Laura Conquers Lifelong Emetophobia in just weeks with the Thrive Programme Book!

American teacher Laura has had lifelong emetophobia, but now she's proud to say: "I have gotten over my emetophobia!"

As a young girl Laura would cower under a blanket if she felt that she might hear or see one of her siblings being sick. Avoiding the possibility of being near someone who might be feeling unwell became a lifelong obsession for her but she had no idea what the phobia was called. This is often the case with emetophobia, also known as a Specific Fear/Phobia of Vomit (SPOV)

Only three years ago, after a virus left her with vertigo, Laura found herself frantically searching through google for a diagnosis, eventually deciding that she had things such as MS, a brain tumour, a number of syndromes and even HIV ! This health anxiety is a common symptom of emetophobia. Despite suffering from lifelong emetophobia, at this stage she didn't know it had a name.

After being prescribed anti-anxiety medication by her Doctor and having a number of sessions of talking-therapy and CBT, Laura describes this period of her life as ‘half-a-life’.

Searching online for answers to what was wrong with her, she came across The Thrive Programme and purchased the Cure Your Emetophobia and Thrive Workbook. As she states in the video, by the time she was at the end of chapter 3 she knew Thrive would work: "This book knows you and your habits!" exclaimed Laura.

For extra support, she decided to locate a licensed Thrive Programme Coach to help her through the programme. Laura is not only now 100% over her lifelong emetophobia but she is also looking forward to all of the opportunities that she can create for herself in her post-phobia life.

Being free from all of her obsessive behaviours and having the life that she had always wanted has left Laura, as she tells us in her testimonial below, feeling ‘euphoric’. She has created a happy, positive, confident state that is now her default for how she approaches life.

She is back at work, planning her second honeymoon and feels in control of her thoughts and feelings: "This book has given me an entirely different outlook on life! Give this programme a chance and you will get better."

A fantastic story from Laura who has completely changed her life to be 100% emetophobia-free! Well done Laura!

What is Emetophobia?

Emetophobia is a fear of being sick or vomit and affects up to 8% of people worldwide, especially females. However, it is hugely misunderstood and various CBT or medical treatments are often used with little success.

Emetophobia is known by many names (emetophobia, specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV), vomit phobia, sickness phobia, fear of vomiting…) and is associated with other fears and disorders, such as phagophobia (a fear of gagging, swallowing or choking), a fear of pregnancy, social anxiety, panic attacks and obsessional disorders. People can fear vomiting themselves and/or others vomiting. Most individuals with emetophobia are female, with research studies revealing that 85-97% of their emetophobic participants are women (Hout & Bouman, 2011; Lipsitz et al., 2001; Veale & Lambrou, 2006).

Emetophobia tends to be a severe symptom and often significantly affects sufferers’ ability to lead normal lives - lifelong emetophobia is common, with it often starting in childhood. People with this fear often go to great lengths to avoid encountering anything that could lead to vomiting. They may, for example, be teetotal or heavily limit their alcohol consumption and avoid pubs or clubs where others may drink heavily and then vomit. They may worry a great deal about hygiene, and be fussy about making sure everywhere is clean. They may take excessive time off work or school because they worry about being exposed to germs that will cause them to be sick.

Many sufferers of severe emetophobia have unsuccessfully tried a range of treatments, such as CBT, exposure therapy, CRT. Veale and Lambrou (2006), for example, found that twenty-nine percent of their sample of vomit phobics had received some form of therapy for their fear, which overall they rated as largely ineffective. Veale and Lambrou (2006, p. 139) have stated that “clinicians generally regard it as challenging to treat because of high drop out or a poor response to treatment.”