I have Emetophobia. And it sucks.

by Jamie
(Pensacola, Florida)

Well, I have Emetophobia, which is the irrational or excessive fear of vomiting. Meaning I absolutely, positively can NOT be around someone who is feeling nauseous and they feel like they're about to throw up.

It makes me freak out, really badly. I start to sweat, shake really hard, and can't focus at all. I have no idea how, or when I got this fear.

I just always remember being afraid of throw up. I don't know if I had a bad experience when I was younger. I'm just not sure.

All I know is, is that I REALLY hate having this phobia. I'm not as bad as other Emetophobics, though. I can watch movies and TV with people getting sick in them, I still go out to eat at a restaurant, I can still go to public places.

Heck, I even go to our local fair that comes in October, which is FULL of people puking everywhere.

But as soon as I hear the words "I think I'm going to be sick," or "my stomach is killing me, I need a barf bucket soon," I try to get the hell away from whoever just said that.

And I feel really bad too, because I embarrass them and make them feel bad. But I don't mean too, and I embarrass myself also.

Like at school, when I hear someone say they are sick, I start getting nervous and I feel like I'm going to faint. And then I either yell at the teacher to get that person whose feeling sick out of the room, or I will tell them myself.

Because I just can NOT handle hearing or seeing someone throwing up. It just about KILLS me everytime. And for some odd reason,

I don't get sick from seeing someone else get sick. I don't throw up also. I don't know why. I just literally have a panic attack, that's it.

And also, I haven't gotten sick since I was in 3RD GRADE, and I'm 16 years old in the 10th grade. Amazing huh ? I mean, I do feel sick sometimes. But when I do, I also freak out at that, too. Cause I also hate getting sick.

It's not very enjoyable. I just don't know anymore. I hate having this, and it takes the fun out of my life. My friends and family make fun of me for it, and I really hope one day it goes away, or someone helps me. I can't handle it anymore :(