Fear of being sick :((

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: Angel on 15 February 2013

Hi there, my name is angel, i am female and i am 22. This is been the first time I am writing about my issue and it is very hard to admit. I have a severe phobia. That is of being sick. Not just getting sick like cold or flu, but nausea and throwing up. I don't know where this phobia came from but it has plagued my life for the past 5 years. I constantly have anxiety after I eat a meal. I convince myself I'm going to throw it up. My mind convinces me that I am and I start getting hardcore nausea. I won't even be sick, but I will think about it so much I ACTUALLY think I'm going to throw up. My chest tightens, I can't breathe, I start shivering and shaking and my heart races. I have to take benzodiazepines to calm down from the thoughts. i avoid social situations as MUCH as I can in case I feel like throwing up. I eat one meal a day and the smallest bit and I convince myself that there's no way I could throw up if my stomachs empty. I feel so ashamed to have this phobia. Nobody knows. No one. Not a single soul. I beat myself up at work after I eat even the smallest thing. I dont eat breakfast in case i am going to throw up on the train ride to work. im constantly taking tablets (to stop nausea) because I have nausea EVERY SINGLE MIN of the day and night. I am so physically and mentally drained. I want the psychotic thoughts about vomiting to stop. I feel like there is a devil in my head that does this to me, even if i go one SECOND and busy myself with something else, it will creep up on me Again. and again and again. This phobia is so severe I am so drained I want to kill myself just to stop the thoughts and fear. From the second I wake up to the second I fall asleep I'm fearing I'm going to vomit. I wake up in the middle of the night from anxiety and i think omg what if i throw up right now? its making me insane actually insane. I'm always so hungry but I torture myself so much about being sick that I don't touch food. :( is there anyone else out there like this? I feel like an alien. How can someone obsess over something so normal to the human being? Please someone help me. Is this a normal phobia?...?... i don't even know where to start for help because I am SO ashamed and embarrassed to have this phobia. Whoever has been so kind to read this please don't think I am a freak, I'm just in desperate need of help I don't know what to do Any thoughts will be appreciated xx

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: geoff on 2 March 2013

dear Angel, the best of luck. Having an endoscopy is different these days they put you to sleep so you don't feel a thing and you don't even know that you have had it, but I would try this medication and gaviscon first, and they may put you on a small dose first but I would want the strong one, in other words hit it full on, just remember you have to try and overcome these feelings, so take a deep breathe and relax, and it will work straight away or in a day or so, but normally the former. Love Geoff. x

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: scotty on 6 March 2013

Hi Angel, another thing i thought of is "Health Phobia", reminds me of that a little, i get this to an extent . If it takes of it can really run you ragged, the worry of sickness, having a stroke/heart example. I wonder if the root belief is something like "fear of dying", often i am told, if we dig down deep there's always a belief that you fear the most. Then you can maybe challenge that a little, something a bit more reassuring like if he get's sick (brother) there is doctors nearby etc. I'm sure you can think of better alternatives, to make you feel a little better...these thought's can be so powerful at times and ingrained ... TC

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: Angel on 8 March 2013

Thanks Geoff and Scotty for replying, yes I agree the fear is something more deep within...I have to speak to my doctor, I have been too fearful the past couple times, I come to tell my doctor than i change the subject it sucks :((( I hope I can get past this soon... Thank you for your support Love Angel

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: geoff on 9 March 2013

dear Angel, why don't you write down what you want to speak to your doctor about, and then just pass them the note, and once the conversation begins it may seem to be easier. Love Geoff. x

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: Angel on 12 March 2013

Dear Geoff, that sound slike a great idea, thank you for your suggestion. xxx

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: Paula on 12 March 2013

Hi Angel. I really urge you to get some help. Be brave. When I finally opened up (after years of suffering) and the psychiatrist was very good, saying that fear of germs is very common (even though mine is fear of sickness). Also, don't be scared of an endoscopy. I had one done recently and you don't feel a thing or get sick at all 🙂 There are medications that can help reflux etc. but doctors need to do tests first. I am up for a colonoscopy soon and am terrified, as that involves taking laxatives 😞 I just wish I had a psychologist that would help me with this fear, as there is only 1 psychiatrist in the area that I can see and she is not helping me at all. P.S Don't be scared of anti anxiety meds either. I used to be but find now that if there is sickness around, then I need it just to sleep and eat something. I have relapsed a little over an emotional event and have started wiping and worrying again. To the point that it is making me feel sick. Does anyone know of how to cope with this, as my options for psychologists are not open. Hope you're finding courage Angel xx

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: geoff on 14 March 2013

dear Paula, have you diagnosed with OCD as it sounds as though this is what you are struggling with, such as the wiping, and there must be other routines that you do. I have it plus a couple of other people on this site, and I have had mine for over 45 years. There is medication which is supposed to help with the anxiety and your doctor will be able to prescribe you this medication, but also google OCD and the web will open with a mass of information, plus some online courses. Please let us know how you go. Love Geoff. x

[Bulletin_Board_Archive]

Originally posted by: Angel on 14 March 2013

Dear Paula, I'm so sorry to hear your fears have come back 😞 I feel your pain. You are right., i need to be brave. This is truly do or die. ok that sounds a bit dramatic, but in the sense of "die" i mean ruining my life. I know what you mean about the constant worrying that has plagued you, that is making you feel sick. You think about it SOOOO much you convince yourself you are felling sick. it is all in the way you program your brain to think..I get like that too.. I think about being sick so much that I feel like vomiting.. but when i tell myself to calm down the nausea goes away immediately...its so horrific.. im sorry to hear you have no other psych to talk to... is there any psychs you can find on the BB website? see if maybe they can assist you over the phone? or maybe call beyond blue and tak to one of the counsellors? Im not sure what to suggest to you because I dont even know the first step. 😞 sending you my thoughts and love paula xox

[Mari96]

Hi, my name is Mari, I'm 18 and have been living with emetophobia for seven years... I wanted to know if anyone who has this phobia has managed to overcome it, or at least how to minimize the fear so as to get through daily tasks... Has anyone been to therapy for this?

[Chris_B]

Hi Mari,

Welcome to the forums. Sorry you haven't had a reply, this is an old thread and it's unlikely that any of the original posters are still reading. Try the ones below, they're all from users with emetophobia and are more recent:

Worried about myself and my life

Not coping

How do I help my partner understand?