“When you have emetophobia, your life can become dominated by it.”
Recently, TikTok has been flooded withvarious viral videosof people talking about theirexperiences with emetophobia.
She has been working in mental health for over 20 years and is the author ofTen Times Calmer.
Schnack explained thatemetophobiais an extreme phobia of vomiting that interferes with a person’s everyday life.
“I have also seen middle-aged adults with this phobia, too.
“They may also engage in excessive hand-washing to avoid contamination through germs that could then cause vomiting.
Emetophobia differs from normal queasiness, which is more acute, temporary, and less intense.
“Typical nausea or queasiness doesnt interfere with your overall life or cause long-term, extreme emotional distress.
Normal queasiness is unpleasant but manageable and proportional to how people respond,” Schnack clarified.
Schnack said emetophobia usually requires professional treatment.
It teaches the sufferer that they can tolerate the anxiety and manage their fear response without actually vomiting.”
“This can reduce the fear associated with it and help understand why it happens.
