Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Emetophobiais an extreme and irrational fear of vomiting.
includingrapid heart rate,tremors, and feeling dizzy.
People exhibiting thisphobiamay avoid foods they fear will make them sick, social events, or travel.
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
This article will help you to understand emetophobia, its causes, and who may be at risk.
It discusses treatment and ways of coping with emetophobia.
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
Definition
Emetophobia is an intense and irrational fear of vomiting.
There are five subtypes, with SPOV falling into the “other throw in” subcategory.
Symptoms
Emetophobia may present as a variety of symptoms and certain behaviors.
This may include symptoms like:
Diagnosis
People with phobias are not always formally diagnosed.
Some studies have shown people with SPOV even fear certain treatments, likeexposure therapy.
In some cases, SPOV is hard to diagnose because of similar or co-occurring health conditions.
They can include:
However, avoidance can be counterproductive and make phobias worse.
A diagnosis may be a helpful starting point for treatment.
Causes
Phobias like emetophobia don’t often have a singular cause.
These factors can include:
Genetics also may play a role in phobia development.
Treatment
If those with emetophobia don’t receive treatment, their fear is likely to persist.
Possible treatment options include:
Exposure therapy is considered a preferred treatment, often in combination withrelaxation techniques.
In some cases, people may need treatment for conditions related to their SPOV.
For example,dehydrationdue to the vomiting can be treated with fluid intake.
Coping
Emetophobia can feel all-consuming, and it may interfere with daily life.
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