Podcast: Why are we SO disgusted by vomit?

Why are we so disgusted by vomit?

Disgust Propensity relates to how strong your disgust reaction (and aversion) is in relation to everyday situations and experiences. Having a high propensity for feelings of disgust, is a major contributing factor to the creation of emetophobia.

Why do Emetophobes have Disgust Propensity?

Your propensity to create feelings of disgust, are a 'normal', conditioned (learned) behaviour, much like brooding or social anxiety. In fact self-disgust is closely related to social anxiety, and is the reason most emetophobia sufferers  are female. In the West, females have been taught from a young age to be ‘sugar and spice and all things nice.’ There is tremendous pressure on young girls to look and behave in certain ways, and this pressure is the main reason girls work harder - and do better - in education.  Despite progress, there are still fundamental differences in upbringings that means things like 'bodily functions' are normalised for boys, allowing them to ‘get away with’ being ‘disgusting’ - often finding it funny. For example, boys start using urinals in front of other boys from a young age, while many women can go their whole lives without using the toilet in front of someone else - they’d feel ashamed to do so.

Dissecting Disgust Propensity

It’s this emphasis on shame which is important. Disgust Propensity in emetophobes often manifests in an aversion to external bodily functions: not just vomit, but sweat, blood and number ones and twos. But this externalisation is essentially a massive projection of guilt, shame and disgust they feel towards themselves. In essence, a feeling of self-loathing and self-contempt.

Perfectionism, Self-Contempt, and Emetophobia

Research has revealed a strong correlation between disgust propensity, self-contempt, perfectionism, and social anxiety – common traits shared by all emetophobes. Perfectionism is basically the individual running away from uncomfortable, negative, intolerable feelings. If you pursue impossibly high standards you’ll never have to confront your deep-down feelings of not being good enough or clever enough.

Your self-worth hinges on external validation and achievements, leading to a constant feeling of worthlessness. Emetophobes, driven by self-loathing, struggle to recognise and appreciate small positive moments, always seeking extraordinary accomplishments to validate their existence, which only leads to further self-loathing and a tighter, perfectionist, need to appear clean, tidy and in control of bodily functions.

Research shows that people with anxiety disorders such as OCD have higher moral standards. When you have (impossibly) high moral standards, you are more likely to feel personal shame and worthlessness because it’s always going to be impossible to meet them. Whether the standards are taught or implicit doesn’t matter: most emetophobes are white and middle-class, with comfortable upbringings, where there is an implicit pressure to ‘fit in’ and ‘aim high.’

Why it’s Important to Normalise Bodily Functions

Normalising bodily functions will really help you in your journey to confronting and conquering your emetophobia. Exposure to things that elicit disgust, such as picking out soggy food from the plug in the sink, picking up dog poo or taking smelly bins out, can help you tolerate discomfort, normalise ‘disgusting things’ and calm your emotional reactions down.

However, it's important to remember the key cause of external disgust: self-contempt. The antidote to self-contempt is to build high, stable self-esteem. Not because someone called you attractive or liked your picture on instagram, but because you believe in yourself that you are valid.

Disgust Propensity plays a starring role in Emetophobia, so reducing it will really help. Focus on learning to tolerate things you have a strong disgust reaction to, build your self-esteem and social confidence. You’ll soon be well on your way to conquering your fears.