Re: Finally being honest about emetophobia
Hunny, I could have written that myself
Are you scared of other people being s**k too? That terrifies me just as much, I even go into massive panic if I TALK to someone on the PHONE that has a bad tummy. I know in my rational (!) mind that you can't catch bugs down the phone line, but still...
Emetophobia has controlled my life. That's the sum of it. I'm 39, and can't remember a time when I wasn't afraid. I have been on/off antidepressants for 16 years (currently on sertraline), did 13 weeks of analytical hypnosis (£55 a session and didn't help at all ) and started CBT a few years ago - that was actually for travel anxiety, which I believe is directly related to the emet because I'm scared that I or someone else will be ill. The therapist realised very early on that trying to tackle this one problem wasn't the answer, her team agreed that what I needed was psychotherapy but they couldn't offer me that on the nhs.
I actually had an assessment with our local service yesterday, with a lovely lady. I won't go in to detail, basically she could see a theme running through all of my 'issues' and also feels that working with the phobia isn't the answer - I have finally realised (as did she) that the emet is a SYMPTOM and not the cause of all the other problems (which are also symptoms). She is going to report to her team and let me know if and how they can help me.
It is such a complicated phobia, and so many of the other anxieties that go with it are actually caused by it. But I still believe that there is some underlying cause, right at the root of it all.
Don't know if any of that makes sense lol! Good luck with the meds, and thanks for sharing. You are also not alone
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Knowing it's irrational doesn't change anything...