Emetophobia-Free
for professionals.
For GPs, nurses, therapists and school staff. Emetophobia remains largely unrecognised in clinical settings. You may well have met it already.
Emetophobia, also known as the secret phobia.
Common, serious and easy to miss, because sufferers tend to hide it as much as they can.
What it can look like in your clinic.
Signs to look out for
- Chronic nausea and stomach symptoms from anxiety
- Malnutrition from restricting food
- Avoiding medical care, for fear of illness
- Refusing medication that would help them
- Putting off pregnancy for fear of morning sickness
Often mistaken for
Emetophobia overlaps with all of these. Where the anxiety, panic or checking relates specifically to a fear of vomiting, these aren’t given as separate diagnoses (Veale, 2009).
Why it often doesn’t respond to standard treatment
Clinicians generally find emetophobia hard to treat, because of high drop out or a poor response to treatment (Veale and Lambrou, 2006). In the same study, sufferers who had received therapy rated it as largely ineffective.
The fear is held up by more than avoidance. Low self-esteem, social anxiety, a strong desire for control and thinking styles like catastrophising all play a part. This programme works on those foundations, and asks for no exposure at any point.
Severity scores fell from 25 to under 5 out of 30.
In a survey of 62 emetophobic clients who completed The Thrive Programme, every participant reported an improvement. 89% rated their fear as having little to no impact on their life afterwards.
Kelly and Allen, Exploring the efficacy of the Thrive Programme with emetophobic clients.
What it can look like at school.
Emetophobia usually starts in childhood, at 11 on average and sometimes as young as 5 or 6.
Signs to look out for
- Avoiding school, sleepovers or school trips
- Refusing certain foods, or checking food over and over
- Constant worry about themselves or others being sick
- Asking again and again for reassurance about food and health
- Panic or extreme distress when someone mentions feeling unwell
- Pulling out of activities and becoming more isolated
How you can help
Stay calm. Children copy how the adults around them react. A calm, matter-of-fact response teaches them the situation can be handled.
Support them through it. Letting a child avoid everything can keep the fear alive. This isn’t about forcing them, it’s about gently showing them they can handle more than they think.
Talk to their parents. Let them know what you’ve noticed and point them to the children’s or teenage programme.
Guides to share, learn from and support with.
Short guides from our team. Pass them on to patients, pupils and parents, or read them yourself to understand emetophobia better.
What emetophobia really is, why it can be so debilitating, and why traditional approaches often haven’t worked.
Download the guide → Why exposure therapy doesn’t workWhy exposure misses the point for emetophobia, and what actually helps, with five practical steps.
Download the guide → Emetophobia and OCDWhy the two are so closely linked, the checking and rituals to look out for, and five tips to start feeling more in control.
Download the guide → Supporting your childWhy a child develops emetophobia, the signs to recognise, and five ways parents can help starting today.
Download the guide → The norovirus guideHow to keep perspective when norovirus is in the news, with the reset button, a thought check and daily positives.
Download the guide → The holiday guidePractical ways to manage holiday worries, from challenging the “what ifs” to getting support from someone you trust.
Download the guide →Point them to the right place.
The programme is self study, around 30 minutes a day, with a manual, support videos and emails. There is one version for each age group.
Questions about a patient or pupil?
Email us and we’ll get back to you.