Emetophobia is so little known that it can be difficult to find information about it. People with Emetophobia, or fear of vomiting, don’t always know where to look for help. Emetophobia has been called a specific phobia (intense fear of a particular object or situation), a panic disorder, and a social phobia.
An article by David Veale, a health specialist in the UK, compiles information on the disorder from a variety of sources. He describes how Emetophobia has been classified, how it has been treated so far, and what his research indicates about the illness.
Defining Emetophobia
Veale’s own writing refers to Emetophobia as a form of specific phobia. WebMD defines a specific phobia as “a lasting and unreasonable fear caused by the presence or thought of a specific object or situation that usually poses little or no actual danger.” One could certain apply this description to Emetophobia. An emetophobic is diagnosed with an irrationally strong fear of vomiting that interferes with the ability to function normally. Someone with Emetophobia may also suffer from a specific fear of vomiting which leads to choking, or a specific fear of contamination and germs (which would both lead to vomiting).
Panic disorder is characterized by uncontrolled panic attacks in the affected person. According to MayoClinic, these attacks usually involve some of the following symptoms:
-Sense of impending doom or danger
-Rapid heart rate
-Sweating
-Trembling
-Shortness of breath
A person with Emetophobia may experience these ailments when confronted with vomit. He or she usually feels extreme apprehension at the thought of a situation in which he or she could become ill. Unlike some people who have panic disorder without other complications, an emetophobic can typically identify a clear trigger for his or her panic attacks.
Social phobia is caused by the fear of being embarrassed or negatively evaluated in a social situation. It is more severe than ordinary shyness. For an emetophobic, social phobia can develop due to a fear of vomiting in public. He or she may worry about getting sick in front of others, leading to being shunned or disliked. This unfortunately can cause an emetophobic to avoid going out in public. If he or she starts to fear leaving home, there may be an additional diagnosis of agoraphobia.
Recommended Strategies for Emetophobics
Veale advises people with Emetophobia to work on eliminating “safety behaviors.” Safety behaviors are unhealthy methods people use to cope with their fear; for example, incessant worrying about vomiting or focusing too much on internal sensations (like nausea). If you have Emetophobia, you may want to talk to a therapist about how you can reduce your own maladaptive behaviors and ease your anxiety.
