Mental Health Counseling Indianapolis Indiana - Is it possible that you have Emetophobia?

Is it possible that you have Emetophobia?

By Jerry L. Fobik

No one likes to be nauseous. The thinking of getting sick or vomiting is not a pleasant thought. But, when the idea of vomiting becomes overwhelming enough to compel a human being to alter their lifestyles and eating habits, the condition may be more than just a reasonable dislike of throwing up. Emetophobia is the extreme fear of vomit and this irrational fear can lead to death in those who suffer from it.

An individual who fears vomit may fear the thought or actionof vomiting themselves, the thought or actionof others vomiting, or be afraid ofthe vomit itself. These patients suffer from intense amounts of anxiety as regards vomit in general. The difficulty with a phobia of this nature is the precursor to vomiting, eating.

Many those who suffer from emetophobia are diagnosed with anorexia way prior to the fear of vomiting is bring into being. The patients will try everything in orderto avoid vomiting and this includes the cessation of eating.
They feel that if they do not eat food, there is no way they will be compelled to vomit or get sick. Paradoxically, eating food can oftenmake the emetophobic person fell nauseous after a period of time with no food and therefore the fear is realized and the phobia grows stronger.

The anorexia connected with emetophobia is only one of its kind, in that it requires the treatment of the fear of vomiting prior to the anorexia can be treated. When hospitalized the emetophobic individual will often have to be fed through IV until they are fine enough to undergo psychological treatment for their fear of vomit.

Some of the more familiar symptoms of emetophobia include:

Avoidance of social situations.

Avoidance of eating places, hospitals, and doctors offices.

A strong fear of getting sick.

Avoidance of food.

Anorexia.

As it is ordinary normal to detest vomit, it is not ordinary normal to pass up food in order to prevent yourself from vomiting. The emetophobia person will go the extreme lengths to avoid getting sick or even setting eyes on vomit. This phobia is one of the most harsh due to the link to anorexia which can cause death in a very short period of time. Anorexia is commonly diagnosed along side bulimia, but the emetophobic patient will never show signs of bulimia.

Emetophobia can be treated in much the same way as other types of phobia with anti-anxiety medication and psychotherapy. But, due to the nature of the fear itself, the psychotherapy often needs to be vast and the patients are commonly set into an in patient treatment facility in order to be viewed personally throughout treatment. If the emetophobia patient has begun to avoid food, the treatment will also involve a higher calorie diet and further therapy for anorexia.

Find out fascinating facts regarding The 10 Most Common Phobias in http://10-most-common-phobias.com and anxiety disorders in http://10-most-common-phobias.com/history-treatments-for-anxiety

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