Emetophobia

Its currently 6:53am, woke up around 6:00am in a panic from a nightmare and I can’t fall back asleep. I have contamination ocd and emetophobia. At night i have a hard time falling asleep because every time ive gotten sick its been in the middle of the night while im sleeping. Before bed i usually get bad anxiety its going to happen again, even if theres no reason for it to happen. This obviously can trigger dreams about it, which then make me feel worse. Through out the day Ill overly manage my eating habits (no chicken certain days etc), take certain routes home to avoid getting sick, wash my hands when i can *feel* the germs on them, do certain tasks so it doesn’t make me sick etc. Its really getting to a point where i feel like its consuming me , and I need help but I am so scared to get it.

Username: NOCD Advocate Jess, CPSSNOCD Advocat...

User type: NOCD Alumni

Date posted: 44w ago

On a side note: I too get scared of throwing up... if I go with that thought and try to resist it makes it worse... if I accept that maybe I will throw up.. maybe I wont..won't... and I accept and allow and show less resistance... it makes it better. It's like a dance.

Username: NOCD Advocate Jess, CPSSNOCD Advocat...

User type: NOCD Alumni

Date posted: 44w ago

It's ok to be scared and to do it anyway. That's courage! I posted this just a few minutes ago. Maybe it will give you hope to push forward for yourself to know that you can make progress. Also, when I was first starting out I felt the same way. Many people do. But, I often heard ... do you want to stay in the ocd loop with no hope and continue to suffer or do you want to try even if it's scary and hard knowing that their is freedom and less suffering waiting on you? Here's what I just posted: Every time we sleep with the door unlocked or the keys in the door...which happens way more than it should 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️... I say "glad we didn't get murdered"🤣 and I move on with my day. Use too I'd stare at the door for hours and couldn't believe it was locked and I'd check and recheck until exhausted. There is hope! And ERP works! Do the hard things!!! Give NOCD a call...they can help!

Username: noraghilnoraghil

Date posted: 43w ago

I am going through EXACTLY what you are describing right now- emetophobia tied with contamination OCD. I’m actually seeing a therapist for it right now and it’s helping but it is truly exhausting and I can relate to you so much- the eating, the trouble sleeping, all of it. Being in college has made it even worse because I am away from my safe space

Username: norahgsnorahgs

Date posted: 43w ago

@noraghil We got this 🥹💪🏼 im glad to hear its helping you, my first session is thursday!

Username: J1888

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

Hi everyone. Just want to find someone that shares what I have. Emetophobia/contamination OCD. I'm finding it difficult to understand what I should be treating, or how to treat both. Emetophobia is the cause of my OCD I feel. It's hard to find a therapist who treats Emetophobia and OCD together. If I just treat the contamination OCD am I dealing with the actual problem of Emetophobia? Any help appreciated.

Contamination OCD

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 1y ago

Contamination/Somatic OCD support

Hi i’m new here. Everyone in my family except me is now positive for Covid and i’m freaking out so badly i cannot sleep. i cannot eat. i’m worried i’m going to get sick, i have a phobia of throwing up too on top of all of this so it’s making this even more difficult hearing coughing/gagging/vomit. My face is literally tingling numb and i cannot sit still. I’m trying to calm myself the best I can because this is almost a nightmare to me but nothing is working and my therapist isn’t even responding to me. What do i do? i’m so scared

Username: sawyersaucee

Date posted: 22w ago

Terrified to work on ERP, any advice?

Hi, I’m new here. I’ve been dealing with OCD since I was 9 or 10 but only got diagnosed at 19, and started actual treatment a few weeks ago. I’m 21 now. I have severe emetophobia that fuels my health ocd and my intrusive thoughts have been so bad lately that I can hardly eat or leave my house. I don’t go anywhere except my bedroom and work. I even get anxious thinking about going to my living room. I started ERP with a new therapist, and I want to get better, but the therapy is so scary and overwhelming. I’ve lived this way for so long that confronting my fears feels impossible and I’m so scared to do it. I do everything I can to avoid anxiety attacks. I feel so unsafe in my own body because of the way I can’t stop fixating on certain actions and sensations. Does anyone who’s gone through something similar have any advice, or encouragement? I’m doing my best, but I don’t know anyone else with my ocd themes. Thanks y’all <3

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Emetophobia

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