For Brooke Caitlyn, the fear of vomiting was far more than an occasional worry. Her emetophobia had affected almost every part of her daily life, influencing where she went, what she ate and even how she interacted with her family. The 26-year-old mother eventually reached a point where she realized that her fear was preventing her from caring for her own son. When he became sick after bringing a stomach bug home from nursery, Brooke found herself unable to hold him.
That moment became a turning point.
“My son is one of the big reasons why I knew I had to sort this,” Brooke explained, describing how strongly the phobia had controlled her behavior.
Whenever she suspected that her son might be unwell, she would cancel plans and stay at home, even when there was no certainty that he was actually sick.
Extreme Measures to Avoid Getting Sick
At the height of her emetophobia, Brooke went to extraordinary lengths to protect herself from anything she believed could make her vomit. She avoided touching door handles and was extremely cautious about eating food prepared outside her home. Chicken in restaurants was considered too risky, while public transportation was something she tried to avoid whenever possible. She also carried a large supply of medication and other items she considered essential for preventing stomach problems. Her fear even affected the way she used hand sanitizer. Brooke said she would sometimes sanitize her hands so aggressively that she would actually burn them because she believed doing so would protect her from becoming ill. The constant precautions came with a financial cost as well. She estimated that avoiding situations connected to her fear and purchasing medication and other necessities cost her hundreds of dollars. But the emotional cost was much greater.
Learning to Face the Fear
Brooke had previously received therapy for general anxiety, but she credits gradual self-exposure with helping her make significant progress against emetophobia. Rather than immediately escaping whenever she felt uncomfortable, she began deliberately placing herself in situations that made her anxious. She would go to places such as the grocery store or gym alone and make herself remain there even when she started feeling sick or frightened. The goal was not to eliminate every uncomfortable sensation. Instead, she learned that experiencing anxiety did not necessarily mean something terrible was about to happen. Over time, these experiences became easier.
Giving Up Her “Comfort” Items
Another important step was reducing her dependence on the medicines and other items she carried for reassurance. Initially, Brooke found it difficult to leave home without her bag of supplies. Eventually, she began leaving some of those items at home. She gradually increased the amount of time she spent without them. Eventually, she reached the point where she could leave the bag in her car and walk into a grocery store without it. This process helped her discover that she could cope even without the objects she once believed were necessary for her safety.
Breaking the Cycle of Constant Googling
Brooke also identified another habit that was making her anxiety worse: searching the internet for symptoms. She decided to stop Googling every physical sensation or possible sign of illness. For someone dealing with health-related fears, repeatedly searching for symptoms can create a cycle in which anxiety produces physical sensations, those sensations lead to more searching, and the search results create even greater fear. Breaking that cycle became another part of Brooke’s recovery.
Two Years of Gradual Progress
Brooke says overcoming the phobia took approximately two years. She still experiences occasional moments of panic, but the fear no longer dominates her thoughts or dictates her daily decisions. Her experience demonstrates how powerful a phobia can become when avoidance takes over everyday life. It also shows that progress does not necessarily happen overnight. Emetophobia is a recognized fear of vomiting and can significantly interfere with a person’s relationships, work, travel and ordinary activities. Cognitive behavioral therapy, including appropriate exposure-based approaches, is commonly used to treat phobias. For Brooke, learning to tolerate uncertainty and gradually move away from avoidance allowed her to regain control of her life—and, most importantly, to be there for her son when he needed her.
