Crooked Chicken Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Anyone out there suffer with a phobia??? I have emetophobia, the fear of sickness (vomit). My husband's away on business at the moment, and this is when I get worse than ever. Having two small children, I am in constant fear of them being sick. Last night Ben said he had stomache ache (there's loads of bugs flying around his pre-school at the moment), I then thought I had stomach ache. I shiver uncontrollably, and hyperventilate until I nearly pass out. Couldn't actually sleep until about 2am this morning. I hate being alone with this phobia. It occupies a lot of my thoughts every day and it is completely draining, I just wish I had a phobia about anything else in the world - am not coping very well at the moment and I hate it. Have never mentioned it to the Dr, but I'm getting so bad that I think I need to seek help now - pathetic isn't it. Hope I haven't depressed anyone this Tues morning - but I feel better just sharing my thoughts. Right - got to go collect some eggs now ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieW Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I can sympathise with you - the nights can seem very long when you feel like that. My boys are older now but even from little, they knew they were on their own with the bucket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Sue, that sounds horrible. I don't have any phobias, but I do suffer from anxiety attacks,although I can control them much more now. I know the things that "set them off" (Airports,Trains,Crowded rooms) & try to either avoid these,or at least minimise the crowded feeling by sitting near to doors or windows. I ALWAYS get an aisle seat in the cinema Breathing exercises also help a lot. I also think I need to be in control of situations & if I HAVE to be somewhere (funeral,wedding etc) that can make be go doolally too. It is a horrible feeling of not being able to escape that does it. My daughters school AGM is next week, & I want to go & raise the Learning Files issue (as previously posted) but really do not think I can do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 My LSH is away in France till Thursday evening and I am absolutely TERRIFIED of spiders. I get palpitations, can't breathe, can't move and can only scream. Fortunately both boys know how bad I get and will come and rescue me if there's one while LSH is away! I'm also really scared of heights and flying. I can't go on an aeroplane at all anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I forgot to mention that I hate spiders too - not to the extent of shaking & crying,but I am certainly a lot happier once I have whacked 'em with something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I've got a bit of a thing about checking that things are switched off or unplugged as fire terrifies me. When I was at a school bonfire party (aged about 10) I witnessed a girl burn her neck by waving a sparkler too close to her wooly scarf. I can still hear her screams to this day . For years I wouldn't let my children have sparklers, but last year hubby let them- I had to cower in the bedroom all the time they had them. Wimp But now there seems to be a bit of me that's convinced that our house will burn down around my ears- my children have been given instructions on how to evacuate their bedrooms in case of fire , and I go around checking if the oven's swithched off and the iron unplugged etc before I go out. Even been known to turn round when I'm on my way out somewhere, just to check. Borderline OCD I swear, but I am quite sane really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Phobias are really horrible and worse when you feel no-one understands how you feel or if you are alone. you seem to be in good company on here Sue........ My worst phobia is all to do with not being able to breathe. It causes night terrors that I find difficult to cope with even with someone right next to me. Anything to do with things underwater will cause me problems and if I get the slightest bit 'stuffy' with a cold I have to use decongestant. I am paranoid about losing the power of speech or becoming paralysed and not able to do anything aout the 'stuffed up' feeling and I'm always bombarding OH about what he must do if either of these happen. The last general anaesthetic I had left me awake but paralysed for about an hour and now I am worse. I've had hypnotherapy in the past to help with the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder problems I used to have but this has arisen since and I can't face hypnotherapy again because of the lack of complete control - also the reason i don't drink any alcohol now I hope all goes well for you, and Kate, while your OH's are away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 KateA - do you have your children crawling on the floor across the landing as well?........ and a roll up ladder?.......... and teach them how to use it?.....nice to know I'm not alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I witnessed a girl burn her neck by waving a sparkler too close to her wooly scarf. I can still hear her screams to this day . For years I wouldn't let my children have sparklers, but last year hubby let them- I had to cower in the bedroom all the time they had them. Wimp I have to go inside for sparklers as they terrify me. With Tom being autistic, he panicked one year when we accidentally bought sparklers which made a whistling noise when lit and he did the standard autistic response to a noise he didn't like - hands on ears.....with sparkler still in hand ! I was watching from the house and ran outside shouting to throw it on the floor! Fortunately he didn't get burnt but it was a really close thing and I still have nightmares now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I hate heights. I had my one and only panic attack at the top of the monument in Princes Street in Edinburgh My ex pusuaded me to go up and it gets very narrow at the top and when I tried to step out onto the balcony I couldn't move I had to get back down but there were people behind me - what a nightmare I refused to go up the Washington Monument when on a business trip in America in case the same thing happened even though it is an enclosed structure I didn't want my work colleague to see me in that state I do get on planes but it is not a good thing to be sitting next to me. I was on one once going to London for work and was so stressed I hadn't slept it was January so the trip to the airort at 3am was through snow - more stress and I immediately fell asleep on the plane. It hit an air pocket and dropped I made a noise like a strangled cat on waking up holding the arm of the stranger (a man) in the next seat He was very nice and talked to me for the rest of the flight to take my mind of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 You've just reminded me of a flight back from Madeira, Louise. I was sitting by the window and Carl was next to me. A lady sat in the aisle seat next to Carl and as the plane started to take off she grabbed hold of his whole arm and couldn't let go. Those of you who have met Carl will understand when i say that Carl was mortified. Once I'd stopped giggling (at him) I had to reach over and extricate his arm and then hold her hand - across