Anyone struggling with emetophobia?

mrgreendots
mrgreendots Posts: 5 Member
edited November 21 in Motivation and Support
Gaining weight is said to be pretty difficult for those who are underweight for whatever reason- it goes slowly and there's only so much food one can eat in a day!
But being afraid of feeling too full or of eating certain foods (my unsafe list is still a lot longer than my safe list) really messes with you.
I also find that stress aggravates my anxiety which makes me more obsessive about my digestion and at the same time also impedes it.
A lot of the nutritional supplements are way too thick and creamy for me. The best I can do right now is take multivitamins and try to reach my maintenance level every day.
The crappy thing is that even though I'm trying to gain weight, due to societal norms, actually gaining weight doesn't feel rewarding.

Is there anyone else who can share tips or at least relate to my dilemma?

Replies

  • Suzanne_the_foot_lady
    Suzanne_the_foot_lady Posts: 222 Member
    This sounds like a terrible way to live, I feel for you. Could you ask your doctor if there is a support group near you? I assume you have tried counselling?
  • Kullerva
    Kullerva Posts: 1,114 Member
    mrgreendots wrote: »
    But being afraid of feeling too full or of eating certain foods (my unsafe list is still a lot longer than my safe list) really messes with you...

    Is there anyone else who can share tips or at least relate to my dilemma?

    This sounds a little like orthorexia as well (lists of restricted foods are their thing). I'm a bit orthorexic (I will only eat food from my own kitchen or prepared by a very short list of individuals and places), and I've found that expanding my diet has been as simple as putting an unknown ingredient in my shopping cart every week and finding a way to use it. Of course, this only works if you like to cook creatively...
  • iotterbeinbed
    iotterbeinbed Posts: 76 Member
    I suffer from emetophobia as well. It didn't show up till I was an adolescent, but for many years, it took over and I was terrified to be around anyone. I was also overly cautious with everything I ate. It got to the point that I would throw out food that had only been in the fridge for 2-3 days. I feel for you. Have you talked with a therapist? I'm in an emetophobia support group on FB, and I've heard that cognitive behavioral therapy does wonders for phobias. I haven't tried it myself, but I am getting better at being around sick people (I work in health care, in nursing school now). I'm terrified if I ever feel nauseated though, and sometimes restrict my eating because of the fear. It's worse when I'm under a lot of stress.
  • mrgreendots
    mrgreendots Posts: 5 Member
    iotterbeinbed wrote: »
    I suffer from emetophobia as well. It didn't show up till I was an adolescent, but for many years, it took over and I was terrified to be around anyone. I was also overly cautious with everything I ate. It got to the point that I would throw out food that had only been in the fridge for 2-3 days. I feel for you. Have you talked with a therapist? I'm in an emetophobia support group on FB, and I've heard that cognitive behavioral therapy does wonders for phobias. I haven't tried it myself, but I am getting better at being around sick people (I work in health care, in nursing school now). I'm terrified if I ever feel nauseated though, and sometimes restrict my eating because of the fear. It's worse when I'm under a lot of stress.

    Funny you should mention that, because at the moment 4 days is my absolute limit for cooked food that's been in the fridge (fresh produce like peppers and cucumbers are fine usually since vegetables and fruits are the only things I don't worry about eating). But yeah, anything else I get very cautious around if it's been in the fridge for longer than two days.

    Im going to start seeing a therapist next month.
    I relate about the job thing, I worked at a day camp and there was a lot of drool, blood, vomit and clammy hands (and a stomach bug going around!!) and it was incredibly stressful, I would wash my hands obsessively.
    Now I still refuse practically any dish I'm offered by someone else unless I give them the recipe in advance. The social part is a nightmare, but it's come a long way from when leaving the house would take a whole day of preparation and stress.

    I didn't know there were support groups for this. All I found was an inactive forum website.
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