Emetophobia or Phobia of Vomit: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Having emeteophobia means you likely make significant efforts to avoid being in situations where you or someone else might throw up. You may find yourself building your days around avoiding these scenarios.

Other behaviors that might point to emetophobia include:

• eliminating foods that you associate with vomiting
• eating slowly, eating very little, or eating only at home
• smelling or checking food often to make sure it hasn't gone bad
• not touching surfaces that could have germs that lead to illness, such as doorknobs, toilet seats or flushes, handrails, or public computers
• washing hands, dishes, food, and food preparation tools excessively
• avoiding drinking alcohol or taking medication that could cause nausea
• avoiding travel, school, parties, public transportation, or any crowded public space
• having trouble breathing, tightness in the chest, or increased heartbeat at the thought of vomit

These behaviors are accompanied by mental health symptoms, such as:

• extreme fear of seeing someone vomit
• extreme fear of having to throw up but not being able to find a bathroom
• extreme fear of not being able to stop throwing up
• panic at the thought of not being able to leave a crowded area if someone vomits
• anxiety and distress when feeling nauseated or thinking about vomit
• persistent, irrational thoughts linking an action to a past experience involving vomit (for example, avoiding any plaid clothing after throwing up in public while wearing a plaid shirt)

Keep in mind that people often experience phobias, including emetophobia, in different ways. For example, you may worry more about vomiting yourself, while others might worry more about seeing others throw up.

In addition, people with specific phobias are usually aware that their reaction to the object of their phobia isn't typical. For example, you might do everything in your power to avoid eating food cooked by someone else, but you know this isn't how most people live.

This knowledge generally isn't helpful and often just makes the experience more distressing. It can also lead to feelings of shame, causing you to closely guard your symptoms from others.

Specific phobias often develop after an incident involving the feared thing.

In the context of emetophobia, this might involve:

• getting extremely sick in public
• having a bad case of food poisoning
• seeing someone else throw up
• having someone vomit on you
• having a panic attack during an incident of vomiting

Emetophobia can also develop without a clear cause, leading experts to believe that genetics and your environment may play a role. For example, having a family history of specific phobias or other anxiety disorders can increase your risk.

It also often begins in childhood, and some adults who have lived with emetophobia for decades may not remember the first triggering event.

If you can't pinpoint any experience that might have led to your emetophoboia, don't fret. Treatment can still help even if you don't know what originally caused the phobia.

Extreme fear or anxiety around a particular object or situation is typically diagnosed as a phobia when it starts to cause distress that negatively affects your life at home, school, or work.

Other criteria for an emetophobia diagnosis include:

• a significant fear and anxiety response that happens immediately after seeing or thinking about vomit
• active avoidance of situations that could involve vomit
• symptoms that last for at least six months

Some of the main symptoms of emetophobia involve obsessive-compulsive behavior, so emetophobia might first present as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Emetophobia can also appear similar to agoraphobia. The fear of vomiting or seeing other people vomit can become so strong that it leads to panic, making it difficult or even impossible to leave your house. But if your only reason for avoiding public places is a fear of vomit, you'll likely be diagnosed with emetophobia, not agoraphobia.

Phobias don't always require treatment. In some cases, people find ways to work around them. But some feared objects or situations, such as elevators or swimming, are easier to avoid than others.

In general, it's a good idea to seek help if your phobia affects your quality of life or you find yourself wondering how things would be different if you didn't have a phobia.

Most people find that exposure therapy and, in some cases, medication, provide relief.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is considered to be on of the most effective treatments for specific phobias. In this type of therapy, you'll work with a therapist to slowly expose yourself to what you're afraid of.

For emetophobia treatment, this might involve eating a new food in a restaurant or spinning until you start to feel slightly nauseous. As you try these things, you'll also be given techniques to help you cope with feelings of anxiety and fear during the exposure.

If this sounds overwhelming, consider looking into systematic desensitization. This is a type of exposure therapy that involves tackling your fears over the course of multiple exposures that gradually become more intense.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of therapy that helps you learn how to identify and challenge negative thoughts that cause distress.

CBT for specific phobias also involves exposure to your phobia. As you're gradually exposed, you'll work with your therapist to address the anxiety and distress you experience when thinking about vomiting and learn ways to cope with it on your own.

Results of a 2016 study looking at 24 people with emetophobia suggest CBT has benefit as a treatment. This randomized controlled trial was the first of its kind, so more research may help support this finding.

how to find a therapist

Finding a therapist can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Start by asking yourself a few basic questions:

• What issues do you want to address? These can be specific or vague.
• Are there any specific traits you'd like in a therapist? For example, are you more comfortable with someone who shares your gender?
• How much can you realistically afford to spend per session? Do you want someone who offers sliding-scale prices or payment plans?
• Where will therapy fit into your schedule? Do you need a therapist who can see you on a specific day of the week? Or someone who has nighttime sessions?

Next, start making a list of therapists in your area. If you live in the U.S., head over the the American Psychological Association's therapist locator.

Concerned about the cost? Our guide to affordable therapy can help.

Medication

While medication can't specifically treat specific phobia or make a phobia go away, certain drugs may help reduce symptoms of anxiety or panic.

Beta blockers can help prevent increased blood pressure and heart rate and other physical anxiety symptoms that result from adrenaline. These are generally taken before going into situations that might trigger your phobia.

Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can help you feel less anxious, but they can be addictive and aren't recommended for long-term use.

A drug called d-Cycloserine (DCS) may have benefit when used during exposure therapy. A 2017 literature review of 22 studies looking at people living with anxiety, OCD, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that DCS appeared to increase the effects of exposure therapy.

However, exposure therapy is generally very effective for treating phobias, so supplementing therapy with a drug may not be necessary.

Emetophobia can have a big impact on your day-to-day activities, but treatment can help you to regain control. It may take some time to find a the right therapist and treatment approach for your needs, but the payoff is usually a richer, more fulfilling life.