emetophobia: a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of vomiting or fear of throwing up,
despite the understanding by the phobic individual and reassurance by others that there is no danger.  

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emetophobia fear of being sick contact

WHAT IS EMETOPHOBIA?
 

The fear of being sick receives little attention compared with other irrational fears, yet it is the fifth most common phobia, according to the International Emetophobia Society. Type 'fear of being sick' into search engine Google, and you get nearly 29 million websites.  It is an extremely debilitating and disabling condition. Victim's lives are dominated by irrational thoughts and actions. Sadly, some women even deny themselves motherhood for fear of morning sickness and some sufferers become housebound. Emetophobia is rarely spoken of partly because of the nature of the subject - it is unpleasant and 'dirty' and victims are acutely embarrassed. Also, fear of being sick is often 'cloaked' by another phobias. Many people come to me for help with fear of flying, but during therapy, it emerges that their fear is not of flying, but of being sick and embarrassed. Courses to conquer fear of flying often concentrate on the safety of planes. But reassurances about the physics of flying and the mechanics of the plane will not help a person who fears vomiting.

Claustrophobia and social phobias are other examples of fears that 'cloak' emetophobia. I ask: "Why don't you like crowded rooms?" and patients sometimes reply: "If I feel sick, I can't get out in time and I'll throw up in front of everybody!"

I have been treating emetophobes for nearly four years at my hypnotherapy clinic in Harley Street, London. Most sufferers are female who have had symptoms since their youth. They have wasted years avoiding situations where either they or someone around them could become ill. Because of the extreme lengths they go to avoid sickness most of my clients have not been sick since childhood. Indeed most boast how long it is since the last time they were sick. Those with a mild phobia have anxious thoughts while eating. Some suffer so severely they refuse to leave their home. Some sufferers experience discomfort almost all the time, others just in response to direct stimuli. Sometimes the phobia hides for years until something triggers it to show itself.

Click here to see what causes emetophobia
David Samson uses hypnotherapy hypnosis therapy with his clients

David Samson
Dip Adv Hyp


David Samson is a General Hypnotherapy Standards Council Validated Practitioner
and a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register. He also holds a Diploma in Advanced Hypnotherapy

Recently he has appeared on Vanessa's Real Lives (ITV 1 television) discussing unusual phobias. He has been on London Talk Radio when he helped listeners with their phobias. He has also been a guest on the Charlie Jordan Show on LBC Radio as phobia advisor, The Late Show on BBC London and most recently on LBC with a six part series on unusual phobias. Body and Soul magazine in The Times have published articles featuring his work on phobias. The Barnet Press also produced a major feature on David's research into phobias and their treatment.

He is a member of the UK Register of Advanced Hypnotherapists and rigidly adheres to their principles and codes of ethics.

 FREEPHONE 0800 634 0512

For more information, please call 0800 634 0512 or 020 8201 0618 or click here to email
 Initial 30 minute consultation is free

GHSC
 VALIDATED PRACTITIONER
 General Hypnotherapy Standards Council		 GHR
REGISTERED
 General Hypnotherapy Register

All hypnotherapy consultations are carried out in the strictest confidence

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e fifth most common phobia, according to the International Emetophobia Society. Type 'fear of being sick' into search engine Google, and you get nearly 29 million websites.  It is an extremely debilitating and disabling condition. Victim's lives are dominated by irrational thoughts and actions. Sadly, some women even deny themselves motherhood for fear of morning sickness and some sufferers become housebound. Emetophobia is rarely spoken of partly because of the nature of the subject - it is unpleasant and 'dirty' and victims are acutely embarrassed. Also, fear of being sick is often 'cloaked' by another phobias. Many people come to me for help with fear of flying, but during therapy, it emerges that their fear is not of flying, but of being sick and embarrassed. Courses to conquer fear of flying often concentrate on the safety of planes. But reassurances about the physics of flying and the mechanics of the plane will not help a person who fears vomiting.

Claustrophobia and social phobias are other examples of fears that 'cloak' emetophobia. I ask: "Why don't you like crowded rooms?" and patients sometimes reply: "If I feel sick, I can't get out in time and I'll throw up in front of everybody!"