Chickendoodle Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Can anyone offer any advice. MY YD who is 24 has suffered from emetophobia (fear of sickness/vomit) since she was very young, brought on largely we think from a catamaran crossing to Sark where virtually all the people on board (including the crew) were sick. It is now affecting her life very badly. She actively avoids any situation where there might be sickness -easy you would think but she won't travel on buses, see a film unless she is assured that there is no "vomit scene" and if anyone even hints that there are feeling a bit queasy she has a full blown panic attack. She is constantly petrified of being sick herself. It sounds trivial but is actually quite debilitating. She adores children but no way could contemplate being pregnant in case it caused sickness. She wanted to apply for a job as a school secretary and phoned me to say that did I think she would have to cope with a child being sick as if she did she couldn't do it. In the end she didn't even complete the application form as she felt that she couldn't ask the question in an interview as vshe would sound crazy She has decided she needs to tackle it. She has seen her GP who has said that the only treatment the NHS can offer is CBT and my YD has done a lot of reading on the subject and has convinved herself that it won't work. She had a consultation with a hypnotherapist who said she could probably help but it is £40 a session and she would need at least 10 sessions. Does anyone know of any other techniques/treatment she could use to overcome this phobia? She knows it is irrational just cannot get past it. I can remember having to take her out of the cinema in the middle of Mission Impossible as there was a vomity bit - it is amazing how many times in films it is shown! Also, when she was at primary school a "delightful" child in her class found out about her phobia and every time she saw my YD she would mimic being sick. It ended up that the girl's mother had to be brought into school so that she could tell her child to stop as my YD was becoming hysterical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I can't offer any advice I'm afraid, but I just wanted to offer my sympathies to your poor daughter. It must be a very unpleasant and debilitating fear to have live with. Maybe another GP would be more helpful? Might be worth a try. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I would have thought that CBT would help, in my experience gradual introduction to facing your fear and looking at it in a different way and learning coping strategies is the best way forward. I come from a family of people who are prone to panic attacks including myself and my ED, my mother rarely goes out and has dealt with hers by living a very restricted but overall happy life, but she has been lucky to able to do so. I decided in my mid teens when I felt nauseaous at the very suggestion of going anywhere or doing anything 'exciting', that I had to face up to it otherwise I was going to have a very boring existence. I suffered from a constricted throat and panicy breathing and always ironicaly with your DD's problem felt as though I was going to be sick. My ED was exactly the same as I was at the same age. I have encouraged her to face it and push against it in the same way that I did. I still get panic attacks sometimes but I have managed to lead a fairly normal life. I have not had formal CBT but have dealt with my problems in a similar way. I know that it seems impossible but with help and support, sometimes with others being cruel to be kind, it is possible to live with phobias in a way that stops them from dominating your life. I hope that she gets some help for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Maybe another GP would be more helpful? Might be worth a try. This is actually a new GP. My YD was very happy with her advice but unfortunately the NHS just don't offer any treatment at all apart from CBT so she is very limited on the help she can give. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Try hypnotherapy. A friend is a therapist and I've tried it - it's really effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Firstly, I really sympathise - I have had a similar phobia, although by no means as extreme as your daughter's. If you Google it, you will find several websites/support groups, which might have some advice. It's not trivial at all, and is clearly having a huge impact on her daily life. I think the problem with CBT can be that people simply feel 'they are going to make me face something when I can't even say the word that describes it' and that can put people off; it would be worth pursuing if your GP can arrange it. Your daughter may need some reassurance about it. However I think that hypnotherapy would be well worthwhile, it may seem a lot of money but what is that compared to a lifetime of never eating out, never travelling on public transport etc etc. I've had hypnotherapy for a different phobia (I'm going to sound like a basket case here, but everyone has a few even if they don't admit to them!) and it worked quite well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I have always been a little phobic about the dentist after a terrible experience in my teens. Feeling sick & panicky before going, sitting in the chair with tears streaming down my face, palpations, sweats, I would get off the chair with my back soaking