exposure therapy works <3
hi!!! here to share an ERP success story to anyone who is considering starting it. i'm 28 and have had emetophobia for as long as i can remember, starting in grade school mostly linked to a traumatic medical incident. i tried talk therapy several times throughout my life, as well as EMDR and CBT. all were helpful but ultimately didn't do much for me, ive dealt with this a long time and became very self aware and felt like i knew all there was to know about my phobia, the why, etc. i've experienced ebs and flows with this phobia, some periods more intense and others mild.
this year my phobia came back in a more intense way and i was ready to be rid of it. scared, but determined i found a place by me that specializes in EMDR and emetophobia. i started weekly sessions in november and just completed my last one today.
i always thought avoidance and my safety behaviors were the only way i'd get through severe anxiety. instead, doing exposures made a lot of parts of the phobia much less scary. i did things i never imagined id be capable of doing (one huge one that came organically, someone got sick in front of me at work, i had to clean the trashcan... and i was FINE!)
my therapist was really sensitive to how difficult it could be, and we created a hierarchy personalized to me that had exposures we conquered each week.
i now feel like i think about vomit so much less, like to the point i have to ask myself "did i think about it yesterday?". and when it does come up - "what if i throw up?" i act nonchalant. "yeah what if i do? and what if i dont?".
just wanted people to know it can get better!! i'm happy to answer specific questions :)