Therapy for Emetophobia

Emetophobia is an intense fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit. It can seriously affect daily life, causing people to avoid certain foods or social situations. Symptoms vary in severity from person to person.

Fortunately, emetophobia can be treated with therapy, medication, or both. With the right help, many people can overcome their fear and live better lives.

Emetophobia often occurs alongside other mental health issues like health anxiety or OCD. Some may have fears about contamination or compulsive behaviours to avoid illness. These overlapping problems can make treatment more complicated, but a full approach that tackles all symptoms can work well.

If you or someone you know struggles with emetophobia or related issues, seeking professional support is an important step toward recovery.

TESTIMONIALS

EMDR for emetophobia

I have had emetophobia ever since I was a child. It completely hindered my life and I missed out on so many experiences, because of my fears of feeling nauseous and also being violently sick.  I felt very ashamed about my emetophobia and had put off getting help. I decided to try some EMDR, because it felt appropriate to me as it can help treat phobias. 

I was amazed with the difference after just 9 hours of EMDR. Early memories which underpinned my phobia have now become more manageable and I am now living my life without the fear of being sick and feeling nauseous. I have recently eaten food which I have always avoided. 

(Female, aged 56).

MCT, EMDR and DBR for emetophobia and health anxiety

I suffered from emetophobia and health anxiety from the age of 13 following a traumatic experience. This affected my social life and my IBS. My preoccupation with this controlled a lot of my thoughts and my behaviours.  Throughout the sessions with Sarah I have learned how to control my worry about this using metacognitive therapy (MCT). 

EMDR helped me to unpick the traumatic experience in a subtle way and it didn’t feel overwhelming. I had initially felt hesitant about doing it for fears that it would rip a plaster off and open up lots of unpleasant memories in the session, which didn’t actually happen. The DBR was fascinating, gentle and calming. It helped me to process things in a subtle way.  I want to say it felt “non-invasive” and unconscious. 

 Throughout the time I saw progress in my ability to travel, see friends and go out for meals. As I controlled my worry and managed my anxiety, my IBS symptoms eased. 

 (Female, aged 22, in person therapy, April 23)