Emetophobia Therapy

Emetophobia Therapy can help

Emetophobia, also known as a specific phobia of vomiting, affects millions of people worldwide. It can be a debilitating condition that can significantly impact a person’s daily life, relationships and career.

There are many men who have a fear of being sick, however the majority of sufferers are women. In this article, we will discuss the phobia, its symptoms, causes, and emetophobia therapy options.

Symptoms of Emetophobia

A phobia is defined as an extreme or irrational fear or aversion to something. Emetophobia is characterised by an intense and irrational fear of vomiting, which can lead to a range of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:

Avoidance of situations or places that may increase the risk of vomiting, such as public transportation, restaurants, and parties.
Obsessive thoughts about vomiting or getting sick, which can interfere with daily activities.
Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating, trembling, and increased heart rate.
Difficulty eating or drinking in public or social settings.
Panic attacks or feelings of overwhelming fear.

Causes of Emetophobia

Many people with a fear of being sick believe it was caused by a traumatic experience of vomiting – often in childhood (which is when emetophobia usually develops – research indicates emetophobia usually starts around age 9). Of course, it makes sense to pinpoint a traumatic experience as a cause – people believe their phobia of dogs was caused by a time they were bitten as a child, or their fear of flying comes from a particularly bumpy flight – but how can traumatic events cause phobias? If they did everyone would have them! Furthermore, there are many emetophobes who have never actually been sick!

In reality, it is your reaction to these events which can play a part in developing a fear. There are also several predispositions for developing emetophobia: having particular thinking styles, beliefs and behaviours, your gender and parenting. For example, emetophobes tend to have high levels of perfectionism, social anxiety, low self-esteem, a strong desire for control and some obsessive thinking. This can, in part, be influenced by parents: in our research emetophobes almost always have a parent who has some degree of social anxiety.

Treatment

Emetophobia is not widely understood, and clinicians and therapists are at risk of further perpetuating the fear if they lack proper understanding of the emetophobic mind. Education is key, which is why we’ve built up these resources: sharing our 30+ years’ experience treating thousands of emetophobes.

Medication

Sometimes, doctors prescribe anti-nausea medication for sufferers, however this is unhelpful in the long-term as it only reinforces the belief that being sick is terrifying.

Often sufferers are prescribed anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication, although some emetophobes are averse to taking any medications in case nausea is a side-effect.

Emetophobia Therapy

Many people treat emetophobia with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which involves gradual, supported exposure to vomit-related images and words. This has some benefits for sufferers of most phobias, but it’s been found to be less effective for those with emetophobia due to its focus on symptoms rather than cause. This is the same for other therapies such as CBT, EMDR and hypnotherapy. The Thrive Programme’s Emetophobia Programme has been specifically created to tackle the causes of the phobia, based upon years of research and clinical experience treating thousands of emetophobes.

Conclusion
Emetophobia is a treatable condition, and with the right support and treatment, individuals can learn to manage their anxiety and overcome their fear of vomiting.