Podcast : Bella Ramsey's Raw And Real Insight Into Living With and Overcoming Emetophobia.

Emetophobia is the pathological fear of being sick or seeing other people be sick. Bella suffered with this terrifying fear from a very young age. At one stage Bella was unable to leave the house. ‘I felt like even the air around me was a threat’ recalls Bella.

Like many Emetophobia sufferers, Bella endured panic attacks and would take travel sickness tablets and antacids when having to travel for work. “It impacted pretty much every area of my life…I would be very conscious about what food I would eat on set, worried about if there was a bug going around and who looked ill and who didn’t.”

Bella tried self-help books, CBT and hypnotherapy to overcome the fear, all of which were ineffective. Bella is now completely over Emetophobia after going through The Thrive Programme for Emetophobia (also known as Emetophobia-Free). “It’s not controlling my life anymore… I don’t think about sick and I’m not scared…I don’t have any limits on me anymore in terms of what I can and can’t do depending on this phobia”.

Bella understands the skepticism of those suffering with Emetophobia, especially those who have tried to overcome the fear previously. ‘If I was talking to myself back when I was 14 and couldn’t leave my house I’d be like “Yeah no way, that’s definitely not a thing”, but it is! The Thrive Programme teaches you how your mind works. You’re the one actually doing all the work. It’s not this thing that’s like a miracle cure. It’s actually you doing all the work. So if you really put your all into it there’s no way it can’t work… There is something that can help you… don’t feel like your life is over because it’s really not.’

A huge thank you to Bella for taking the time to share their story with us on the Emetophobia-Free podcast!

If you or someone you know is suffering from Emetophobia, please reach out, we are here to help!