Is there a silver lining?

[adhatc9590]

Hello everyone. My name is Alison and I am new to the site. I really dont know where to start other than I am ashamed of what is wrong with me. This irrational fear overcomes me and I just sit and pray for it to end. I have been this way since the first grade, I am 24 now, and now all I can think about is when will it end? What do I need to do to stop it? I dont eat out, if I feel the slighest bit ill I will not eat for days and the stress alone has me freaked out. I am graduating from college next month and entering the "real world" and how do you handle this at work? I realize that most of this is just endless babble, but at least I can get come of it out. I have gone from Sea Bands to Emetrol to motion sickness medication, but I dont want to have to do that!! My sister and I suffer from the same thing surprisingly. There have been countless nights where my cell phone rings and its her asking me to "talk her out" and she does it for me too. It is nice knowing that I am not alone, at least I have her. Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this in the professional world? Sure I can skip class if I have a"freak out", as I call it, but I dont want to be missing work. Again, I apologize for my ramblings, but if anyone does read this - Hi from Georgia!

[shiva]

I just wanted to say Hi and Welcome. I find it fascinating that your sister has the same phobia, that's great that you have someone to go through this with. I am glad you found this site.


All I can suggest is finding yourself a great therapist who can help you change the way you think about things so that this won't affect you so much in the "real world". I know that isn't much advice, but it's really the most constructive thing to do.


Welcome again.. Nice meeting you. I'm from Ohio

[*mandi*]

Hi and Welcome! You described me! Ha! I am 24 and have been living with this for as long as I can remember. I dont go out to eat either. I sit here and pray that it will end! I've been through the sea bands...the dramamine...its an endless battle for me. Maybe you should go see a therapist? You will find a lot of help on this site! Its a life saver


MY younger sister has it too. She doesnt have it as bad though. But she is the only person who understands what I am going through!


I hope you find a way to get through it...I sure hope I can! We are all here for you to talk to!

[tayda]

It must be nice having someone close to you who knows exactly what you are going through. I mean it stinks all around, but it's hard when no one understands why you're scared or nervious. I agree w/ everyone else that therapy can be beneficial, and this site really helps. If you're freaking out about something, you'll get TONS of supportive replies to help you get through it, or reassure you that you'll be fine. (Just things that you don't want to think about when you're sure there is impending doom coming your way). Glad you found the site, and welcome.

[adhatc9590]

Yes, it is nice to have my sister and that she really understands what i mean when i say that i am trying not to freak out. Its weird, but we have our own little code about it. I would rather neither of us suffer from this, but I am glad that I do have her to understand. We are 15 months apart so we are pretty much meeting the same obstacles not too far apart.


I have never really been good about handling stress in the first place, but adding this on top really brings the panic attacks. I have tried one therapist before and the first thing they want to do is put me on drugs. Then, the first thing I do is read the possible side effects and I never fill the prescription. Are pills the only treatment? I would rather find non-prescription means to help because I hate to take pills. Short background, I have had 3 immediate family members get hooked on prescription pills and I just dont want to take them if I know there is a chance of an addictive behavior somewhere lurking inside of me.


Well, my 21 hours of school calls. I must say that it is nice to have this website. I never knew that there was such a large group of people who suffered from this. Hope everyone has a good day!

[liriodendron]

Hello adhatc!

I'm a fellow Georgian here!

I just wanted to say first of all that I think after you graduate and
get your career going, you will not hear about quite so many illnesses
at school. Even though I had emetophobia since I was a little boy, I
didn't even know about half these viruses until I went to college. Let
me tell you somsing... State colleges are dirty. They never clean them
and they're dusty and people sneeze and cough and there's thousands of
people in tight classrooms. I won't even get started on dormitory
living. But when you're through with college, you won't hear about that
stuff as much.



With that said, early in my college career, things got pretty bad with
me and the phobia and I was not going to class etc. My parents took me
to a shrink who declared my phobia Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
which it is not. I don't think mental health professionals acknowledge
phobias like they do "disorders". Anywho, the shrink and my parents
wanted me to take this perscription medication. Same thing... Really
bad side effects and I don't like pills. I can do liquid meds, no
problem though! Especially if it tastes like fruit flavors.[img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]



Guess what happened. I can't remember the name of the med now, but a
few years ago, they recalled the drug for really screwing up people. I
never took it and I turned out OK!!.



This thing might get the better of you for a while. Especially when
you're stressed out and in college. But things will get better. I don't
like to eat at restaurants for a number of reasons. And I can tell you
our fears of eating out are well founded, having worked in a
restaurant, I can tell you that nobody washes their hands. But I do eat
out with friends and family and even though I'm uncomfortable with it,
I realize that I can't just stay at home and never leave. That wouldn't
be healthy either. So I take a chance with it.



Relax, and give it some time. You're approaching a far more exciting
time in your life where you will get new hobbies, a new career... you
will have more money than you've ever had before. Most likely get your
own place and you'll gain some extra time to kick back and enjoy life
rather than worry. Maybe if you get involved with another person
socially or romantically, that will take your mind off the fears too.