Vomit Phobia (Emetophobia)
Vomit phobia is an extreme fear of vomiting, seeing others vomit, seeing vomit , or feeling sick.
Most people don’t like vomiting, however for some people the fear of vomiting or just seeing other people throw up is so great that it has a debilitating effect on their ability to function in everyday life.
Just the possibility that they or another person could vomit can cause great distress and worry resulting in avoiding a number of situations and carrying out specific safety behaviours to prevent catching any kind of sickness bug.
Vomit phobia can often start in childhood and can sometimes be related to having experienced a particularly traumatic episode of vomiting. However, some adults who have lived with vomit phobia for decades may not remember the triggering event.
If you can’t pinpoint any triggering event don’t worry. Treatment can still help even if you don’t know what originally caused the phobia.
Symptoms of Vomit Phobia
- Avoiding places or foods that are associated with vomiting
- Smelling or checking food in case its gone bad, throwing away food before it expires
- Over cooking food
- Not touching surfaces that could have germs such as doorknobs / handrails
- Over washing hands
- Avoiding travelling on public transport , public places, public toilets
- Avoiding hospitals or clinics where people might be ill / vomit
- Using anti sickness medication
- Excessively monitoring own and others health
- Avoiding anyone if they appear sick
- Avoiding alcohol and others drinking alcohol
- Avoiding saying the word “vomit” and watching films with scenes of vomiting
Fears associated with Vomiting
- Vomiting in front of others causing distress, shame and embarrassment often related to self-disgust and judgement by others
- Not being able to find a bathroom if feeling sick
- Not being able to leave a crowded area if someone vomits
- Loss of control when vomiting. Not being able to stop being sick
- Choking on vomit
- Having another person vomit near or on them
- Having a bad panic attack when nauseas or vomiting
Treating Vomit phobia
The Nice Guidelines recommend Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as the evidence-based treatment for vomit phobia. Treatment involves working through thought patterns about vomit, reducing avoidance and confronting challenging situations step by step. Whilst the anxiety caused by vomit phobia might feel overwhelming, the condition is usually treatable with the help of an experienced CBT Therapist. Your therapist will use Exposure and Response Prevention principles to help you to gradually expose yourself to what you are afraid of whilst also working on reducing safety seeking behaviours which although they can help reduce anxiety in the short term can prolong it in the long term. This might involve eating new food in a restaurant sitting at a table further away from the toilet or escape route. Going into crowded places and touching surfaces without washing hands. Your therapist may expose you gradually to seeing vomit and hearing vomit sounds through use of videos/ films and other resources.
Sometimes using visualisation techniques can also be helpful particularly when memories of vomiting and associated disgust are present.
As you work on using exposure therapy your therapist will teach you techniques to help you cope with feelings of anxiety and fear and to tolerate symptoms of nausea which are common to experience when anxious.
It is very important that when searching for a therapist to help you overcome your vomit phobia that you seek a therapist who has experience and training in working with this.
Within The Meyer Therapy Practice we have Therapists who specialise in treating vomit phobia with children, young people and adults. We offer a free telephone consultation with one of our Clinical Directors following which we then match you with one of our therapists. Please do contact us if you would like to explore this option.
