Emetophobia (Trigger Warning, TMI)

[Misty Avich]

If I was a man I would probably be a father by now, because you can have a biological child without needing to adopt. I hate being a woman.

 

[Misty Avich]

It looks like you put quite a bit of effort into researching this to understand it better.

Perhaps, a next step could be to put equal amounts of effort into researching what people do to reduce the symptoms that they experience and start practicing those things. This could be useful while you are waiting for therapy.

There's not much to do to reduce the symptoms, other than therapy. I try everything, like breathing techniques.
When these panic attacks about vomiting start, my mouth goes dry and saliva glands feel a bit swollen under my tongue like they're about to fill my mouth with loads of saliva like what happens before you be sick. I can then feel my gag reflexes become a little bit sensitive. This then triggers off panic and my heart starts thumping faster and I'm suddenly panicking because I'm not sure what my body wants to do, even though my stomach is fine.

This keeps happening whenever I'm away from home or work. I just get it in my head that I'm going to be sick for whatever reason (vertigo, a stomach virus, food-poisoning, stomach suddenly deciding not to digest food for whatever reason, etc). Or that I might just start gagging in front of everyone. It's just so scary. I hate it. I've tried looking on Google for ways to ease off your saliva glands and gag reflexes but there isn't any information on it. The only thing there is is getting your gag reflexes desensitised by gently touching the throat but there's no way I have the guts to do that (no pun intended). Anyway, it's all psychological, there's nothing physically wrong with my saliva glands or gag reflexes, so I don't think that would work anyway.

 

[Mary Terry]

When do you start therapy for this? It has a terrible hold on your mind and body.