Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) Support

[Coolcait1996]

So I've been on Prozac for a week. I had a HORRIBLE anxiety attack last night. Felt like I was gonna get sick and had terrible uncontrollable shaking. Had to get my mom... :/ I just had taken a Xanax like 3-4 hours beforehand because I was getting nervous cause I just ate... So I took another. He said I could take 1-2 a day but I had 3 that day :/ idk if this Prozac is gonna work... I am scared to live again.. Because of having that horrible attack. Ill have moments of feeling sick and episodes but this was an attack.. I see my psychiatrist in a week. I also am restless. I can't sleep as well as I use to. I don't want to eat...

 

[SDSorority]

So I've been on Prozac for a week. I had a HORRIBLE anxiety attack last night. Felt like I was gonna get sick and had terrible uncontrollable shaking. Had to get my mom... :/ I just had taken a Xanax like 3-4 hours beforehand because I was getting nervous cause I just ate... So I took another. He said I could take 1-2 a day but I had 3 that day :/ idk if this Prozac is gonna work... I am scared to live again.. Because of having that horrible attack. Ill have moments of feeling sick and episodes but this was an attack.. I see my psychiatrist in a week. I also am restless. I can't sleep as well as I use to. I don't want to eat...

I know how you're feeling with the feeling sick and shaking. Whenever I have an anxiety attack, I shake uncontrollably (more than just a tremble), my heart races, my breathing becomes quick and shallow, and I get a tightness/gagging feeling in my throat which causes me to feel sick to my tummy. Sometimes this makes me feel faint, too. Lately I have had a LOT of success in calming myself out of a panic attack by doing deep breathing and realizing that it's an anxiety attack that's causing me to feel this way (aka it's all in my brain and my perception of what's going on... not REALLY what's going on), and I'm not feeling this way because I'm sick. As soon as I can get it in my brain that I'm perceiving something (that's harmless) as dangerous and my body is reacting to that perceived danger in the only way it knows how (making me scared and wanting to "flight"... flee from the danger that's not really there) I start to calm down fairly quickly. Getting your mom for help is absolutely fine! When I have an anxiety attack I always alert my husband and my sister- it makes no difference if it's in the middle of the night or during the day. They are my support system and can talk me down out of my head.

If you haven't already, download "Anxiety Slayer" on itunes. It's a podcast that is SO supportive about this very thing. In the meantime (before you see your doc again), try to get as much nutrition in as you can, even if you don't want to eat. Eating good, whole foods keeps your immune system strong, which can PREVENT sickness. Once your immune system weakens, that makes you susceptible to illness. So if you don't want to eat, try nourishing soups or smoothies made out of whole-food ingredients. Try before bed to give yourself a chance to wind-down by taking a hot shower or bath, turning off electronics an hour before bed, lighting a candle or two, listening to relaxing music, moisturizing with olive or coconut oil, and just really taking the time to take care of yourself. Little self-care rituals go a long way. Loving yourself is so important. Accept yourself for what's going on, and support yourself in every way you can.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Prozac takes 4-6 weeks to build up enough in your system to fully take effect. Please give it time before you say it isn't working.

 

[Coolcait1996]

It's really awful :/ I haven't been eating that much but I'm trying. Today is day 9 on Prozac. I know it takes a while, it's just really hard to be patient ): I haven't taken a Xanax in 2 days so that's good! My psychiatrist said I can only take it when I have a full blown out attack (with the shaking and stuff). I'm having REALLY bad tummy/intestine troubles!!! It's all gurgley and gassy and I have mucus in my diarrhea. Could that be a side effect of the medication I'm taking!? Or could I have IBS? Like when I get nervous, I get SUPER burpy. Last night I woke up with some stomach discomfort. I can't tell if it was pain or if it was upset/sick... Just not happy and it kept me up. I figured hunger, without the growling yet. I actually lost some weight, which may seem good but isn't because it's because I'm barely eating and the only exercise I get is walking my dog at night for 30-60 minutes.
Oh and the stomach bug is going around here and I'm really scared ):

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I won't say that the Prozac couldn't be upsetting your stomach, but most likely it isn't that.

