Emetophobia Therapist in Boston

 

ABOUT EMETOPHOBIA

 

Emetophobia is a mental health condition that affects 0.1% of the world and is more common in women than men. It’s where an intense fear of vomiting or throwing up is experienced. People with this condition feel anxious or panicked when being around someone who is ill and vomiting. They also have a difficult time hearing the word “vomit”.

As we all know, vomiting is not something that is enjoyed doing, but when someone is severely ill, they cannot stop themselves from doing so, nor do they think much of it. If you have been diagnosed with emetophobia, you are constantly worried about vomiting, which can take control of your thoughts and have a significant impact on your life and well-being. This disorder can prevent you from relaxing, participating in activities, and eating healthy meals. If you have felt like you needed to vomit or see vomiting, you may be afraid of the following:

  • Not being able to stop or control your vomiting.

  • Embarrassing or humiliating yourself 

  • Having an underlying condition

  • Losing control

 
 

Symptoms May Include:

  • Anxiousness

  • Nervousness

  • Feeling distressed

  • Feeling panicked

  • Feeling overwhelmed

  • Increased heart rate

  • Sweating & shaking

  • An upset stomach

  • Chest tightness

  • Dizziness

You May Find Yourself Avoiding:

  • New foods & drinks

  • Restaurants & food that caused vomiting previously

  • Words to describe “vomit”

  • People who are sick or ill

  • Eating when not at home

  • Socializing or traveling

  • Becoming pregnant due to “morning sickness”

 
 

Diagnosing Emetophobia

Your mental health provider diagnoses emetophobia after they ask you a series of questions about your history, experiences, and symptoms regarding vomiting. For emetophobia to be appropriately diagnosed, consistent fear and anxiety about vomiting tend to occur for approximately 6 months. Just like diagnosing most phobias, there are approximately four criteria to determine emetophobia, which include:

  • Intense Fear: Your fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit is out of proportion and consistent.

  • Consistent Anxiety: You are constantly having anxiety attacks and fearing future situations that involve vomiting. 

  • Avoidance: You continuously avoid various situations and places where vomiting could occur. You may even go to extreme lengths to avoid it. 

  • Failing to do everyday activities: Your fear of vomit has completely taken over and limited your will to do simple day-to-day activities. 

 

EMETOPHOBIA TREATMENT

Cognitive Behavior Treatment (CBT) is an evidence-based psychological treatment that has proven to be effective through scientific research for emetophobia. Studies have shown that CBT is an effective treatment for disorders besides emetophobia, like anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, anger problems, and more. The CBT process is entirely based on an educational model where people diagnosed with depression unlearn negative reactions and learn new positive and emotional reactions to their challenging situations. During CBT, everyday challenges are broken down into small and manageable parts and aligned with short-term goals to be reached. CBT is an effective treatment for imposter syndrome because it helps those diagnosed with the disorder address the issues with a positive outlook. The therapists at Soultality Center for Psychotherapy in Cambridge, MA, are with you every step of the way to help you conquer your emetophobia through our CBT treatment.