The Emetophobia Eraser Program “You Don’t Have to Live With Emetophobia…” Millions of people a year are troubled by the fear of vomiting and have their days and thoughts interrupted by their need to avoid throwing up and situations that may make vomiting a possibility. It’s called emetophobia, it’s dangerous, it ruins lives, and it’s curable.

I’m proof.
What would eliminating your fear of vomiting mean to you?

    * The freedom to eat what you want, where you want, with who you want?

    * Ending the anxiety that comes with the constant fear in in the pit of your stomach?

    * Not having to hide your fear from people or be embarrassed? A life in secret is no way to live, believe me.

    * Being free of limitations that rob you of your enjoyment of life?

    * Having the ability to finally concentrate on work or school instead of your phobia?

    * Accepting that promotion at work without worrying about how you’ll accommodate your emetophobia with the new responsibilities and recognition?

    * Knowing that your children can look up to you and not be influenced by your reaction to this horrible condition?

    * Ending the obsessing, anxiety, and panic attacks that come with the fear. Being able to just breathe out a sigh of relief that it’s over…

It was snowing out, not a lot, just enough to cover the evergreen trees and make it look sort of like a Christmas card. I was looking out the window over the frozen lake, hardly aware of the voices around me, thinking about how far I’d come. I thought back to all the people that said I’d have to live with it, or be on medication my whole life, or that I was strange. For the first time in a long time, I felt different, I felt proud of myself. I turned my head away from the window and tried to absorb where I was and how I felt. I saw the crisp white tablecloth, the glass of water with condensation running down the sides, and the hustle and bustle of activity as the lunch crowd demanded to get served fast enough to get back to their offices. Amidst all this, I felt free, at peace, nothing like how I used to… This was my first public meal without the fear that I can remember, and I’ll NEVER forget it.
My life with emetophobia…

    * Eating in restaurants or other people’s homes became impossible since I couldn’t control the kitchen and it’s cleanliness. It’s pretty insulting to the host to not eat anything at Thanksgiving…what could I say? I’m afraid you’re dirty and your food will make me puke?

    * I was absolutely plagued by panic attacks - this terror that my worst fears would come true or I’d lose control over the situation I was trying so desperately to hold together.

    * I avoided traveling by plane, bus, or boat. I was just too concerned it would make me nauseous.

    * Taking my kids on rides at the carnival? Forget it.

    * Ever see those big huge containers of antibacterial soap? I think they made those just for me. I would wash and sterilize everything when I cooked or did things around the house. I was terrified of getting a germ that would make me ill and result in my throwing up.

    * I would spend hours researching a prescription if I was given one and if it listed “nausea” as a side effect, plop…in the trash can.

    * I would obsess something would happen to me and I’d need to be hospitalized. Hospitals are FULL of sick people!

    * Since I would only eat what I considered “safe” foods, I was extremely underweight.

    * I didn’t tell a soul because I was sure they’d think I was weird and because my phobia was so “dirty” and embarrassing. It was lonely and scary.

Now that I work with emetophobics, I know that some even avoid pregnancy for fear of morning sickness, or stay away from other people entirely and are housebound for fear of contracting germs or infections. Others are hyper concerned if others are about to vomit, whether they have reason to think so or not. There’s almost no limit to what an emetophobic will go through to avoid being around vomit. Some people are able to blame their emetophobia on some traumatic event involving vomiting that happened to them in the past, but not me, I had no clue where mine came from. To be honest with you, I didn’t really care that much about WHY I had it, I just wanted it gone.
Not anymore, that’s in my past…where it belongs.

I don’t have any of those limitations anymore. I understand my anxiety and changed my relationship with it, and it slipped away. I don’t think anybody likes vomiting, but I don’t make decisions based on fear anymore, and that was the turning point to me. I don’t want to vomit (who does), but I don’t fear it either. I can eat wherever, and whenever I want. I can eat chicken, spicy food, and guess what I discovered? I love sushi (eating sushi in Wisconsin is like the Super Bowl of recovery)! I can eat holiday meals with the rest of my family, and I’m being a good role model for my daughter, I was always worried what my eating habits were teaching her. I don’t have a problem with anxiety attacks anymore, I’m much more at ease in the kitchen and not always scrubbing everything down, and I finally went on those carnival rides.
What does emetophobia cost you?.......