And many people who suffer from it are now realizing how many other people struggle with it, too.
So, to educate ourselves a little more about what it is, provide advice for those struggling with it, and be aware of others who suffer from it, BuzzFeed spoke to clinical psychologist Dr. Kirren Schnack. She has been working in mental health for over 20 years and is the author of Ten times calmer.
Schnack explained that emetophobia is an extreme fear of vomiting that interferes with a person’s daily life. “When you have emetophobia, your life can become dominated by trying to avoid situations in which you think you might vomit.”
People who struggle with this phobia may avoid certain drinks or foods, stay away from places that might induce vomiting (such as a theme park with rides), obsessively check expiration labels on food, avoid alcohol, and/or feel intensely triggered around anyone who appears to be feeling unwell.
Schnack said emetophobia can be diagnosed at any age, but it usually begins in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. “I’ve also seen middle-aged adults with this phobia. It can be triggered by a traumatic experience of vomiting or seeing other people vomit, but it can also develop in the absence of a traumatic event,” she added.
According to Schnack, people with emetophobia are often hypervigilant to the physical sensations of nausea. “They may also wash their hands excessively to avoid contamination by germs that could trigger vomiting. Those affected often experience physical symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, sweating, or dizziness, especially when they feel something is bothering them, and they also have constant thoughts about the fear of vomiting.”
Emetophobia is different from normal nausea, which is more acute, temporary and less intense. “Typical nausea or nausea does not interfere with life in general or cause extreme and long-lasting emotional distress. Normal nausea is unpleasant, but manageable and proportional to the person’s response,” Schnack said.
Schnack said emetophobia usually requires professional treatment. “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a scientifically-supported treatment that helps people identify and challenge negative thoughts about vomiting, replacing them with more realistic ones. Exposure therapy is also very effective for some people because it gradually exposes the person to vomiting-related triggers and then builds up from there. It teaches the affected person that they can tolerate the anxiety and control their fear response without actually vomiting.”
Relaxation training and mindfulness are also good self-help techniques to reduce the general anxiety that accompanies emetophobia, according to Schnack.
While it’s not always possible to completely prevent emetophobia, there are things that can help reduce the risk. Schnack said educating children about how vomiting is a natural process of removing toxins from the body can foster a healthier outlook on the illness. “This can reduce the fear associated with it and help understand why it happens. Teaching coping strategies for general anxiety can also help build resilience and possibly help reduce vulnerability to developing a phobia. If a traumatic experience of vomiting is a cause, seeking timely psychological support and talking about the event can help process it in the moment, which can prevent it from developing into a phobia later on.”