Im sorry this is long, but please read!
Hey everyone my name is Dani i am 19 years old, i am so happy i found this site because i need some support. A little backround on my phobia.. ever since i can remember i have been a pretty severe emtaphobe..I remember being in like the 2nd grade freaking out because the boy next to me "didnt feel good". A year and and 4 months ago i actually got the SV from I dont know where or how because im so clean and wash my hands constantly.. everyone told me it would cure my fear but it only intsified it 10 x worse... it affects my every day life because i often avoid certain situations and when my friends and family convince me enough to go to the gathering or party i think about people being infected with the SV and start having anxiety.
My fear is me throwing up.. i cant stand the feeling before.. the feeling during just anything about it i am terrified. I am a control freak and you cant control where and when you will feel the need to V* I can see other people V* but only as long as i know i cant catch it.. example is if someone at college drank to much and starts V*ing.. i can handle it and i can help them... But if i hear someone has the SV on campus i FREAK OUT and look up on FB who thier friends are and what classes they have just to avoid it.
ANYWAY. So my situation right now...
Wendsday night my little sister age 13, had a friend sleepover.. that friend winded up V*ing AT MY HOUSE at 2 am in the morning ... when i woke up the next morning and heard the news i was almost in tears.. because i know what is to come (time for the panic & anxiety). My mom knows how much i freak out.. but dosen't understand that it is a ligitmate fear and anxiety.. she thinks im just over dramatic and dosent really take me seriously
SO... i stayed downstairs AWAY from my sister and away from upstairs.. not to my suprise.. Friday night (around 9pm) my little sister started V*ing.. again i haven't even been upstairs at this point becuase i just knew.. the next morning (saturday) my mom said she felt weak and tired and slept all day although never even felt sick to her stomach.. just weak and tired.. (mild case). THEN on Saturday night (1 am) my dad felt sick and was in the bathroom all night.. never threw up but felt sick.. Sunday, he actually threw up once. Today everyone is all better even all ate a family dinner which i did not attend because im so scared ... I still have not went upstairs where all the V*ing happend, but my dad likes to stay downstairs where my room is and he wont stay upstairs no matter how much i tell him how scared i am to get sick. my parents get annoyed when i ask them these kind of things they always tell me "if you get it, you get it.. its not the end of the world" they dont understand!
So for the past 6 days ive eaten out everyday for lunch and dinner... and pretty much only come home to sleep... i keep myself busy during the day (work, shopping, rollerblading, hanging with friends) anything to stay away from my house and all the germs inside..
My mom told me she cleaned everything with Lysol III which i read the can it kills Rota&Noro viruses but i just feel like its not enough to let me go upsetairs and enjoy my family's company yet i feel like my parents are taking it personally... my mom said "we miss having you around the house" today and that got me sad because they know im avoiding them bc of the SV.
My question is what should i do since my dad wont stay upstairs? Do you think upstairs is safe yet? if not how long should i avoid it? and my grandmother is flying in from Florida on Friday.. i warned my parents that virus could still be in the house and get her sick.. but they keep telling me theres nothing they can do other than to clean everything :'( They don't beleive me that she can still get it even though they have been feeling bettter for 5 days... im so scared that ill get it still and that if my grandmother gets it, it will start this whole cycle of living in my car and at friends houses for a week, and all the worrying and anxiety.
please help & again im sorry this is so long!