Anxiety over a fear of throwing up?

[b-rad727]

Hey all,

I've had this problem for maybe 3 years, although it seems to have gotten worse. It has its peaks and lows but it is extremely inconsistent.

The issue is, eating (or even if I don't eat) before going into a public space in which there is no escape, eg going on a long bus trip, going for a haircut, going to work ect. In these situations I feel as I loose control of the digestion of food, and that my stomach starts working in the opposite direction (sending food or whatever up) causing panic which in-turn increases the severity. This is a huge issue when I have to be at a specific place at a specific time, because I hate being late for work ect, but it is only minor if I am on no particular schedule. It makes it extremely hard to eat in public (at restaurants ect) and socialise and commit to things (ie if a manager asks me to work, and as soon as I agree the anxiety and nausea show up, if I just show up it will be only minor). The worst part is that it is unpredictable, and scenarios or techniques I use which seem to help it sometimes seem to work; don't work (eg, before getting on a bus to go drinking at a friends house, before getting on said bus it is quite bad, but generally when I get on the bus I goes away, but last time this didn't happen, even with breathing techniques and listening to music).

When this anxiety first started, I could eat 30 mins before doing the things listed above, but now even if I don't eat I have this fear. I believe when I learned I can feel nausea and gag as if I'm about to vomit even if I haven't eaten for a while, or anything at all created this monster.

Any advice? I took some sessions with a therapist a while ago, it didn't help that much.

Thanks in advance! I'll add anything if I've missed it. I've been meaning to make this post for weeks.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi b-rad727,

Welcome to the forums and I'm glad you decided to post and share what's going on with you. This isn't something that I personally struggle with but I know you're not alone on this one.

Did you want to share some of the advice your therapist gave you? That way we won't repeat it all and can try and offer something helpful.

In the meantime - feel free to have a look at our other threads. I'll link to some here -

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/young-people/emetophobia-(fear-of-vomiting)#qr_323HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/young-people/fear-of-vomiting#qhvfOXHzvGGEbv...

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/does-anyone-else-have-a-major-fear-o...

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/terrified-of-vomiting#qsH5NXHzvGGEbv...

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/vomiting-phobia#qh8AD3HzvGGEbv8AAOnT...

rt

[Sweesoft]

Hi b-rad727,

Welcome to the forum. I haven't experienced this myself but I know someone who used to. Hers though was for a brief period of time only. She did undergo therapy and that helped quite well. She changed her perspective and environment and started to do different and fun things. She distracted herself and did pretty well.

[tranzcrybe]

Hi b-rad727,

Good on you for summoning the courage to post after several weeks, and welcome - positive action, indeed.

I understand your condition and although you have had therapy, the missing piece has probably been 'Why?'

The answer: Fight or flight response, as you described in being 'trapped' is a self perpetuating anxiety - your feeling of it only accelerates your anxiety, and so on. Prior to any 'battle' or when needing to be as nimble as possible, your digestive system/brain signal sends messages to put food urges on hold (since a belly full of food will hinder your objective) - you become 'resistant' to food. Over time, you have learned to associate these relatively minor anxieties into the projected escalation.

The hardest thing for you will be eating in public (and can even extend to casual social interactions) - the fear of eating is overcompensated by the embarrassment of throwing up; at the same time, you don't want to appear unsociable by not participating or taking your meal to elsewhere.

Some tips:

• Try to sit near a doorway to reassure yourself that there is an exit strategy if required
• Avoid 'heavy' foods that require exertion to consume
• Find a place where you feel at ease (against a wall/window, or facing toward it)
• Avoid 'tunnel vision' where you feel the world is looking at you
• Engage in conversation as priority over the meal

You may find it helpful to simply remove the attention on you - as you said, once you relax again, you are fine.

Good luck in dealing with it. Let me know how it goes if you feel inclined.

Regards,

t.

[b-rad727]

Thanks everyone. Well, it's a long story. I attended 3 therapy sessions back in 2017, but it was in between when I finished working full time and I started uni 5 days a week, I could only attend these as I didn't have enough time when I started uni, (needless to say, I had to suspend/stop my studies due to this terrible thing that is ruining my life.) I had an anxiety attack before leaving for my last therapy session and couldn't make it. Now I'm in a similar situation that I'm transferring/getting a new job close to my house but I have to do a physiotherapy medical check prior to staring and I had an attack prior to leaving to go there, which is heartbreaking because I travel far for my current work, and I have to re-book the appointment and I don't want a repeat of what happened last time, and I'm not sure if therapy will help before I start working, or if they cancel my application. The therapist I went to before just seemed to ask me questions and didn't give any advice on management, but going to therapy seems like having a arachnophobe having to walk through a wall of spiderwebs to get to treatment.

[tranzcrybe]

Hi b-rad727,

It might be helpful for you to have a 'pre-anxiety' routine:-

• Having a nap to relax your wandering thoughts
• Preparing a familiar snack/meal that you enjoy or just sits well with you
• Wearing a favourite 'confidence' shirt, jacket, etc., that gives you a sense of control

The arachnophobe can still walk through the web if carrying a machete (or a can of bug spray!). It all comes down to how you process your feelings - focus on the positive and shut down the undesirable ones.

Regards,

t.