And many people who suffer from this disease are now realizing how many other people are struggling with it too.
So, to educate us all a little more about it, offer tips to those struggling with it, and to be mindful of others who may be suffering from it, BuzzFeed spoke with them. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kieran SchnackShe has been working in the mental health field for over 20 years and is the author of the following books: Ten times quieter.
Schnack said that Emetophobia There is an extreme fear of vomiting that interferes with the person’s everyday life. “When you have emetophobia, your life can become dominated by trying to avoid situations where you think you might vomit.”
People who struggle with this fear avoid certain beverages or foods, avoid places that might induce vomiting (such as theme parks with rides), frequently check expiration labels on foods, avoid alcohol, and/or feel extremely agitated when around anyone who feels unwell.
Schnack said emetophobia can be diagnosed at any age, but it often begins in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. “I’ve even seen middle-aged adults with this phobia,” he said. “It can be triggered by a traumatic vomiting experience or seeing other people vomit, but it can also develop in the absence of a traumatic event.”
According to Schnack, people with emetophobia are often hyper-vigilant about the physical sensations of nausea. “They may also engage in excessive hand-washing to avoid contamination through germs that can then lead to vomiting. Sufferers typically experience physical symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, sweating, or dizziness, especially when they feel excited, and they will have persistent thoughts about their fear of vomiting.”
Emetophobia is different from normal nausea, which is more acute, temporary and less intense. “Normal nausea or nausea does not interfere with your overall life or cause long-term, extreme emotional distress. Normal nausea is unpleasant but manageable and proportionate to how people react to it,” Schnack explained.
Emetophobia typically requires professional treatment, Schnack said.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) This is a proven treatment that helps people recognise and challenge negative thoughts about vomiting, and replace them with more realistic thoughts. exposure therapy For some people it is also very effective because it gradually exposes the person to vomiting-related triggers and then progresses from there. It teaches the sufferer that they can tolerate the anxiety and manage their fear response without actually vomiting.”
According to Schnack, relaxation training and mindfulness are also good self-help techniques for reducing the overall anxiety that comes with emetophobia.
Although it is not always possible to completely prevent emetophobia, there are things that can help reduce the risk. Schnack said telling children that vomiting is a natural process of the body eliminating toxins can encourage a healthy view of the disease. “This can reduce the fear associated with it and help understand why it happens. Teaching coping strategies for general anxiety can also help build resilience and, possibly, help reduce the vulnerability to developing a phobia. If a traumatic vomiting experience is the cause, seeking psychological help in time and talking about the event can help process it at the time, which may prevent it from becoming a phobia later on,” he concluded.
Disclaimer : The content in this article is for educational and informational purposes only.
