I have an Extreme Phobia of Vomit..therapy? please help! I go into panic attacks!
Question:
I have an Extreme Phobia of Vomit..therapy? please help! I go into panic attacks and practically faint.?
my phobia developed when i was at least three. My sister was always sick. I remember I would scream,cry, and hide and cover my ears when she would vomit and My last memory of my dead uncle alive was him throwing up in the hospital.My recent exposure was two weeks ago when I was driving somewhere with my pregnant cousin and she got car sick MANY times. After that I didn't want to eat because I would obsess about getting sick after and then I would make myself FEEL sick when i really wasn't. Please It feels like it is ruining my life! I am scared of eating and I don't want to go to a therapist because I am scared that all they will do is make me watch videos and expose me to it everyday! I am terrified to be around others who even feel sick...for fear that I will get sick if they do. I am not sure if i even want to have kids! For fear of morning sickness and that I won't be able to take care of my own kids if they got sick. My mom suggested hypnosis but i dont know if that would work.
Answers:
I would definitely recommend Cognitive Behavioural therapy! I used it for panic attacks and other stuff. Thinking back, part of the panic was that I was going to vomit. (Still I don’t think I suffered half as bad as you guys!)
Anyway, CBT is great for panic attacks, Obsessive Compulsive disorder and all phobias. It takes a bit of work, but I have found it to be super effective.
You can go to the doctor and get refered to a psychologist. Otherwise, you can take a course for free online at: http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elear... . I think it has special ‘chapters’ on phobias. It has been funded by NHS Scotland and has had great results thus far. A ‘prettier’ version of this type of programme (for general anxiety) can be bought at www.thewellnessshop.co.uk. If you don’t like computers, the best book is Dr Robert Burns, The Feeling Good Handbook. It is brilliant and used by many psychologists. Also see http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resource... for good anxiety work sheets and information.
All I can say is CBT changed my life. Good luck!