February 1, 2012. Samuel Valero
The terror of throwing up or vomiting, also referred to as emetophobia, affects a large number of today’s population; whether you like to believe it or not. If you are manifesting any or all, of the behaviors listed below, then it is pretty safe to say that you are plagued by emetophobia or fear of vomiting.
Avoid unusual cuisines and spices, do not consume alcoholic beverages, dislike dinner parties and social events, rarely eat outdoors or at restaurants, always checking expiration dates as well as sell by dates on labels of canned goods, always sits near the exit, do not travel via boat or airplane, do not make use of public toilets or transportations, avoid people who are sick or places wherein there are many sick people such as hospitals for example, always have mints or water at hand – these are but a handful of the behaviors which are associated with people who have emetophobia.
Emetophobia is actually just the same as with any other phobia. It starts during your early childhood years and might have never resolved or outgrown that issue. You might have endured a traumatic incident or witnessed a shocking event. As a young child, you may develop unproductive emotions towards what transpired during the particular incident and you (unconsciously or consciously) will try to stay away from those events in order to safeguard yourself. Even as a full grown adult, you may go back to acting as that of a child whenever vomiting or vomit is involved.
This kind of fear or phobia occurs in basically two distinct forms. Some people may have this relentless fear which can take total control of their life, whereas others may simply endure the fear if and when vomiting or vomit is present. Many times, people are unaware that they actually have the fear since they are really not always exposed towards vomiting or throwing up and then, all of a sudden, the fear manifests itself following so many years without much concern.
A possible form of fear of vomiting treatment is called regression therapy, wherein you go back to that very first incident which brought you the fear and see it through an adult’s perspective. As a full grown adult, you can view the incident for its real and true nature, then correct any dread or terror that you might have associated with throwing up. This form of treatment is considered most successful even with the most serious cases of fear of vomiting or emetophobia.
Updated February 1, 2012. Published July 8, 2011. Samuel Valero
