Emetophobia - Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is Emetophobia?

Emetophobia is a fear of vomiting that affects physical and mental health. Anyone can experience emetophobia, but it is more commonly seen in women than men. People with this phobia spend a lot of time worrying about vomiting even when they do not feel ill. As a result, they stress a lot, and this stress can have a massive impact on their life. People with emetophobia can also be afraid of some situations like:

• Repeated, uncontrolled vomiting.

• Choking on vomit.

• Unable to find a bathroom.

• Feeling embarrassed in front of others because of vomiting.

• Visiting a hospital.

• Fear of eating out.

• Avoiding new places and new foods.

• Fear of crowded places.

• Constantly monitoring the health.

Most people who have emetophobia have anxiety that affects their daily life.

What Are the Causes of Emetophobia?

All kinds of phobias are developed after a specific incidence. The incidence links the situation, object, event, or any fear. For example, the causes of emetophobia are:

• Watching someone else vomiting.

• Having a bad history of severe food poisoning.

• Falling sick in public.

• Falling ill during vacations.

• Having a panic attack during an incident that involves vomiting.

• History of someone vomiting on one.

• Having a family history of specific anxiety disorder or phobia.

This type of phobia can develop during childhood, but people might have lived with this phobia for decades without even remembering the first triggering event.

What Are the Symptoms of Emetophobia?

If one has emetophobia, one should make significant efforts to avoid situations where someone could vomit. Try to avoid such scenarios. The symptoms of emetophobia include:

• Eating slowly, eating only at home, and eating very little.

• Avoiding food or places that are associated with vomiting.

• Avoiding new foods and beverages.

• Obsessive-compulsive behavior.

• Throwing away food before it expires.

• Constantly checking or smelling food to ensure it is good and not bad.

• Overcooking the food.

• Avoiding touching places or surfaces that can have germs like toilet seats, doorknobs, flushes, and public places.

• Avoiding places like hospitals or clinics to avoid sick people.

• Having antacids prevents the feeling of nausea and vomiting before they occur.

• Excessively washing hands, dishes, foods, and food preparation equipment.

• Monitoring health excessively.

• Avoiding the intake of alcohol or any medication that could cause nausea.

• Avoid school, parties, public transportation, traveling, and other crowded places.

• Avoid using certain words like “puke” or “vomit.”

• Avoiding bad smells.

• Feeling breathless or increased heart rate after the thought of vomiting.

These symptoms may accompany other mental health conditions like:

• Fear if someone is vomiting.

• Extreme fear of vomiting or choking up.

• Fear of uncontrolled vomiting.

• Feeling anxious or depressed at the thought of vomiting.

• Thought of being embarrassed because of vomiting.

• Irrational thoughts of linking any experience of vomiting as an example.

What Causes Nausea and Stomach Pain?

People with emetophobia often experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and a general feeling of sickness. All these are physical signs of anxiety and panic attacks. But some people see nausea and stomach pain as anxiety symptoms, not as signs of vomiting.

How Is Emetophobia Diagnosed?

When there is extreme fear or anxiety with a particular object or situation, it is known as phobia, which later starts negatively affecting health, life, work, and home. The categories for diagnosing emetophobia include:

• Actively avoiding situations that could involve vomiting.

• A significant response is observed immediately after thinking or seeing the vomit.

• The presence of obsessive-compulsive behavior.

How Is Emetophobia Treated?

All phobias do not require treatment. People can work on some phobias on their own. But specific phobias like elevators and swimming are easier to avoid than others. The psychologist can treat emetophobia through talk therapy. They work through the thought patterns about the vomit. Many therapists expose the patients gradually to vomiting through videos and other techniques. So it is essential to seek help if the phobias affect the quality of life. In most cases, exposure therapy is helpful, and practicing medication can provide relief. The treatment options include:

• Exposure Therapy- It is considered the most effective treatment for specific phobias. In exposure therapy, the therapist will slowly expose one to their phobias. In the case of emetophobia treatment, one will be advised to eat in a new restaurant until they start feeling slightly nauseous. The doctor might encourage trying new things and teach the techniques to help cope with the feelings of fear and anxiety and fear during the exposure. Multiple exposures can help one to tackle their fears.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that helps to identify and challenge the negative thoughts that cause distress. CBT involves exposure to phobias. One will be slowly exposed to phobias and will be taught how to deal with the distress they experience while thinking about vomiting.

• Medication - There is no standardized medical treatment for emetophobia as it is a rare medical condition. It is difficult to use medications to treat phobias, but certain drugs may help reduce anxiety symptoms. Certain medications can be used.

  • Beta-blockers can help prevent increased heart rate, blood pressure, and other signs of anxiety. These medications can be taken before the onset of the situation or before going into situations that might trigger the phobia.
  • Benzodiazepines - Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can help feel less anxious. They are addictive, so they are not recommended for long-term use.
  • D-Cycloserine (DCS) - This drug can be used during exposure therapy and is proven to be beneficial.

Conclusion

Emetophobia is a common fear among both children and adults. The best way to treat emetophobia is with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This form of therapy enables people to work with the therapist and learn new ways of dealing with fear. Exposure therapy is also a very effective therapy for treating emetophobia. Finding the proper treatment and therapist may take some time, but it can help regain control.