I Think I have Emet...Help!

[blondie_14]

Hey everyone. Well I have a long story to tell and I hope someone can help me. I really need it. Well here we go.


I am a 14 year old girl and have suffered from a unexplainable fear of v* or getting a "stomach bug" ever since I could remember. Like, if I kid comes into school saying he has had a stomach virus, I have to trace every memory of the past week back to him to make sure i wasnt around him "too much", and if i was, I worry about it relentlessly for days on end. If someone in a class v*, I start shaking, i get dizzy and extremely nauseated, and I feel out of control of myself as this overwhelming feeling of doom comes over me. This has gone on all my life, some times better than others.Last February, I had a stomach virus. I wasnt incredibly sick, but it was still miserable. Then, when I thought I was better, I got it again. But it was an extreme lesser version and I was only sick twice ina whole day. It still scared me. Then, about 5 weeks ago, I was diagnosed with mono. Mono causes different symptoms in people, some get sore throats, some get headaches. For me, it was unbearable nausea constantly and the inability to eat for several days. It also made my acid reflux ((I had it as a 5-7 year old but "grew out of it")) come back so I had to sleep sitting up for a week.Now, the mono is getting alot better (i can go to school and stuff) But the problem is I now know my immune system is somewhat lowered because of the mono, and school scares me. Everywhere scares me. Im afraid to touch certain things and im constantly washing my hands. I get nauseated alot and started freaking out that im going to v*. I am terrifyed to wear a certain pair of pajamas that I wore when I had a stomach bug last because i am afraid that wearing those pajamas will give me a virus, and I am scared when any change in routins occur, because im scared it will cause me to be sick. I am also scared to say certain things without knocking on wood. I am a Christian and dont believe in things like that but im terrifyed beyond imagine. Every spare moment is used up thinking about v* and worrying about getting it.Worrying causes me to get anxious, which in turn nauseates me and makes everything worse. I also get splitting tension headaches and get dizzy when I worry. Im telling you all this because im not sure if it is emetophobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive, or just the mono messing with my head.


HELP! Im only 14 and my life is out of control.


-Paige-

[mbs730]

Yep it sure sounds like emet to me. I know how it feels.
Oh Lord I have been an emet for 25 years, since I was 4, I am 29
now. My degree of emet is different from yours, I fear others
getting sick no matter whether the reasoning is because of something
being contageous or not, I cant be around ANYONE who says they have
been sick, even if someone got sick from a day before from food
poisoning or something. I fear myself getting sick ONLY if I am n. I
dont obsess on if I eat something or if I go somewhere I will get sick.
Only if I AM feeling sick I go all wiggy. Anyway just wondering have
you told anyone about this?



Miriam

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[Galadriel]

Hey there,


Yep you sound like you have emet! Its hard I know. On here is great tho, cause you can post anything and people will talk to you about it. Its nice to not feel so alone. I feel great sympathy for your story, because I know I have done some of the same things, like not wanting to wear what I was last wearing when i was sick. I have gotten a lot better with emet, but its still there. I too am a Christian, and I know faith in God has helped me get thro some times. I know how bad the fear can get, and its horrible to have it take up your every waking moment. Welcome to the family!

[rhinoseri]

It does seem like you are emetophobic. I am only 12, and my life has been quite a lot like that since I was 5. I have the same issues with things like PJ's that I wore the night of April 9th, 2002, when I last got sick. Also with food, or most other things that I associate with throwing up.When I hear that someone's been sick, I'll make sure that I havn't been near them, aswell, or someone else that was near them. Like you, I kind of freak out when routines change. 'Tis even worse when someone actually doesthrow up...

[ejb199]

welcome Paige

i agree with the others - it sounds like u have many triats of emet. my emet howver has luckily got better over the past 2 years. its so sad to read so abotu so many young people on here suffering from this. i remember when i was 14 - it aws just a few mths after the 'dreaded'. i used to spend my time trying to calm myself - writing in my diary and putting lots of calming things in my bedroom - like lava lamps and xmas fairy lights - lighting makes me calm!

[sarahx]

It does sound like u have emet (


But welcome to our family... we all can understande how u feel. I always hate it when my 'routines' change and stuff. Its hard, very hard. But theres many ppl with lots of advice and stuff on here to help u. It's sad for me to see all these young ppl on here whose lives are being ruined so early by this monster. Im only 20 but ive only been emetophobic for 2 and a half yrs. Ive always been afraid of v* but nothing like compared to what its been like the past two years. Im always around so pm me anytime.


Sarah xxx

[jazz]

hey blondie, i know how you feel. I'm 14, and im emetophobic also. I can appreciate the difficulties you're experiencing with your health, because they can cause you to worry even more about the fear of being sick.
I had to get rid of my pajamas ( the ones i wore when i was sick ) because i found that just having them around was too distressing.
You're not the only one terrified of school! I get this huge lump in my throat when i see exam halls etc.. because i once had to get out of an exam real quickly because i thought i was gunna throw. this memory still haunts me, because i get irritated that i lost control like that.
If you ever need to share experiences with anyone, then everyone here will always be able to help.
Take care
ps: rhinoseri, i thought you were an adult, you must be reaally mature

[rhinoseri]

ps: rhinoseri, i thought you were an adult, you must be reaally mature

Lol, I can be very very immature at times, though.

[spilled_milk]

Yes, it does sound like u have emet. At least you found this place though, where mostly everybody else has it, and can give you support! I know almost exactly how you feel: I'm 13, almsot 14,and have been going through this my whole life, even though it only really became apparent when I was six. Once, my dad got sick after he ate tacos with us even though it was only a side affect of a medicine, but i havent eaten tacos since. If you ever need any help or advice, just post! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img]


&lt;3 Anya--

[jazz]

hah hah! same here

[babygap5]

I to have emet and I've been like this for most of my life. I spent a great deal of my childhood constantly nauseated and went to numerous doctors. I went through test after test and they couldn't find anything physically wrong with me. Finally, they told my parents that there must be something psychologically wrong with me, so they sent me to a shrink. I went once, thought it was a waste of time and never went back. I then got better and in fact, never had any sort of stomach virus or upset for 13 years. Then, I contracted a bacterial intestine infection. It went undiagnosed for 7 months because the doctors didn't know what was wrong. Finally, they figured it out and I was put on antibiotics, however, my liver and pancrease enzyme levels got effected by the high dose of medication, so the nausea started all over again. After that happened, my emet came back with avengence. I became a germophobe and was constantly washing my hands. I was terrified when this nasty stomach flu hit my office, I walked around for weeks avoiding people as much as possible.It's so scary to be afraid of something that the body does in response to something not being right, but i'm terrified of it. Anyway, about 4 weeks ago, my boyfriend whom I live with got a terrible migraine, which made him throw up. I logically knew that it wasn't a virus and that I couldn't catch anything from him, but I started to countdown of days till I knew that I was in the clear of not catching it. I'm so grateful for this site because I thought I was the only one afraid of this.

[party_boi3423]

Hi Paige.


I can relate - I am also 14 and even though I don't suffer from mono I can get a general idea of school and emet. My name is Chris and I live in London, U.K. I hate School and I hate it when people complain of stomach cramp or have been off school for days on end because when they come back they still feel ill and have to rush off to the toilet or something. Luckily, Im not at school for the week because im on half-term week break so I don't have school again till tuesday but im worried that someone might have caught a bug on the holiday! I can relate to your worries. If you want to have someone to talk to, my MSN address is [email protected] .


Best Wishes, Christopher