- What is emetophobia and what causes it?
- What are the symptoms of emetophobia?
- How to treat emetophobia?
One of the certain activities in the world that most people don't like doing is vomiting. In some people, this unpleasant reflex can cause severe anxiety known as emetophobia. How to deal with this type of phobia? Psychologist Klaudia Krzynówek from the Damian Medical Center tells more about emetophobia.
What is emetophobia and what causes it?
Vomiting is not the most pleasant thing to do. There are millions of people in the world who feel excessive,irrational fear of the gag reflex and all related situations.This phobia is called emetophobia.
Feeling constantly anxious canhave a very big impact on your daily life . The mere thought that someone might throw up can cause severe anxiety. Psychologist Klaudia Krzynówek noted that people suffering from emetophobia can "avoid leaving the house outside their safe comfort zone, so as not to expose themselves to vomiting situations, watching someone vomit, or not fuel the thought of vomiting".
- They are also afraid that eating (e.g. in a restaurant) may harm them, they are accompanied by shame, thoughts related to making fun of others in a situation when they feel sick and start vomiting. In all of this there is afear that the vomiting may never subside- noted the specialist.
Emetophobia is also characterized by a panic fear ofphysical symptoms due to vomiting . This means that there is an intrusive, unwanted "what if I get hurt" thought. On the other hand, psychologist Klaudia Krzynówek pointed out in an interview with Poradnik Zdrowie that "each of us reacts differently to anxiety". In extreme cases, people with emetophobia may lose consciousness when they see vomiting. "
Read also: Aichmophobia, or fear of needles. Where does it come from?
What are the symptoms of emetophobia?
A number of symptoms related to the fear of vomiting were mentioned by the psychologist:
- avoiding situations or scenes in which you might be exposed to vomiting
- constant tracking of bathrooms in public places,
- avoiding eating places (i.e. cafes, restaurants or bars) andtrying new dishes,
- avoiding odorous things,
- avoiding hospitals or being around sick people,
- avoiding words and withdrawing from talking about throwing up,
- excessive use of medications to prevent vomiting or antacids,
- avoiding places where the person has felt unwell in the past and may associate them with thoughts of throwing up or a specific vomiting situation
- feeling physical symptoms such as:palpitations, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, dizziness.
Read also: Fear of rejection (nullophobia): causes and symptoms. How to deal with it?
How to treat emetophobia?
People experience emetophobia in different ways. Emetophobia may seem overwhelming, but these anxiety states of vomiting can and must be treated withemergency psychological support .
- Treatment of emetophobia should begin with looking for a psychologist or therapist whowill diagnose, help determine the correct source of the problem and match the appropriate form of help to a given person.This may be a recommendation to take anxiolytic drugs to reduce the feeling of anxiety and anxiety, or to start therapy aimed at strengthening anxiety coping skills, restoring balance and preventing relapse, which can be a more effective form of help. Often these two forms of interaction are combined - explained psychologist Klaudia Krzynówek.