wet. Then burst into tears when I left. Just Didn't go for about 15 years. Then had some horrendous headaches that eventually we found out were being caused by jaw clenching. By a dentist! (I had had about 6 lots of different treatment at the doctors who had me on all sorts of drugs) This dentist was great, didn't try and treat anything, just talked to me for about an hour and a half, about relaxation techniques and identifying the tension. (I know! NHS dentist aswell) Anyway, I did a bit of hypnotherapy and yoga, and went back, using my yoga mantra to get through the session, I managed and have been able to get back in the chair on a regular basis. (Have never had a root canal again mind you - make them take it out if they even suggest it!) The combination worked for me, but it is something you need to keep up. Its probably about 10 years since I last went and the only time I try it is at the dentist, because I am out of practise it doesn't work so well anymore, but time has also helped so whilst I still sweat and leak a few tears, I am not quite so bad, and have even taken the kids. So I too would recommend the hypnotherapy route and try a little yoga. The hardest part is finding the right therapist, you really need to click with the therapist to get the best out of it. Good Luck, it is such a difficult thing to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Sounds horrible I'd guess she has nothing to lose with CBT from the NHS? £400 on 10 lots of hypnotherapy sounds a lot but if it changes her life, and enables her to get the job, then it sounds worth it to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I wouldnt say I have a phobia but have had to face the fact that despite being a nurse I hate dealin with sick. Having kids has helped/hindered as I have been covered in it many a time. As a child i hated anywone seeing me vomit, I did general nursing,then cancer nursing (where everyone throws up) and nursed mum thro cancer (again chemo made her throw up) One pregnancy spent throwing up and then motherhood and I would say I am much better - however I still heave with people if they are throwing up near me. Frankly I am no bloomin help at all. But my OH has noticed I calmly deal with it now - before I would deal with it but be pale and sweaty. Hyponotherapy may well help and thankfully situations where all around are chucking up are rare. I will say with motherhood you have to get on with it and neither child has noticed anything. The receptionists at work made me laugh by saying "which one of you nurses doesnt do puke cos someones puked on the floor" Bring it on. Good luck i am sure CBT or similar will help. Ali x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'd say hypnotherapy too, it's really effective....... poor girl... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Firstly, I really sympathise - I have had a similar phobia, although by no means as extreme as your daughter's. Same here Hope your daughter finds a treatment to help her find a way forward *hug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henmuffin Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Your poor daughter. It is a horrible condition The best evidence for treating any phobia is CBT. This should be available on the NHS free of charge. It will involve changing the way your daughter thinks about vomit and it will involve gradually exposing herself to the things she fears. This will be a challenge but should be at a pace that your daughter can cope with. I will post a link to some information from David Veale who is the recognised expert in this area. Best wishes. http://www.veale.co.uk/resources-support/public-information/vomit-phobia/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Just wanted to offer my support for you and your daughter and that things get sorted soon. Sorry I have no advice though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Firstly, I really sympathise - I have had a similar phobia, although by no means as extreme as your daughter's. Same here Hope your daughter finds a treatment to help her find a way forward *hug* Me three... ... Hope your daughter gets the help she needs to put herself back in the driving seat xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Thanks for the advice everyone - wise words as always x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 I also suffer from this, but to quite so extreme. I have managed to overcome some of the things i was avoiding as a result, but not all. Its actually one of the reasons why i am not having children. COuldnt cope with morning sickness or children being sick. if i have my stepdaughter on my own, i worry about what happens if she is ill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloss-Hen Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Hello I'm don't think I can help. I do know someone who suffers from this. But She thinks she is fine I wish you and your daughter all the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 I also suffer from this, but to quite so extreme. I have managed to overcome some of the things i was avoiding as a result, but not all. Its actually one of the reasons why i am not having children. COuldnt cope with morning sickness or children being sick. if i have my stepdaughter on my own, i worry about what happens if she is ill. I have pm'd you with some useful (I hope) info from a hypnotherapist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
