Hi Sam,
I've had this phobia for 3 years now, and I don't know what to do.
I can't stand anyone throwing up or me throwing up because just the thought of it makes me shake.
I'm scared and I can't eat or sleep.
What can I do?
Hi there,
Most people have a fear or phobia of a couple of things that others might not find scary. It's okay to be open and honest about your phobias so that people around you are aware and can support you. A fear of being sick is quite difficult to cope with because sometimes you can't avoid it. Coping with phobias involves either confronting it or managing the fear you have.
Some phobias are more common than others but all phobias are valid. No matter what someone's fear is, that fear is real to them and there’s no need to be embarrassed about it.
Asking for help with phobias is important because having people around you when facing a fear can make a big difference. This might mean when you're being sick you have someone you trust keeping you calm and feeling safe. Arranging this ahead of time can help you feel less anxious about being sick because you know you have a plan in place.
If your worries are making it difficult to sleep, there are things you can try. Some people's phobias affect their day to day life so much that they may need more professional help. Therapy and other techniques can help with things like phobias and anxiety. If you would like to look into this a bit more, your GP should be able to help.
Thanks for sending me this letter - if you want to talk more you can get in touch with a Childline counsellor to share more.
Take care.
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
