TeenHelp - Triggering (ED): Emetophobia & Anxiety

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Emetophobia & Anxiety

Hi there,

I'm wondering if anybody's experienced this and could offer some support...

My therapist just "diagnosed" me with emetophobia. This basically causes crippling anxiety for me, and I can't eat within a few hours of leaving my apartment, I can't go out to dinner, and I take prescription anti-nausea pills to decrease my anxiety.

Still, I have lost a lot of weight and am worried for myself. I need to gain weight but I'm too afraid to eat anything that's not extremely simple and plain.

What did you do to help get over your anxiety of eating? I'm working with a therapist but really feel alone in my struggle. Ugh.

I guess I just need to know I'm not alone, somehow. :glare:

Re: Emetophobia & Anxiety

Maybe you could try consuming the same amount of food you need but in smaller meals? Smaller meals are easier on the stomach (or rather, overeating is more difficult on it).

The other thing would be to make sure all your food is fresh and thoroughly cooked. That will minimize the chance that it will make you sick, and it will make it easier to go and stay down.

Third, avoid things that cause too much stomach acid like caffiene, alcohol, hot spices, onions and garlic, oily foods, etc..

Finally, drink water with everything to help stabilize your stomach (as opposed to sodas or coffee, which have caffiene and can upset your stomach).

Sorry I don't have good advice for dealing with the anixety. It sounds like the anxiety is worse than actually vomitting though. Maybe do things to relax and that you enjoy, and ensure you get adequate sunlight and sleep. Those things will promote serotonin, which will help your stomach. All I know is that having adequate serotonin is good for your stomach and good for anxiety whereas too much anxiety puts a strain on your stomach.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about any of these or handling anxiety in general.