Books on Barfing??? - Page 2

[PinksMommy]

Wow! I'm like this too, and I didn't know there was a name for it or that anyone else felt the same way. I'm feeling uncomfortable just reading the posts in this thread about vomiting...ugh.

My sister who lives with us had a stomach virus two weeks ago and I was so so so agitated all day long and couldn't even come out of my room for fear that I might hear her in the bathroom. Then that night, it got me! Oh yuck and panic, it was my first time in 6 years, but I only threw up once compared to a whole 24 hours like my sister.

I have all kinds of stuff to do to avoid it too. (Although I didn't know there was anything OTC that you could take? Hmm...) My DH helps me too, he came up with a deep-breathing relaxation routine when I was in college and people would get drunk in the dorm and sometimes got too drunk and vomited.

It really sucks for me, because I am very social and some of the things that I love to do are go to concerts and amusement parks, sometimes I can avoid thinking about the possibility of encountering anyone getting sick, but it has happened once or twice.

I don't have any tips for making it better, I totally have done the earplugs or left the house to avoid dealing with it and I'm scared and feel guilty of what I'm going to feel like when my dd gets older and will probably get sick a time or two.

I got teased for it in school, and my mom always said she "didn't have any patience for that b.s." My DH's friends terrorize me now, they're really young (18-19) and will chase me around and make yakking and gagging sound effects until I flip out.

[LadyMarmalade]

Originally Posted by kchoffmann

I just wanted to counter what was said here a few times to say that it IS curable. Phobias are extremely curable in fact. Treatment is systematic desensitization, which is basically just gradual exposure. It's important actually that you not shield her too much because the more the anxiety is reinforced, the worse it will get.

For the record, I'm both a therapist and an emetaphobe. I too will avoid puking at all costs and will often avoid crowds where there is a likely possibilty of someone getting sick (amusement parks, concerts, etc.) But I used to be much worse. I too used to get nausea and tummy aches as a teen (these are really just anxiety reactions), and I was much more afraid of going certain places. I wound up marrying a puker, someone who gets tummy sick A LOT, so that's effectively provided some desensitization. I try to force myself to watch people throw up in movies. I also try not to act freaked out when DS has thrown up (I'm really bad at this though, which I would say is the worst effect of my phobia.)

All that said, your idea to show her a book about it is a great one - it's a part of the desensitization process. Just keep talking to her about it and being empathetic, but don't reinforce her fears.

This is a really good post, and I identify with a lot of it! I remember each and every single time I've vomited since I was 3. I also remember the majority of times everyone in my family has vomited. But I've lost count on the number of times my husband and children have vomited - I just can't count that high. I will go to extraordinary lengths to prevent myself from getting sick. The last time I vomited was 7 years ago. The time before that was in high school. The time before that was when I was 11. Thankfully I didn't get morning sickness.

My 5 year old has developed a fear of vomiting too - it came about after a very nasty bacterial gastroenteritis bout which really ravaged his poor little body. The stomach cramps were agonising (I know because I caught it from him - mine was nowhere near as bad though and I didn't vomit) and he associated the pain of the illness with vomiting. It desensitised me a bit, and I coped fairly well. But when I was younger my family laughed at me if I covered my ears, ran away or screwed up my nose if I heard, saw or smelled vomit. My 5 year old was having weird vomiting episodes a few weeks ago - and unfortunately I think my 8 year old has inherited my aversion to seeing people throw up (he had a sympathy vomit when he saw his little brother puke).

Anyway I don't have advice, I'm just chiming in to say I understand how you're feeling. It's hard coping with a little one who cries at the thought of vomiting.

[MPsSweetie]

I know this post is old but I had to say something. I have had emetephobia for as long as I can remember. It has complete control over my life I have to say. I spent years in counseling, took different meds and absolutely nothing works. And I have to say, exposure doesn't help me in the least. I am absolutely terrified of Amethyst or James or anyone at work in fact, throwing up. I am so glad to see that I am not alone in this, especially with others mamas, sometimes I feel so stupid for thinking I could handle being a parent, but here I am pregnant with my second, and yes I have had bad moring sickness. BUT, I don't actually throw up. I just dry heave. I am terrified of that but it seems uncontrollable. I started working at my current job six months ago and have had about 4 illnesses involving my stomach. I want to quit because of it, every day is like a nervous breakdown to me.
I feel awful to think that Amethyst may turn out like me, because it basically ruins my life, and like a previous poster said, its difficult to live with an emetephobe.... I live with the guilt of that everyday. It has caused major problems at times. I feel like a horrible person because of it, but at the same time I get mad... Because if I had a fear of spiders or worms or flying or anything like that, people wouldn't get mad at me for avoiding those things. But because I avoid this people think I am a mean, insensitive person. Why is that?!? It really hurts my feelings.
Anyway, just had to share my story. Someone above mentioned starting a group here for us, that would be a great idea.