Carl - talking to her to calm her down. As soon as the plane started its descent I held her hand. It's a good job we're all different isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Mine are spiders and heights - weird I know for someone who is normaly pragmatic I swear that they get worse as I get older too. The cat usually gets spiders, or Phil if he is round - although he does insist on talking to them! He didn''t realise how bad I am with heights until we went up that glass wedge building in Manchester, and I had to sit down on the floor against the wall furthest from the glass walls! Went on the London Eye, though. But i had to sit down and look out not down. Strangely enough, I am not the same when flying, which I love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Roll up ladder, Lesley? Oh, yes . My son sleeps upstairs on his own (we have a bungalow with loft conversion), and when the dormer windows were fitted I plagued the builders with checking that he could get out ok, and have fitted a roll up ladder from the window so he can get out easily in necessary. Daughter's downstairs but would have to exit into the back garden, so I have nightmares about her having to escape into the back garden then not be able to join the rest of us at the front of the house, worrying about if we were ok or had forgotten her Quite, quite ridiculous really. I do get teased by them though, they reckon I'm worse than school- they only get 1 fire drill a year there I hate the idea of general anaesthetic being ineffective and not being able to do anything about it. I've heard a few reports of that- and it sounds terrifying. Best not give myself anything else to fret needlessly about though. I've only ever had 1 GA in my life, aged 9 for tonsils, touch wood I'm not planning on any more. It's amazing what they can do under epidural these days too, should it ever be necessary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I hate the idea of general anaesthetic being ineffective and not being able to do anything about it. I've heard a few reports of that- and it sounds terrifying. Best not give myself anything else to fret needlessly about though. I've only ever had 1 GA in my life, aged 9 for tonsils, touch wood I'm not planning on any more. It's amazing what they can do under epidural these days too, should it ever be necessary I've had 10 GAs and have been fine through all of them ! Never felt a thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Don't htink that an epidural would be any good for having your tonsils out, though. I don't mind GA's having had one last year - got to hold the hand of a tasty male nurse while I drifted off - sweet dreams! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 It's like anything though Kate, millions go well each year, not a problem, but if just one goes wrong it hits the media and we all get the impression it happens every time. Well, we don't really, I do know that GA's are incredibly safe, but then I hear a story of ineffective GA and it's like my worst nightmare brought to life so the imagination starts working overtime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Spiders ..... Dentists ..... Needles ... blood taking, injections, anaesthetics. Apart from these ... I am pretty tough ... honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 See, no need to feel you're alone - I think all these posts show that there is nothing abnormal about phobias - everyone has one to some extent or other so dont feel bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DucktorWho Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 Wow, I'm like a combination of Crooked Chicken and *Sarah*! I used to get a lot of anxiety attacks due to a combination emetophobia, and I recently discovered, a caffeine intolerance. I wish I had discovered the caffeine thing years ago as I think my emetophobia wouldn't have developed to the point it did if I had. I always sit on the aisle at the cinema, theatre, concerts and when travelling. If I know I have the option of leaving a situation it makes it so much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleata Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 im afraid of spiders and have a small fear of going down steep stairs. i remember as a child standing at the top of a local 'Boots' store crying my eyes out because i couldnt make my self go down the stairs. i think it has something to do with height, its especially bad if the stairs are see though, transparent of like a wire mesh. make me shudder to think, makes me quite dizzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I get that too Fleata. The stairs in the new Apple shop in Regent Street are like that - I have to collect myself before i go down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I hate spiders and anything that flies in a confined space. I used to have a dreadful fear of birds and used to wear my coat and put my hood up when I walked to school - even in the summer for fear of a "The Birds" type episode. This was as a result of being attacked by a crow once. I hated it. If I saw a bird - not a garden type but a crow/rook type then I'd come over all hot and sweaty and pannicky and want to cry. This was only if I was on my own. When with other people I felt safe and fine. Anyway when I was at college I went to see the councillor about my bird phobia and she made me talk to a chair and pretend it was a bird and tell it how I felt and then made me pick buttons from a big tin and say which members of my family they represented - It was all very odd and I felt like a right loon - I couldn't face going back to her - scived off my next appointment and realised I had to snap out of it and have been better since (maybe that was her plan!) I'm okay now but still get the odd "moment". OH was a bit worried that I'd be too scared to handle the hens but I'm fine with them - it's their fluffy bottoms that calm me I also have OCD tendancies but that's another story ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Chicken Posted November 8, 2005 Author Share Posted November 8, 2005 Sorry to say it, but it is great knowing I'm not the only person with a debilitating phobia. Red - I know what you mean about receiving so called "help" from a councellor. I too saw a clinical psycologist (bad spelling) about my phobia, and all they were interested in was delving into my past and trying to find out what the trigger for the phobia was. As if that matters or is relevant. Anyway she annoyed me because she wasn't helping in the slightest. Left after a couple of weeks. I know another cure is exposing yourself to your phobia so as to desensitize (seen this on TV a few times - with apparent great success), and OK I can see how this would work with something like flying, spiders, birds etc etc, but vomit - I just wouldn't be able to do it. Will see the Dr soon about my phobia and just hope he comes up with something better (maybe hypnotherapy or something??). Anyway great to hear from you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 You do realise Sue, that you've had us all panicking and hyper-ventilating all day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Chicken Posted November 8, 2005 Author Share Posted November 8, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
