I wanted to write this post because of a Twitter chat a few weeks ago where the question was about fears - I was almost embarrassed to admit that mine was vomit, but was then astonished at the amount of people who replied to me saying that was their fear too. After that I did some research, and although I don't know how accurate this is, I read that emetophobia is the fifth most common phobia. I was so surprised at that as I don't really think it is recognised as a valid phobia. So I thought I'd cobble together 10 things emetophobics (or me at least) want you to know:
1 - We don't just 'not like' sick. I constantly get people saying 'yeah, I don't like sick either.' Thank you for trying to understand, but I'm pretty sure nobody likes it!
2 - Sometimes you might feel offended when we turn down a night out with you. It's not because we don't want to spend time with you, it's because we don't want to spend the night in a club worrying about drunk people vomming everywhere.
3 - You might be our closest friend, but we will never hold your hair back. In fact we probably left as soon as you mentioned feeling queasy.
4 - We probably chose our occupation vaguely based on the risk of coming into contact with vomit. Teacher, nurse and vet got vetoed years ago.
5 - We don't find it funny if, on finding out, you pretend to be sick on us. At all.
6 - We will do everything in our power to avoid being sick. And we'll probably brag about how long it is since we were sick (17 years and proud FYI).
7 - Everyone else says we'll get over it when we have kids. Rather than put our minds at ease that just makes us not want to have kids...
8 - We're sorry if you ever eat chicken cooked by us because it's most probably horribly overcooked, possibly even burnt.
9 - If you get travel sick we won't even endure a ten minute bus ride with you.
10 - It's super annoying when people tell us it's a 'pathetic' phobia that we should just 'get over' when said person is probably scared of a pin sized spider. A phobia isn't supposed to be rational!
Hopefully that didn't come across as grumpy! Is this something you can relate to at all? Sorry if this is a really grim post!
Amy x
As someone who suffers from emetophobia and OCD I can relate to this post a lot! My life is a struggle, constantly avoiding sick, germs, bacteria and contamination etc. People really don't understand what we have to go through on a daily basis. This post also made me chuckle! Especially about the part of how long we have gone without being sick. I am currently at 7 years!! Xx
ReplyDeletehttp://thriftyvintagefashion.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/how-to-use-spreadsheets-to-organise.html
Ah I'm so glad you can relate but that you found it funny too - at least we can laugh at ourselves sometimes! xx
DeleteI did not know that there existed a phobia of vomit. It's great that you wrote a post about it to make people who don't know (like me), more aware about it! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat Sarah Writes
That's the hope :) I'm sure there are probably loads of phobias I'm not aware of too! xx
DeleteI don't suffer from emetophobia but I found this post really interesting to read. And you're absolutely right, fears aren't supposed to be rational, it just doesn't work that way. We all got fears and we should take other people's fears as serious as our own ones. xx
ReplyDelete113-things-to-say.blogspot.com
Definitely - everybody has irrational fears. Glad you found it interesting! xx
Deletei dint know but i think i am close to being one as per those points!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thestyletune.com
Maybe - I didn't realise it was a phobia for a long time until I spoke to others! xx
DeleteIt's great to see you raising awareness, even though I don't suffer myself. Lovely post <3
ReplyDeleteFloralsAndCoralsx
Thank you, that's what I'm hoping it'll do! xx
DeleteAny phobia isn't funny one bit to the ones who suffer from it. People often laugh at me nearly blacking out when I see a biggish spider. It's hard for them to relate to the ringing in my ears (which they don't hear) or my head starting to spin (which they don't see). Even though I can't relate to emetophobia myself, I can understand where you're coming from, lovely.
ReplyDeletexox Nadia
www.mielandmint.com
I'm glad you understand - it's so odd that people find it acceptable to laugh at other people's phobias when it would be completely different if it was their phobia! I think there is a big difference between phobias and not liking something too and that's why people don't understand! xx
DeleteYou're so right, fears aren't rational things and no matter what we do, sometimes it just can't be controlled. I'm terribly scared of grasshoppers (you can laugh as much as you want, everyone does) and I literally start screaming and running around when I see one. I tried to fight it but it's pointless, no matter how many times I've tried to rationalise it to myself I still freak the hell out when I see one.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post a lot btw! Have a great new week! xx
Matea
www.smilesnapsparkle.com
Glad you liked it :) Fears are completely irrational and I wouldn't laugh at you! xx
DeleteWonderfulpost, love the atmosphere!
ReplyDelete-xx, Sia
http://www.siafoch.com