How do I get rid of my fear of vomit?

How to overcome fear of vomit?

• Its called Emetophobia. Your scared of spiders, well im scared of throw up. I'm 18 years old and Ive had the fear since I was about 5. I'm getting really tired of it. I have a 2 year old son and he gets sick and I freak out and ask other people to clean it up. It affects me in alot of aspects in my life. I'm scared to go into public places like carnivals, or parties where people are drinking, just because I know that people will get sick. If I see, smell, or hear someone vomiting I go into panic. I start shaking and pretty much go into an anxiety attack. I'm to the point now where I only eat "safe" foods (ones that aren't heavy on my stomach), but im in fear that this will lead to anorexia. The other night (after my son was sick, I think I caught whatever he caught) I woke up and 4am and felt like I was going to get sick, when I feel like I could vomit, I close my mouth as tight as I can, breathe through my nose, and "meditate" until my nausea goes away. Its very irritating because sometimes it can take along time, I was up til 7:30am "meditating" trying to not feel sick. It was very tiring, but I will do anything I possibly can to not throw up..and I didnt. Ive gotten sick about 4 times in my whole 18 years, after the first time (when I was about 5) it started to really bother me. I don't care where I am at, if someone says they feel sick I will do everything in my power to leave. Ive always have fears of being "trapped" around vomit. For example I had a fear of going into the bathroom at a party and locking the door, someone running to the bathroom to throw up and couldn't make it cause I was in the bathroom, and then throwing up outside of the door, then I'm trapped inside the bathroom until its cleaned and the smell goes away. All of my friends are aware of my phobia and they keep it in mind when they feel sick, to go away from me for awhile. Some of my friends don't even tell me when they feel sick because they don't want me to freak out. But im sick of this phobia. So basically to sum it up...I need help/opinions/answers to try to overcome this fear. And NO...EXPOSURE THERAPY is NOT AN OPTION. Thanks.

• Answer:

  Your not alone. I've had this phobia since I was 7 and it's bothering me to. I LOVE carnivals but when I see someone throw up, it ruins my whole day and I can't get over it. It stays in my mind for months.