22/03/2023
How my fear of vomiting nearly took my life 🤢
Emetaphobia is a serious issue, and though you may not think, can form into deadly eating disorders, and unfortunately this is what happened to me.
From the age of 8 years old, after dealing with family trauma, I developed the fear of vomiting which then stopped me from nourishing my body.
The fear had its grip on me, wouldn’t allow me to enjoy the most vital and simple things In life.
This disease nearly took my life and ripped apart of my family and relationships, and the denial of having a problem only ruined my relationship with food more and more over the years.
Let’s talk about what emetaphobia is!
Emetophobia is a fear of vomiting or of being around others who may vomit. This fear can be intense and persistent, leading to avoidance of situations that could trigger the fear, such as being around sick people or eating certain foods.
In some cases, emetophobia can lead to eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). People with emetophobia may develop restrictive eating habits as a way to avoid foods that they associate with vomiting or nausea. They may also develop rituals around eating, such as chewing food slowly or excessively, in an attempt to prevent nausea or vomiting.
Over time, these restrictive eating behaviors can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, and other physical health problems associated with eating disorders. In addition, the fear and anxiety surrounding food and eating can negatively impact a person's mental health and quality of life.
Though I’m still not fully out of the grips of fear and now deal with chronic health problems, it’s important to share what these fears can really do.
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