I am a big advocate for the Bell Let's Talk campaign. It's time to end the stigma around mental health and join the conversation. It's also about time to share my own story.
I have an anxiety disorder called Emetophobia. I have suffered from this for as long as I can remember. Emetophobia is not quite germophobia. It's a little more specific than that. It's the fear of others vomiting around me and the fear that I might catch it if they do.
Showing posts with label emetophobia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emetophobia. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Julie's Request
Hi Shelley-Ann and Caroline.
I was wondering if you would consider writing a bit of your story for display at
Glimpses, our mental health Sunday on May 3.
It was really amazing for me to read Shelley-Ann’s FB post on Bell Let’s Talk Day about
how you weren’t ready to share at last year’s Glimpses, but you were ready to share now.
You shared, and then to have Caroline step in and say “Me too!” – WOW!
It was impactful for me for a few different reasons. One, I didn’t appreciate the
debilitating nature of your phobia. When both of you had mentioned having issues
around vomit prior to this post, I kind of put it up there with my issues around spiders.
Through your story, I learned about entire new levels, and began to direct the required
respect and empathy towards it. Two, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride in having the
Nexus mental health Sunday mentioned. This exchange was exactly what I was hoping
would come from it: something to combat feelings of isolation, dialogue that could
hopefully lead to helpful discussions. Three, “Me Too’s” mean the world to me,
especially when it comes to mental health. I believe we can improve our health
individually and collectively if we begin to understand how common (and not atypical)
mental health issues are.
Perhaps you’d be willing to write about what it was like for you to discover you shared
the phobia, or what it’s like to talk about it.
Gratefully, Julie
I was wondering if you would consider writing a bit of your story for display at
Glimpses, our mental health Sunday on May 3.
It was really amazing for me to read Shelley-Ann’s FB post on Bell Let’s Talk Day about
how you weren’t ready to share at last year’s Glimpses, but you were ready to share now.
You shared, and then to have Caroline step in and say “Me too!” – WOW!
It was impactful for me for a few different reasons. One, I didn’t appreciate the
debilitating nature of your phobia. When both of you had mentioned having issues
around vomit prior to this post, I kind of put it up there with my issues around spiders.
Through your story, I learned about entire new levels, and began to direct the required
respect and empathy towards it. Two, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride in having the
Nexus mental health Sunday mentioned. This exchange was exactly what I was hoping
would come from it: something to combat feelings of isolation, dialogue that could
hopefully lead to helpful discussions. Three, “Me Too’s” mean the world to me,
especially when it comes to mental health. I believe we can improve our health
individually and collectively if we begin to understand how common (and not atypical)
mental health issues are.
Perhaps you’d be willing to write about what it was like for you to discover you shared
the phobia, or what it’s like to talk about it.
Gratefully, Julie
My Nemesis ~ Caroline
Phobias are an interesting nemesis. Something that seems so inconsequential to one person feels like summiting a cliff to another. Every minute. Of every day.
Have you ever had a panic attack before? I hope that you never do.
I suffer from emetophobia, an intense and irrational fear of vomiting. You know that thing that you do to feel better? That thing that while gross and uncomfortable is just an inevitable and unpleasant part of life? Not so for me. Just the thought of it makes me incredibly anxious and afraid. I spend much of my life preoccupied with the possibility that it might happen.
Have you ever had a panic attack before? I hope that you never do.
I suffer from emetophobia, an intense and irrational fear of vomiting. You know that thing that you do to feel better? That thing that while gross and uncomfortable is just an inevitable and unpleasant part of life? Not so for me. Just the thought of it makes me incredibly anxious and afraid. I spend much of my life preoccupied with the possibility that it might happen.
You Make Me Want to (Not) Vomit ~ Shelley-Ann
Inner monologue:
The little girl is getting clingy like she's not feeling well. Don't freak out. It's probably nothing. Kids get like that. All the other kids are fine. It's nothing. It doesn't look like nothing. Breathe. You're ok. She doesn't feel good. Great. Why did I even have to hear her say that? If I hadn't heard her, I wouldn't know and I'd be fine. So they're propping her on the couch with the other kids and giving her a bowl just in case? Oh my God. I cannot do this. Breathe. She threw up? What do I do? WHAT DO I DO???
The little girl is getting clingy like she's not feeling well. Don't freak out. It's probably nothing. Kids get like that. All the other kids are fine. It's nothing. It doesn't look like nothing. Breathe. You're ok. She doesn't feel good. Great. Why did I even have to hear her say that? If I hadn't heard her, I wouldn't know and I'd be fine. So they're propping her on the couch with the other kids and giving her a bowl just in case? Oh my God. I cannot do this. Breathe. She threw up? What do I do? WHAT DO I DO???
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