All About CBT for Emetophobia the Fear of Vomiting, How it Works and What’s Involved

CBT for Emetophobia

Our CBT for Emetophobia course is a highly effective way of overcoming the symptoms and emotional distress caused by this phobia.

Emetophobia is the fear of being sick or the fear of vomiting and is often known as vomit phobia.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was developed by Aaron Beck in the 1960’s who recognised that people’s inner-thoughts were often more significant than the things that they said in therapy.

He called these inner-thoughts cognition and argued that the way that people think about their experiences links directly to the emotions that they feel.

In other words our emotional experiences are the outcomes of what we think and believe rather than being caused by external events.

These ideas form the central concept of CBT which states that:

The way people think determines the way that they feel.

In the case of Emetophobia the emotions that we feel are the direct result of what we think or believe our experiences mean.

Common Emetophobia Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of emetophobia include:

• Avoiding situations that could lead to vomiting: People with emetophobia may avoid certain foods or drinks, as well as public places such as restaurants or amusement parks.
• Obsessively checking for signs of illness: This can include frequently taking one’s temperature or checking for other symptoms of illness.
• Experiencing panic attacks: People with emetophobia may have panic attacks or feel extremely anxious when they are exposed to situations that could lead to vomiting.
• Feeling constantly on edge: The fear of vomiting can cause a person to be hyper-vigilant and always on the lookout for potential triggers.
• Experiencing physical symptoms: Physical symptoms of emetophobia can include sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, and gastrointestinal distress.
• Difficulty with daily activities: Emetophobia can interfere with a person’s ability to work, attend school, or engage in social activities.
• Persistent worry: People with emetophobia may worry constantly about getting sick or being exposed to germs.

You may have some or all of these symptoms, but it is important to remember that you may feel anxious in different ways to other people because of the subjective nature of human experiences.

How does CBT for Emetophobia work?

Normally a programme of CBT for Emetophobia takes place over a period of 10 to 20 weeks with an hour long session once per week.

Firstly, because the way you think about your day-to-day experiences is determined by your core beliefs, the early sessions of CBT for Emetophobia involve exploring and measuring these beliefs.

Secondly, once you are able to uncover your core beliefs, your thoughts about certain experiences will make more sense.

Thirdly, by understanding how you have made sense of your experiences in the past you can then begin to make changes to your thoughts and beliefs in order to create new, and more useful, emotional outcomes.

CBT for Emetophobia builds upon the 5 core CBT principles developed by Aaron Beck and are used extensively in our CORE Programme.

How many sessions of CBT will I need?

Whilst this is a difficult question to be precise about, most people will be able to overcome their Emetophobia problems in around 10 -20 sessions.

However, because CBT for Emetophobia is always tailored to your own individual needs and circumstances, getting the outcome that you want may sometimes require more sessions.

If you have been suffering Emetophobia problems for many years then in all likelihood, you can reasonably expect to take a bit longer to get where you want to be.

Our CBT for Emetophobia programme is based on 12 sessions delivered over 12 weeks and uses an online learning platform for you to develop greater self-awareness and knowledge in the days between sessions.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about CBT for emetophobia or recovering from any of your mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular issues and the different types of mental health counselling we offer (including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT) without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.