 

[Coolcait1996]

I use to sleep 12 hours easy. When the stomach troubles came and I started medicine. Sleeping became difficult. Now I wake up in the night and can't fall asleep and it now is with nausea. My mom thinks I have a medical condition, and so does my psychiatrist. They don't understand emetophobia ... I can't sleep peacefully anymore... My stomach and digestive system has symptoms of IBS now... This never happened until my anxiety collapsed and the attacks began. What do I do??? My mom just told me to take some Anti-Nausea liquid stuff we bought a long time go.. But it says take every 15 minutes until nausea subsides. And the medicine itself makes me almost throw up. Help... I tell my mom what I've read on this (on the Internet and this site) and she said that I need to stop reading because its not true Even though its people's personal experiences.. I need help. I know I have emetophobia ... I have had it a long time but it never got to the point where i feared it so much it controlled my life... Help, what do I do? I have a psychiatrist appointment Wednesday at 11

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

If you psychiatrist won't consider that you have emetophobia then maybe that isn't the right doctor. And anxiety can cause IBS symptoms, I get them too. Cramping, diarrhea. Let your mom take you to a specialist for your stomach. Maybe when they find nothing wrong they will listen to you. And stay on the Prozac.

 

[Coolcait1996]

Very good answer!

I'm scared to go to a specialist because they have to do test on my stomach right??? And I'm scared these test could make me feel sick or gag or something and I really don't want to go through that ):

Im trying to get my mom in my side so my psychiatrist can fully help me, but he even asked my mom how do we know its not a medical issue and he kept shoving off the main cause is emetophobia so.... :/

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I know the thought of getting stomach testing is scary, but isn't the thought of living like this forever scarier? I know you can get better, you are strong enough. I can tell by your posts, and how well you express yourself and know yourself. You are in a tough spot as a minor so you don't have as much control. You will have to "play along" until your mom and or dr see the light. Stomach tests are a short term discomfort. Starving because you are afraid you will vomit is long term discomfort if you don't get it under control.

Stick with your meds and force yourself to get through those temporary discomforts like testing by seeing the long-term goal of a healthy life with friends and family.

 

[Coolcait1996]

I know the thought of getting stomach testing is scary, but isn't the thought of living like this forever scarier? I know you can get better, you are strong enough. I can tell by your posts, and how well you express yourself and know yourself. You are in a tough spot as a minor so you don't have as much control. You will have to "play along" until your mom and or dr see the light. Stomach tests are a short term discomfort. Starving because you are afraid you will vomit is long term discomfort if you don't get it under control.

Stick with your meds and force yourself to get through those temporary discomforts like testing by seeing the long-term goal of a healthy life with friends and family.

Yeah that's very true... but the fear of it really is the worst thing to me to ever have to imagine going through it!! I'm actually feeling better, and haven't been waking up with discomfort. I'm eating more then before so I'm getting better. Thank goodness. And thank you for telling me I express myself well, my psychiatrist even pointed this out during my appointment, he said I am very mature and he considers me an adult in his eyes (18 in January).
I was expressing my fear as irrational and he stopped me and said what makes it irrational. I said a rational fear, such as being scared as the dark, can be explained. You can say you're scared of seeing a face and not being able to see. But an irrational fear/phobia you can't explain why you're scared of what you're scared of. I even convinced him I was correct over his questionings. And I was talking about the placebo effect. (I took psychology last year and got a 100% on the final) anyways!
I see him tomorrow. Should I inform him what happened even though I'm better??

 

[SDSorority]

Yeah that's very true... but the fear of it really is the worst thing to me to ever have to imagine going through it!! I'm actually feeling better, and haven't been waking up with discomfort. I'm eating more then before so I'm getting better. Thank goodness. And thank you for telling me I express myself well, my psychiatrist even pointed this out during my appointment, he said I am very mature and he considers me an adult in his eyes (18 in January).
I was expressing my fear as irrational and he stopped me and said what makes it irrational. I said a rational fear, such as being scared as the dark, can be explained. You can say you're scared of seeing a face and not being able to see. But an irrational fear/phobia you can't explain why you're scared of what you're scared of. I even convinced him I was correct over his questionings. And I was talking about the placebo effect. (I took psychology last year and got a 100% on the final) anyways!
I see him tomorrow. Should I inform him what happened even though I'm better??

Oh yeah totally be upfront with the doctor about what happened, and be sure to tell him that you're better, too! What was happening might have been symptoms of the medication- be sure to tell him everything so he can help you the best way he can. Glad you're eating!! Sometimes you just have to take it slow, but eating is sooo important. When we've had tummy troubles at home we have been steering toward the soups or smoothies lately. Easy to digest nutrition... you can't beat it!

... have you considered being a psychology or nursing (mental-health focus) major in college? Your experience, I feel, can really help people and put some 'good' back in the world.

Sad (and happy) to say, for myself, this morning was rough. Had a panic episode, but I'm happy to say that I was able to get myself out of it fairly quickly. Feel just fine now, back to normal (just about)!

