Is it normal that i am afraid of vomit?

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10 Comments

So, for as long as I can remember I have been afraid of vomit. It affects my everyday life. And I know that it is an irrational fear. A lot of people don't understand emetophobia. In order to better explain this disorder, I have some examples of the things that contribute to my fear: I dread public transportation. I am afraid of someone throwing up and not being able to escape. I avoid being around sick people, even if it is just a cold. When I get scared, I start to panic. First, my heart starts racing. Then I feel my face heat up. And then comes the nausea. The only comfort items that help in a situation like this are minty flavored gum and water. These things never leave my sight. It is not only the fear of seeing/hearing someone throw up that scares me. I also fear the thought of throwing up myself. I pace. I cry. I tremble. I completely lose it. I am a psychology major, and I know that desensitization is a very effective method of treatment, but I can't bring myself to do it. I am pretty sure this is a means of maintaining control, even of normal bodily functions. I am afraid of undergoing another traumatic experience that will push me even closer to the edge. Please tell me that I'm not the only one on is it normal to have a stupid, irrational fear.

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93% Normal
Based on 28 votes (26 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • wistfulmaiden
    9 years ago

    I always dreaded vomiting too(it does kinda suck!) but for some reason, I got over it. Not that I like it of course but Im no longer scared of it. I think the more you struggle and fight it the worse it is. Just throw up and get it over with.
    I used to be anorexic but I never considered bulimia because to me that is worse than not eating.

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  • robert319
    9 years ago

    I used to have an intense fear of myself vomiting but it has now subsided. I attended CBT therapy sessions which helped me a lot changing the way I thought about vomiting. I did not vomit for about 16 years through fear of what might happen but recent episodes of myself vomiting I have realised it isn't as bad as I used to think it was when I was a child. I still feel slightly anxious about it in certain situations but tell myself vomiting is a normal bodily function. When I actually vomit now I don't feel as anxious.

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  • tatertot008
    11 years ago

    i'm the same way. i actually see a psychiatrist for it, and i have a prescription for zofran, the strongest anti-nausea medicine known to man. if you need to talk about your feelings, i've found that emetophobia.org is a very helpful site.

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  • Wendell
    11 years ago

    This story made me throw up

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  • keeping_up_with_da_kids
    11 years ago

    I love throwing up and the dry heaving feeling is awesome.

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  • bdk61950
    11 years ago

    It's true. I have some sort of magical power to determine when someone is going to vomit. The talent expands to film as well. When someone throws up in a movie, I have to turn my head and cover my eyes. I pick up these signals.

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  • KeddersPrincess
    11 years ago

    I used to know people who had this phobie. They literally had to leave the room when they felt like someone was going to throw up.

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  • Mmmpfh
    11 years ago

    Quite a common phobia. I have it too but not as badly as you. In recent years I've made massive progress. I can see vomit and feel ok about it. But if I think I'm about to get sick myself I freak out. I stop eating all day. It takes over my mind and I space out in front of people.
    It's a huge crutch on life sometimes :[

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  • Vulpes
    11 years ago

    I`m terrified of it too.
    When I was younger I got terribly sick, and had never thrown up before that time. I choked on it and couldn`t breath, and had to wait for it all to eventually dribble out of my nose it was a horrific ordeal >//o

    So now I`m terrified to vomit, I try everything I can not to. You`re not alone.

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    • NeuroNeptunian
      11 years ago

      That sounds horrible.

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