Emetophobia

What is emetophobia?

Emetophobia, also known as Specific Phobia of Vomiting, is a fear of vomiting (being sick). This can include fearing yourself vomiting, fearing other people vomiting, fearing vomit itself, or a combination of all three. The way people experience emetophobia varies greatly, but for many with emetophobia, it can be an always-present fear that can impact heavily on your wellbeing. Whilst awareness of emetophobia is steadily growing, those who experience it can often feel misunderstood. It may be true that ‘no one likes being sick’, however for those with emetophobia, vomiting can be terrifying and it can be very difficult to explain this to others without fear of judgement or dismissal.

Do I have emetophobia?

It is important to remember that there is no one way that emetophobia presents itself. How you experience emetophobia may differ from others, but that does not mean your emetophobia is less impactful.

Those with emetophobia may experience some, or all, of the following:

  • Feeling very anxious when there is a chance you may vomit, or see someone else vomit, sometimes escalating to panic attacks.

  • Fearing situations where there is a higher than usual chance that someone, or yourself, may vomit. This could include medical environments, travelling by boat, theme parks with rollercoasters and venues where people are consuming alcohol.

  • Seeking to keep yourself ‘safe’ by avoiding certain foods, being very fearful of catching germs or checking that films / TV programmes will not contain any scenes that may involve vomiting.

  • Feeling the need to ‘run’ or ‘escape’ from situations where you fear there may be a risk of vomiting.

  • Taking precautions to avoid feeling nauseous, such as chewing gum or driving with the car windows open.

  • Often needing an ‘escape route’ to avoid feeling trapped in a space, especially with other people.

  • Feeling isolated due to others not understanding your phobia

  • Spending more time at home than you would like to, due to fearing being exposed to vomiting.

  • Finding situations where you are exposed to vomiting very distressing and needing to spend significant time afterwards calming down.

  • Experiencing low mood as a result of spending a large portion of your time worrying about vomiting.

Emetophobia in Counselling

I have a special interest in working with emetophobia in my counselling practice. I have experienced emetophobia for the majority of of my life and I am passionate about supporting others who experience it, learning more about it and raising awareness.

I interviewed three individuals about their experience of emetophobia as part of my MSc Counselling & Psychotherapy dissertation. This highlighted how crucial it is for those with emetophobia to be listened to with empathy and be met with recognition of how challenging emetophobia can be.

In accordance with my person-centred approach to counselling (please see more information about this here), I offer a non-judgemental space to open-up about your emetophobia in a way that feels the most relevant and comfortable for you. This could lead to greater insight into what may have caused your emetophobia and what continues to fuel it. The sessions may also provide the opportunity to reflect on challenging experiences that have resulted from your emetophobia, which may have left you feeling isolated or misunderstood. The aim of my approach to emetophobia in counselling is not to seek a ‘cure’ or ‘removal’ of your emetophobia, but instead support you in exploring how you experience emetophobia. This may give greater clarity about how your emetophobia may fit with your understanding of who you are and your life experiences.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would be interested in exploring emetophobia in counselling. Please note that, as my counselling practice is person-centred, I do not offer CBT, EMDR or Exposure Therapy.

To find out more about how counselling sessions work, please see Counselling and FAQs.