The world of phobias covers all aspects of life, from objects and animals, through places and feelings. Some actions or actions such as the act of vomiting, for example, do not get rid of phobias in our phobia dictionary we talk about emetophobia or the fear of vomiting, which also needs treatment.
What is emetophobia?
Emetophobia is the fear of vomiting or the fear of vomiting. The person with emetophobia is not only afraid of vomiting, but also that someone might vomit around them or see vomit on the street or in some other place. Undoubtedly, vomiting is still something very unpleasant and that produces repulsion, but in this case it is a phobia.
People like emetophobia try to avoid any situation in which they might vomit or see vomit and, although at first it doesn’t seem to affect day-to-day life, it becomes quite complicated when they avoid going to restaurants because they don’t trust the quality of the food or travel for fear that someone will get dizzy and vomit next to you.
Is my fear of vomiting irrational?
Sudden nausea, a strong smell of food, a person who is coughing or choking, a baby, a pregnant woman, a feeling of travel sickness, a meal that is too hot… any of these things can cause reaction. Excessive in the person who suffers from emetophobia. The fear of vomiting is more present than we can imagine.
The symptoms of this vomiting phobia begin with the evaluation of the situation that is being experienced. The danger of vomiting or someone vomiting is detected and the feeling of panic appears. There is danger in the situation and that person should get away immediately. Sometimes you can avoid it and sometimes you can’t. You will then suffer the same anxiety symptoms including dizziness, palpitations, sweating or shortness of breath, without ruling out panic attack.
Causes of a vomit phobia
But what can cause that irrational fear of vomiting? As withal, one of the most common causes is conditioning from a traumatic experience. Gastroenteritis in childhood that was recorded, seeing your mother vomit due to a pregnancy or the discomfort of a family member due to chemotherapy, for example, are cases that have generated emetophobia.
The fear of vomiting can also arise as a consequence of an anxiety disorder and can be both a cause and a consequence of a disorder such as anorexia. In any case, whatever the origin, treatment must be sought as soon as possible.
Treatment of emetophobia
Emetophobia is not something you should let go of even if you don’t have to deal with your phobia every day. It is necessary to seek psychological help to overcome this intense fear and that is something that can be done from the cognitive restructuring of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Any treatment to overcome a phobia must include relaxation, since anxiety is always present in this type of disorder. And Mindfulness always helps to be more aware of the now and not anticipate negative events.