

[sarahblonde32]

hi, wow i am the same, I absolutely hate vomit or anyone that is ill near me! i have spent so long avoiding anyone that says they feel ill or sick! i worked with kids for a while and it was the one thing i dreaded...when they said 'i feel sick'! and kids are always sick!luckily i managed to avoid it, did have to clear it up once...i was almost sick myself.its the one thing i dread about having kids of my own. i hate it, i too now avoid pubs and clubs, i went to london with some friends a while ago and one of them was sick all night, i moved rooms, i felt bad because the other girls stayed with her holding her hair etc but i just couldnt even stand the sound of it!!
my gag reflex is so weak even thinking about it makes me gag.

YUK!!!
sarahx

[haz]

Same here. Even small children vomiting makes me panic. The definition of "Emetophobia" is a fear of being sick and seeing, hearing, smelling other people being sick. It's awful, I was forced to endure some "exposure therapy" during a recent spell in hospital but I'm still as scared as ever.

I too, was surprised but also comforted by how common this is - I thought I was a total freak! It's a common phobia.

[ZoWeeMcfly]

I am too very wary around kids. I think it scares me because an adult has more self control. Most of the time, they will run away to be sick, or find a bathroom. Kids will just be sick on the spot. Whever I have to babysit kids, I am very particular about what they eat or drink, just to be sure that they will not be sick. The only think I do not mind, is babies being sick. that just doesnt bother me. I was feeding my friends baby and he was sick on me, only a bit, and she started fussing because she thought I was going to panic, but I handles it very calmly and just cleaned him up !

I always assumed that it was a rare phobia, because I don't know anyone else that suffers from it. i know lots of people do not like vomit (because, who does?) but noone else that actually has a phobia of it !

[LauraCow]

I was very lucky today at work, if i was there I would have probably ave fainted, a little girl was apparently violently ill all over her self along with on the floor.

I prefer being around adults, only because they are better at washing hands afterwards, also if they feel sick they wont go anywhere outside, whereas kids don't really say anything.

Goes well with wanting to be a teacher :yesyes: