Recently there was a huge controversy on a tiktok video where a mother who had emetophobia made her 2 year old sick son sleep outside in the driveway on a dog bed. The Internet exploded and the mother was heavily criticized for her behaviour and there were several discussions about this specific condition called emetophobia.
What is Emetophobia
Emetophobia is a mental health condition where a person develops irrational and intense fear of vomiting, witnessing others vomiting or the feeling of nausea.
Vomiting is a very unpleasant experience for everyone but most people do not bother about it after getting over the illness that caused it. For an emetophobic person they will have constant fear and this can take up regular daily life activities.
Emetophobia is considered as a specific phobia, which can lead to anxiety and panic attacks after exposure or anticipation of exposure.
This condition is a rare condition and it is more commonly seen in women than men.
Main causes of emetophobia
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Can be result of negative experience with vomiting like, vomiting in public or having a serious illness
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It can also be related to other mental health disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder or any other eating disorders.
Trigger Factors
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Feeling nauseated
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Hearing the word vomit
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Witnessing someone vomit
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Being near food that had caused previous episodes of vomiting
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New places
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Travelling
How To Manage
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Cognitive behavioural therapy
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Exposure therapy
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Medication ( to help anxiety and panic attacks)
Emetophobia is a vicious cycle which is very hard to break out from. This can affect your life in many ways like social isolation,depression,developing other eating disorders and majorly can lead to malnutrition.
It is a normal reaction to feel aversion towards vomiting after having a bad experience with it. But the problem starts when it starts to affect your day today life and it has to be addressed. Getting professional help in such cases can be game changer.
MBH/PS