Hello!
At 11 years old, she went from a happy child with lots of friends to someone who couldn’t eat, couldn’t go to school, and eventually couldn’t even walk. The doctors ran test after test. Nothing was physically wrong. But Debi’s granddaughter was so terrified of being sick that she’d stopped eating almost entirely. She ended up hospitalized and tube-fed.
This is what severe emetophobia can look like.
But here’s the incredible news – it doesn’t have to stay that way.
In this episode, grandmother Debi Morgan shares with coach Michelle the complete transformation story:
- ✓ How her granddaughter went from tube-feeding to thriving
- ✓ The exact moment everything changed (it wasn’t medical intervention)
- ✓ Why explaining “the importance of eating” made things worse
The breakthrough: Understanding that emetophobia isn’t about food or sickness – it’s about the thoughts and beliefs around sickness.
Once Debi’s granddaughter learned how to change her thinking about being sick, everything shifted. She didn’t just start eating again – she gained confidence in her ability to cope with any situation.
Debi’s 3 Essential Tips for Parents/Guardians:
- Don’t fight control with control – Being forceful creates resistance; allowing them to make decisions gives them a feeling of power
- Learn to thrive yourself – So you can actually support the child/young person effectively
- Respond, don’t react – Allow them space to learn how to cope, rather than providing them with all the solutions
“She is confident in her ability to cope with difficult situations, including the idea of sickness.”
