This fear is also known as Sickness or Vomit Phobia, Fear of being sick, Fear of Gagging
Most emetophobes sufferers are female, with only around 10% of sufferers being male.
Some sufferers are incorrectly diagnosed as having an eating disorder or being anorexic. However their reluctance to eat has very little to do with losing weight but alot to do with the fear of being sick.
Sufferers tend to avoid alcohol, crowds, parties or anywhere where they think they may be sick or encounter someone else being ill or vomiting.
Hygiene plays a big role in their lives, cleaning constantly and avoiding work if a colleague has been ill.
Some people I have helped had previously avoided getting pregnant due to the fear of morning sickness
People with emetophobia spend a lot of time worrying about their fear and planning their lives to avoid situations where they may be exposed to their phobia.
Meticulous plans can be made to minimise the risk of being sick or seeing others being sick. It’s common to avoid leaving home where they feel safe as they worry they cannot control what might happen outside of their comfort zone.