Emetophobia: When the Fear of Vomiting Takes Over Your Life – How to Help Yourself or Your Child

Do you or your child feel anxious about vomiting? If the thought of being sick or seeing someone else vomit fills you with fear, you’re not alone. This fear, known as emetophobia, can be overwhelming and impact daily life. It might cause you to avoid certain foods, places, or activities out of fear of getting sick. But the good news is that emetophobia is manageable. With the right understanding and support, you can reduce anxiety and regain control over your life.

What is Emetophobia?

While emetophobia sounds like a complicated term, it is simply the fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit.

For some, this fear is very overwhelming and can interfere with their daily lives.

Additionally, some people will avoid eating certain foods or stay away from places where they may feel unwell.

If you or your child is struggling with this fear, you are not alone! Many people experience this fear and more importantly, it can be managed and treated with the right support and understanding.

Why Do People Develop Emetophobia?

The reason behind emetophobia vary for everyone. For some people, it may have begun after a traumatic or distressing experience with vomiting from a very bad stomach illness or witnessing someone vomiting in a public place.

Over time, the brain can begin associating vomiting with ‘danger’ or something to avoid, which leads to an increased fear of it.

On the other hand, some people may have natural sensitivity to bodily sensations which can lead them to feeling uneasy about the idea of losing control over their body.

Recognizing the Signs of Emetophobia:

As mentioned, emetophobia can look different from person to person, yet here are some common signs in children and teens:

• • Physical Symptoms: Feeling dizzy, anxious, or having stomach pain when thinking about vomiting or when faced with situations that could possibly make them feel nauseous.
  • Avoidance Behaviours: Refusing to go to places where germs are present, such as school, public places, or avoiding certain foods that may lead to feeling sick.
  • Obsessive Thoughts: Overthinking about the possibility of vomiting, checking food/environment to ensure safety, or counting down days until a trip.
  • Difficulty engaging in normal activities: Miss out on family events, sleepovers, school, or school activities due to fear of being sick.

Understanding the early signs can make it easier to get the right kind of help.

How To Support a Child with Emetophobia?

The first thing to know is that a child struggling with emetophobia is common and you are not alone.

Supporting your child with any kind of anxiety can be difficult, but there are various ways to help them feel more in control of their fear and decrease the anxiety.

1. Stay Calm and Patient: Providing a supportive, calm, and understanding environment is crucial for validating your child’s feelings as acknowledging that their fear is real shows that they are being heard.
2. Don’t Enable Avoidance: While it is natural to want to protect your child from things or situations that make them anxious, consistently avoiding situations related to their fear will reinforce it. Rather, try to gently encourage your child to face the fear in small, manageable steps.
3. Normalize Talking About It: Open communication is key as it provides encouragement to talk about your child’s fears and anxieties. Research shows when children feel heard and understood, they are more likely to feel confident and empowered to face fears.
4. Introducing Coping Techniques: Help your child to develop relaxation strategies such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or progressive muscle relaxation when anxiety comes through.
5. Seek Professional Help: If the fear of vomiting becomes overwhelming or begins to interfere with your child’s ability to go about daily living, it may be time to seek help from a trained therapist. A therapist can provide guidance and help your child through this process.

Treatment Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): The goal of CBT is to help individuals identify and challenge irrational thoughts and beliefs related to their fear. This therapy also focuses on gradually exposing individuals to feared situations in a safe, controlled manner to reduce anxiety over time.

Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is a specific type of CBT that helps people confront their fears in a gradual and systematic way. For emetophobia, this process involves exposing the individual to scenarios that trigger their fear in a safe, controlled manner. The idea is to help the individual realize that their fear of vomiting is disproportionate and that they can handle situations that once felt overwhelming.

Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Mindfulness-based techniques can be highly effective in managing the anxiety associated with emetophobia. These techniques help individuals stay grounded in the present moment rather than getting caught up in irrational fears about vomiting. Mindfulness practices also help increase awareness of bodily sensations without overreacting to them.

Family Therapy and Involvement: Involving family members in the treatment process can be incredibly helpful, especially when children or teenagers are affected by emetophobia. Family members can learn how to support the individual in facing their fear and reducing avoidance behaviours. A family therapist can help guide families in creating a positive, supportive environment that encourages progress.

Online Resources: One of our favourite websites for help with this fear is EmetophobiaHelp, where you can find more information and even some beginning exposures for children and for adults too.

What Children Can Do to Cope

If you are a child reading this or if you are talking to a child about their fear of vomiting, it’s important to know that it’s okay to feel scared. You’re not the only one who feels this way, and you can learn how to handle it. Here are some tips:

1. Remember You’re Not Alone: Lots of people have fears, and it’s okay to feel scared sometimes. You can talk to your family, friends, or a therapist about what’s bothering you.
2. Practice Calming Yourself Down: When you feel scared or anxious, try using calming techniques like deep breathing or imagining a safe place. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at feeling calm when you’re worried.
3. Take Small Steps: Facing your fear doesn’t have to happen all at once. Start by doing little things that help you feel braver, like learning more about why we vomit or watching videos about how people cope with feeling sick.
4. Talk About Your Feelings: It might be helpful to talk about your fears with someone you trust. Sharing what you’re going through can help you feel less scared. It’s also a way to get help, so you don’t have to handle it all on your own.
5. Challenge Your Thoughts: Sometimes when we’re really scared, our brains can trick us into thinking something terrible is going to happen. Challenge those thoughts by asking yourself, “Is this really true? What’s the evidence that I might vomit right now?” It can help put things into perspective.

Emetophobia can be a tough challenge for both children and families. With understanding, patience, and the right support, it’s possible to reduce the fear and live a fuller, happier life. It’s important to recognize that this is something that can be managed with the right tools and strategies. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or child experiencing emetophobia, remember that help is available. Reaching out to a mental health professional who specializes in anxiety can be a great step forward. Together, we can take the journey toward healing and empowerment.

Contributed by:
Sabrina Rodrigues, MACP, RP (Qualifying)

Sabrina focuses on supporting children and teens with anxiety and OCD at Acorn Counselling.
To learn more about Sabrina, visit the Team Page, or to book a session fill out the form here.