04/11/2025
Do you know what Emetophobia is?
Emetophobia is an intense, often debilitating fear of vomiting (or seeing/feeling vomiting happen). It may be less well known, but it can have a profound impact on daily life.
Here’s what research suggests:
- the fear of vomiting (or emetophobia) may affect somewhere between 0.1 % and 8.8 % of people!
-It appears to affect women far more than men. For example, one study noted that approximately 85-97 % of sufferers identified as women.
👉Why this matters:
⦁ Because it’s often hidden or minimised, those living with it may feel isolated, anxious, ashamed or powerless.
⦁ People may begin avoiding social situations (e.g., eating out, travel, being around children or ill people) through fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit. This avoidance can lead to isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, and unhelpful thinking styles such as catastrophising and overthinking.
⦁ It affects not only the individual but often their family, friends and social network, because their life becomes structured around avoidance rather than participation.
👉My story:
Having personally experienced the impact of emetophobia in my daughter and how it changed our family’s life, I know how powerful the ripple-effects can be. Our turning point was when we discovered the Thrive Programme, and in particular its specific ‘Emetophobia-Free’ programme.
By working with a certified coach my daughter was able to overcome her emetophobia♥️
This was what began my journey to train as a Thrive programme coach to support others to overcome their emetophobia. A role which I love and find incredibly rewarding.
I learned a set of skills and a toolkit on how to support without colluding, and how to challenge my own unhelpful beliefs as a parent, ally and supporter.
Our whole family regained a sense of agency, control and hope.
If you suspect that you or someone you know may be dealing with emetophobia, please know: you are not alone, and help does exist.
👉 Follow this page for more awareness, resources and support around emetophobia and other mental-health topics.
Let’s open up the conversation, reduce the shame, and give voice to a phobia that often goes unspoken. 💙✨
