How Addiction Happens

Question by xx_sof_oo: MY AdDICTION?
please give me some advice!
i am Emetophobic, which means i am really afraid of vomiting or seeing vomit. I was told to have phenergan from a doctor once when i had a stomach ache and nausea. He also mentioned it’s ANTI VOMITING feature!! of course i had never heard anything better and i think im addicted. i always have it cos i think it will stop me vomiting. i really want to stop but i dont want to vomit!! lately i ahve only been having it about 3 times a week but i would like to hhave it not at all! im really confused :'( please help me

Best answer:

Answer by nyskiermom
I also had this phobia, for years, and there were a few things that helped me out.

I got pets, and in the course of normal living, they vomit. That forced me to have to clean up after them. Loving them made it a little easier. Not at first, it nearly took a sedative to clean things up at first! But things got easier.

About my own puking, my fear was specific to doing it in public or away from my own house. I learned to constantly ask myself, “What is the worst thing that could happen,” and in most situations the worst thing was embarrassment. No one has ever died of embarrassment. Unpleasant, but I could live with it. I also made sure that I always knew where all the bathrooms were or sat near an exit. That would help reduce my anxiety.

I found that just thinking about and worying about this would make me nauseous, and that would increase my fear of vomiting. It’s a terrible cycle and one that is really hard to get out of. For me, chewing minty gum reduced nausea, so I always had that along, too.

Then I got marrired and guess what, my husband got sick a few times and I had to deal with it. Then I got pregnant which is all about 9 months of nausea management without drugs. Then had a baby and there is enough spit-up etc. with a baby that I eventually became completely desensitized to it.

But it took years to get past this, with lots of careful thinking and taking baby steps. So be patient with yourself. Figure out the little things you can do to help yourself each day to reduce your anxiety. That will help you reduce your need to take the phenergan. If you’re down to three times a week you’re doing GREAT!

BTW, thanks for posting, it’s good to talk to someone else who has this particular phobia. 🙂

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