Podcast : From regular panic attacks to hiking solo in Italy | Sophie's incredible recovery from Emetophobia!

Sophie explains that when she was working through the programme herself she found messages from others on the podcasts/testimonials of being 100% over it a bit disheartening as she was not there herself and she wanted to be the voice she wished she was able to hear at that time.

She wants to share the message that it is okay to not be 100% over it just yet because you know it's coming... if you keep taking the steps forward you will get there! Sophie’s Emetophobia began when she was around 7 years old, however her main memory is from when she was 14/15 years old. Her brother was sick infront of her, in a public setting. As a result of this, she ran into the nearest store to hide away from the event.

Sophie last experienced sickness around 2 years ago, but previous to this, she hadn’t been sick since she was around 6 years old. She believed that because she hadn’t faced her fear of being sick, her belief in how awful it was had actually increased. Sophie began believing that she couldn’t get sick that she was physically unable to. She would also rely on her ‘safety tools’ which included chewing gum, in order to ‘save’ her from her anxiety.

Sophie was experiencing panic attacks, and finally recognised that this phobia was taking over her life. This is when she began looking into psychological interventions to help her, as she reached the point where it was ‘taking over her life’. Since completing the Emetophobia-Free programme, Sophie went on 3 week, solo travelling trip to Europe which was unimaginable previously. Sophie was able to trail 280k with only her backpack, no safety tools!

Better even, she felt free and happy whilst doing so! Despite experiencing a few scary thoughts, she was able to control these and throw herself into the experience anyway. The main lesson Sophie learned, is that she can cope with the occasional scary feeling, because they no longer absorb her entire life. She has developed the skills to get through the temporary discomfort, and is able to deal with it in a much healthier way.

On one occasion, Sophie proactively chose to order fish from the menu, despite experiencing a number of thoughts involving potentially being sick! Sophie now has the skills to stop herself from brooding and obsessing about the possibility of being sick. In her words ‘if it happens, it happens’ and she has achieved everything on her ‘what I want to do when I'm Emetophobia free’ list.

In Sophie’s words, ‘this course is totally worth it, and the best decision I ever made’.