Podcast : How do you know when you’re over Emetophobia?

Emetophobia is experienced when you are plagued with negative thoughts surrounding sick, whether this be yourself or other people. It drives your decisions and behaviours which end up limiting your entire life because you truly believe you just can’t cope.

When you can recognise that you strongly dislike the idea of sickness and would prefer it not to happen but are aware that you would be able to cope if it was to happen, you no longer have a phobia, just an intense dislike!

Understanding this is important, because the perfectionist thinking style can cause people to believe they still have the phobia because they still strongly dislike the idea of it and would rather it didn't happen.

But think about it... does anyone hear about a sickness bug and think 'Oh yes please I hope I catch it next?' No, it is just perfectionist thinking to think you would be indifferent to it, most people see being sick as an inconvenience and an unpleasant situation they would prefer not to happen. The difference between a phobia and a dislike is the belief in your ability to get through it and cope if it were to happen...

Claire highlights that expecting to enjoy being sick is not the goal, nor is it the reality. The programme provides you with the mindset around how to be okay with being uncomfortable, which will ultimately set you free!

Overcoming emetophobia isn’t limited to just ‘coping with sickness’, it is about handling whatever life throws in your direction! You aren’t expected to enjoy these situations or never have a negative thought, but you gain concrete evidence in yourself that you CAN cope with getting through the situation despite the challenging thought.

Claire and Michelle confirm that coping does not mean coping ‘perfectly’, it is about navigating the situation and managing the situation in a more helpful way! This is how you KNOW you are over your emetophobia!

This episode featured discussion with Michelle Johnson and Claire Gildersleve.