Emetophobia

Emetophobia
Specialty	Psychiatry

Emetophobia is a phobia that causes overwhelming, intense anxiety pertaining to vomit. This specific phobia can also include subcategories of what causes the anxiety, including a fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit.^[1] Emetophobes might also avoid the mentions of "barfing", vomiting, "throwing up", or "puking."^[2]

It is common for those who suffer from emetophobia to be underweight or malnourished due to strict diets and restrictions they make for themselves. The thought of someone possibly vomiting can cause the phobic person to engage in extreme behaviors to escape from their anxiety triggers, e.g. going to great lengths to avoid situations that could be perceived as "threatening".

Emetophobia is clinically considered an "elusive predicament" because limited research has been done pertaining to it.^[3] The fear of vomiting receives little attention compared to other fears.^[4][5]

The event of vomiting may make anyone with this particular phobia flee the scene. Some may fear other people throwing up, while others may fear themselves throwing up. Some may fear both. Some may have anxiety that makes them feel as if they will throw up when they actually might not. Other possible fears that may come with emetophobia is not being able to locate a restroom in a timely manner, not being able to stop throwing up, choking on vomit, being embarrassed due to the situation, or having to seek medical attention.^[2] People with emetophobia usually experience anxiety; they often may scream, cry, or if it is severe, pass out when someone or something has vomited.