 

[Coolcait1996]

Oh yeah totally be upfront with the doctor about what happened, and be sure to tell him that you're better, too! What was happening might have been symptoms of the medication- be sure to tell him everything so he can help you the best way he can. Glad you're eating!! Sometimes you just have to take it slow, but eating is sooo important. When we've had tummy troubles at home we have been steering toward the soups or smoothies lately. Easy to digest nutrition... you can't beat it!

... have you considered being a psychology or nursing (mental-health focus) major in college? Your experience, I feel, can really help people and put some 'good' back in the world.

Sad (and happy) to say, for myself, this morning was rough. Had a panic episode, but I'm happy to say that I was able to get myself out of it fairly quickly. Feel just fine now, back to normal (just about)!

Yeah I should tell him.. I was not having nightly nausea and felt great for the past three days and today I woke up and am still super nauseous :/ ugh I feel AWEFUL. Appointment at 11, and a social worker is coming at 1 to inspect my house (for Home-Bound school program) and I'm feeling cruddy. You're not alone this morning ): ...

 

[SDSorority]

Yeah I should tell him.. I was not having nightly nausea and felt great for the past three days and today I woke up and am still super nauseous :/ ugh I feel AWEFUL. Appointment at 11, and a social worker is coming at 1 to inspect my house (for Home-Bound school program) and I'm feeling cruddy. You're not alone this morning ): ...

How did your appointment go?

 

[Coolcait1996]

How did your appointment go?

He diagnosed me for agoraphobia, social phobia, and a panic disorder. I keep making it very clear I have a extreme fear of throwing up which causes most of this so he knows.
Unfortunately his contract isn't being renewed so.... I'm being transferred so someone new. And I really liked him but maybe the other psychiatrist will be more willing of the thought of emetophobia.
And I need to start cognitive behavior therapy... Alot of these issues come from my abnormally horrible self image we think. I'm so negative on myself

 

[SDSorority]

He diagnosed me for agoraphobia, social phobia, and a panic disorder. I keep making it very clear I have a extreme fear of throwing up which causes most of this so he knows.
Unfortunately his contract isn't being renewed so.... I'm being transferred so someone new. And I really liked him but maybe the other psychiatrist will be more willing of the thought of emetophobia.
And I need to start cognitive behavior therapy... Alot of these issues come from my abnormally horrible self image we think. I'm so negative on myself

I have heard good things about CBT!! I have heard that social and agoraphobia does come from negative self-image as well, so it sounds like you're on the right track to getting better!!

Also, I haven't listened to this yet, but it might help! http://www.anxietyslayer.com/journal/talks-with-gozen-about-child-teen-anxiety-relief.html

 

[Coolcait1996]

Hey all! I have a question.

So a friend who I have been hanging with daily is having his older brother come over Wednesday. His older brother has been throwing up lately... He has the stomach bug. Once my friend is exposed he could either 1)get sick or just 2) carry the germ. How long should I wait to see him again? Like a week after his older brother leaves and he hasn't been sick, would that be okay and safe??

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I would think 48 hours is fine.

 

[Coolcait1996]

I would think 48 hours is fine.

Okay, so 48 hours after his brother goes home? Because his brother will obviously still be carrying the virus by Wednesday even if he stops throwing up today. And if my friend doesn't get it within 48 hours of his brother leaving he isn't carrying it? And it's safe? What about the surfaces in his house his brother touches??

 

[kacaju]

He diagnosed me for agoraphobia, social phobia, and a panic disorder. I keep making it very clear I have a extreme fear of throwing up which causes most of this so he knows.
Unfortunately his contract isn't being renewed so.... I'm being transferred so someone new. And I really liked him but maybe the other psychiatrist will be more willing of the thought of emetophobia.
And I need to start cognitive behavior therapy... Alot of these issues come from my abnormally horrible self image we think. I'm so negative on myself

CBT will be good for you!! dont be so hung up on the diagnosis emetophobia, it is a related to the other things and once you can get your anxieties under control...the emetophobia will hopefully calm down.

 

[Coolcait1996]

CBT will be good for you!! dont be so hung up on the diagnosis emetophobia, it is a related to the other things and once you can get your anxieties under control...the emetophobia will hopefully calm down.

Oh for sure! I figured that with treating these other things, the emetophobia will be treated on the side as well. Thanks for this encouragement!! It means alot and I do believe CBT will be good, I really need it. I have alot of "self" problems that are abnormal apparently -rolls eyes- at least that's what my mom says haha.