Podcast : I don't know who I would be without Emetophobia: Emetophobia and the Identity Crisis

Research suggests the mean onset of Emetophobia is age 11 and, if left untreated, almost always continues into adulthood. Meaning by the time they seek treatment, many people have suffered for many years of their life and the fear becomes part of who they identify as.

As humans we have around 50,000 thoughts a day and for an emetophobia sufferer, around 45,000 of those thoughts are directly or indirectly linked to Emetophobia. This means that they start to perceive the fear as part of themselves; they are someone with Emetophobia or 'an emetophobe' rather than seeing the fear as simply something they are currently creating.

Erin describes her journey with Emetophobia and how her identity was shaped by her struggle. Her parents introduced her as 'shy' and in her younger years she became friends with another girl who also suffered with Emetophobia and they created a shared sense of humour around their phobia.

At one point Erin struggled to foresee a version of herself without Emetophobia. However, as she worked through the Emetophobia-Free programme, she began to understand that her identity wasn't linked to Emetophobia. Erin has now liberated herself from her 'emetophobe' identity.

Erin describes her identity now is an ex-emetophobe, a dance teacher and a thriving person! She now sees her identity as something that is never static, something to nurture, develop and grow and something she excited to keep exploring! She knows she can create whatever identity she wants for herself - she is the author of her own narrative!