Originally Posted by
fairyclairy
Hi Caitlin,
Im sure u will find lots of help and support from this website as i have done over the years - no one will judge you on here and you can ask whatever you want for reassurance (no matter how stupid u think it is) people on here always understand.
I too am emetophobic, iv had this phobia since I was 11 (im now 22)
Mine started on my first day of high school when i was s*ck after eating something from the canteen and having been ill infront of loads of year 11s, i was very embarrased! Although this doesnt bring back bad memories and i wasnt laughed at, and got help from my friends and got sent home - we've put this situation down as the start of my phobia!
I too get panicky/anxious when being a passenger in someones car - that is completely normal with this phobia! Because we all know travel sickness can happen so we automatically think it will happen and get very scared about it... im fortunate to be able to drive, so i drive myself everywhere - i trust certain people to drive me around, but i try to drive myself, suppose its a way of control!
My main fear if myself being s*ck, hense why i struggle so much being a passenger in someones car but i also fear other people being s*ck around me.... i freak out if someone tells me they feel ill or sick incase i catch it!
This phobia drives me mad, it really does! And the worst part about it is that its not visual - people cant see it, so sometimes judge or dont believe it!
I can imagine u are feeling very frustrated about ur parents etc - mine have understood over the years, but dont seem that bothered about it anymore - suppose they think im older so i dont need much support from them! If only they knew...!!
Have u thought about showing your parents this website? Maybe they will be able to understand things abit more... or getting a book for them to read?
Have you got any help for this phobia? Iv had CBT in the past, and im currently doing de-sensitation with my CBT therapist, which is basically getting de-sensitised to s*ck..... looking at pictures, watching videos, making s*ck recipes... u name it, ive got to do it!! lol
It is helping though and iv noticed a real difference so i would recommend it!
If you want to chat about anything, dont hesitate to p/m me because id be happy to chat! Iv had this for the past 11 years, so i know an awful lot about this stupid thing... with this i also suffer from panic attacks (which is what u described with ur pounding heart etc... do u get that alot?) abit of social phobia (fearing people might be s*ck around me) agrophobia (wanting to stay near home incase i got ill) generalised anxiety and health anxiety...... it sounds alot, but im still normal trust me lol
I still work, have bf, go out with friends etc.... i just struggle sometimes more than other people do!
Hope iv helped x