Emet Buddy System??!! :)

[shiva]

I came up with an idea today and am wondering if anyone would like to jump on board. I got a bill from my psychologist and realized that it will be forever until I can afford to continue therapy with her since my fiance is quitting a job to go back to school and I already owe her so much.. Anyway.. You know when people are trying to lose weight and people tell them to have a buddy to work out and diet with that way they keep one another on top of things? I decided that I think this can work also with desensitization and relaxation for our phobia. We could pair up with others who are kind of like us... for instance if we are more scared of others vomiting than ourselves. Maybe a mom can pair up with a mom. Or maybe it's most beneficial for someone like myself who cannot stand the images of people being sick to work with someone who doesn't mind looking at it that way the person with strengths in certain areas can help the person with the weaknesses. Then we can IM or just send emails back and forth encouraging eachother. So, it's kinda like we do here, only more thourough. Does this sound beneficial to anyone else??


I really think it could help us stay more focused.

[curly wurly]

That sounds a great idea shiva!

[crimgoddess]

Wow Shiva, great idea! I am totally in if others are interested.


My fear stems mostly from being around someone else when they are vomitting, or seeing/hearing it. But, I have little issue when I am sick myself, and can usually handle it. I would love to pair up with someone who can withstand someone else being sick, and encourage me to deal with it... and maybe I in turn can help them if their main fear is themselves being ill, because I certainly have a lot of experience in that area!


*amber*

[SimplyMe]

Excellent idea! I'm game! Where do we sign up?

[mommyof3]

I would like to do this!


My issues: I'm a mom of three (no kidding lol) who is only afraid of myself v* and contagious v* in others. Although I don't really like it (who does?) I don't mind v* ifIKNOW itisn't contagious.

[shiva]

YAY!!! I hope there is more interest.


Okay.. I am both concerned with myself and others being sick. When it is happening all I can think is that I want to die. All I can say is that I want to die.. Logically I don't, but it's too much to handle at the time. I definitely want to at least overcome that. I have a 9 year old daughter and this contributes to a lot of my emet anxiety. I am constantly worried about sending her to school, having friends over, or sending her to stay with friends at sleepovers. Every night I worry that the door is going to open to my bedroom in the middle of the night and I am going to hear those god awful words. "Mommy, my tummy hurts.." Anywhoo..


I recently started working on relaxation methods, positive self talk and the images on this web site. I would love for someone else who is interested in the desensitization to work on these images with me. I also think it would be cool to talk with an emet who does not mind the pictures so that maybe they can look at them before me and explain to me how bad it is. (this is what my therapist was doing for me As far as how I can help others... I will share everything that I have learned in therapy so far about anxiety and how to relax and change thought patterns. I try really hard to be encouraging to those in tough situations. I am not so much the poor baby friend, but more the you can do it type. I also need a you can do it type buddy for me.


I hope this works out.. Anyone who reads this and is interested in working online with me to conquer this just pm me.

[shiva]

I guess we will just post here how we would like to help and how we feel we can offer help and then pm each other???

[SimplyMe]

Oops I didn't add all that lol. I fear myself doing it worse and contagious others second. I don't like to see/hear it but if I can't catch it I can stay sane. I do not have kids but want them eventually so Im not much help there. I'd like to help others anyway I can. I'm very rational when it's not me lol. I think that's aproblem for msot tho lol.

[curly wurly]

I forgot to say that my main fear is others being sick. I get very anxious when I am ill, but that is mainly because I am worried of passing it on to my husband or children. If one of my children are ill I find it almost impossible to cope.

[violet]

What a brilliant idea,Im in


Well for me I have a fear of being s* and other being s* around me, especially not knowing why they are.


I have an ocd that makes it mostly worse because of the fear of germs and the fear of getting ill and other people getting ill.


I think this is a wonderful idea well done shiva


xVx

[rileyl]

Great idea!


I am the mother of 2 elementary school-aged kids. For me, this phobia was very manageable until I had children and they began catching sv's. My primary fear is thatmy kids will get sick, and after that I fear that it will spread to my other child and/or to me. Unfortunately, kids and svs are pretty much inevitable. I'd love to talk to other moms about this and to help and be helped during the awful times when the kids do get sick.

