How many times have you felt nauseous but not actually been sick? 100 times? 200, 300, 500 times? Every single day of your life?? Research indicates emetophobes tend to feel more ill than the average person. You may have noticed this yourself, you may have even had tests or been diagnosed with gut issues such as IBS. While this may seem scary, the truth is that 99% of the time the daily nausea experienced by emetophobes is a physical sideeffect of anxiety. Plenty of research demonstrates the power of the brainbody connection: from as basic as an inaproppriate thought causing the blood vessels in your cheeks to dilate (also known as blushing – we’ve all been there!) to anxiety causing symptoms such as IBS, gut issues, acid reflux, exhaustion and more.

When Michelle was younger she had stomach flu. For about a year after, she experienced daily nausea, IBS symptoms and diarrhoea. She went to the doctor multiple times for blood tests, endoscopies and scans to work out what was going on. After a year of tests drawing no results, the doctor told her the symptoms were likely caused by anxiety. It was shocking to hear, and an outcome that she didn’t want to accept, but also showed how powerful her anxiety and her mind was something which she realised she could regain control over in order to beat her fears.

The NauseaAnxiety Loop

Emetophobes tend to be highachieving, bright individuals who have high degrees of perfectionism and a need to be in control. While this is fantastic in many areas of life, it is extremely unhelpful when related to emetophobia. It means that, without realising it, the majority of the time they are worrying about being sick. This constant state of apprehension keeps them hyperaware of any sensation that could remotely suggest they might become ill, only causing further anxiety and trapping them in a loop of persistent nausea.

The Impact on Daily Life

This relentless worry not only affects their mental wellbeing but also gives rise to a range of physical symptoms. These can include acid reflux, IBSlike symptoms, digestive issues, and chronic nausea. It's important to note that these symptoms are unrelated to actual sickness and are instead created by the individual's anxious state and a misinterpretation of bodily sensations. This ironic twist exacerbates the challenges faced by emetophobes, making it an extremely difficult phobia to live with.

The Power of Emotions

Emetophobes have a tendency to overbelieve their emotions, stemming from a desire for control and a need to have certainty in their lives. This means that when they feel nauseous they are more likely to assume ‘because I feel terrified when I feel nauseous, it must mean that feeling nauseous is terrifying,’ rather than challenging their feelings and emotions. It’s important to recognise that believing your emotions isn’t always helpful feelings are not facts.

The physical symptoms of emetophobia are horrible and stressful, but they can be overcome. Recognising that they are linked to anxiety is a crucial first step towards developing effective coping strategies and ultimately overcoming emetophobia. Watch this space for next week’s podcast



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