[peachykeen]

Well, add me! I'm a mommy of two small children. I fear v* myself,
and then contagious v*. My older child v*s often from being upset and
angry. It doesn't bother me at all if I know I can't catch it. But if there
is a chance I can catch it all hell breaks loose and I got a bit insane.

I'm also starting therapy one week from today. I'm seeing a
psychologist that specializes in dealing with phobias, she's trained in
behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy and highly regarded in our state.
I can't wait to get a start on it!!

[kel12347]

Someone please pick me to be their buddy!!!!!


I am more afraid of myself v* than others v'ing, unless it's something I can catch. But still, v'ing myself is the biggest fear - like Shiva said, I would rather die. I am engaged, with no children. I am currently in CBT, and working on Sage's hierarchy, but I need somebody to keep me motivated.


For my buddy: I will try to help keep you motivated, and I know lots and lots about anxiety, panic and relaxation techniques.


Anyone interested, please PM me.


(Wow does this sound like a personal ad)


Edited to add: Great idea, Shiva! You rock!Edited by: kel12347

[suze]

I think I'm a typical mum - I can deal with it if it's not contagious, I too have a kid who'll throw up when she's crying, got a cold, cough etc. When it is a proper bug though, oh my god, real panic stations! Will the other child get? More importanly, will I get it? I'm separated from their dad too, so knowing I have to cope with this alone is really difficult - even though I do cope. The week after one of them has been ill, I hardly eat or sleep.


And, yes, I dread the patter of those feet at night. Every little noise I wonder if it's one of them getting up to tell me the dreaded news. Not a night goes by when I don't think it's going to happen. I watch them to see if they're behaving 'normally'. If my son refuses supper, I think "this is it" If the phone rings during the day I dread answering it just incase it's the school saying one of them has thrown up...get the picture?


I tell you, it's soooo good to find people who understand, because otherwise I would think I'm going crazy at times.

[angel13]

Excellent idea, I'll definitely be in! I'm an 18 year old uni student, and am more scared of myself v*ing than anyone else. I freak out if I've been exposed to germs in public places, and have regular panic attacks over extremely silly things Anyone out there who's similar? Just give a yell! ^_^ I'm quite good at calming other people down, just not myself, lol!Edited by: angel13

[tink]

Shiva, that is a wonderful idea! I would love to participate..

I am very afraid of every aspect of v* both for me and others. Doesnt matter if it is contagious, I will still be petrified. I am 36 with no kids (because of emet) and I havent v*ed in 23 years. I can offer support for anyone, I know alot about meditation and positive self talk. I tried looking at some of the photos on the exposure link, and didnt get very far. Scared the bejebus outta me. [img]smileys/smilies_10.gif[/img] Maybe doing it with someone would be easier? Anyway, if there is anyone similar out there I would love to talk with you! PM me..

--Kim

[jennyleigh1975]

I think this is a great idea!!!!

I am only really afraid of V* is I know that it is contagious and there is a chance that I will get sick. I can handle seeing it, or seeing someone else do it. For the most part anyway ..........

[murphy]

Awesome idea, I am in. I am 36 years old and just got married in May. We have been trying for months to get pregnant but are having trouble. I don't know if that is good or bad b/c I am concerned about my children getting sick and not being able to cope. Anyway, I teach kindergarten which can be very tough for an emet. My biggest fear is v* myself or being around anyone that may be contagious. I really don't fret over seeing someone on tv or pictures. It always comes back to "can I catch it?.


I am planning to find a therapist for my emet and anxiety. I am tired of being a chronic worrier about v* and a number of other things. I am a total such a pessimist that my glass isn't just half empty it is bone dry. I am tired of always being negative. I want help changing my thoughts to me more positive and to work for me instead of against. Anyway, great idea. I want to do it.


Murphy

[khrysta]

thats so cool shiva Iam in I would love to have a buddy I bet it would help me a lot I know I need someone to talk to and who understands what we go through everyday if theres anyone who would like to be my buddy feel free to pm me Iam here to get and help anyone.


KHRYSTA


Edited by: khrysta

[swiftette]

That is an awesome idea! Count me in.I have 2 kids(the little dolls to the left)who I am just PETRIFIED that they will catch a virus at school and bring it home. I can say the word, see it in movies and even if some drunk person were to v*in front of me, I could clean it up AS LONG as it is'nt contagious.