Emetophobia's peak season just around the bend

This time of the year and into the winter months my emetophobia tends to worsen. It's a combination of the longer nights and bitterly cold temperatures in addition to the widespread illnesses that cause vomiting such as the flu.

My days have been ok but almost every night mild panic attacks plague me. It's frightening how the most benign stomach grumble or gas pain triggers those panicky symptoms of fear, trembles, and shivers. They last sometimes late into the night.

Even though I love the spirit of the holiday season, this damn phobia hinders some of this enjoyment.

Emetophobia morphed into Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Since I started this blog, there has been substantial changes in my life regarding emetophobia. For one, my good days have been panic free and my appetite is almost normal. My bad days are slightly worse than they used to be but I have them less often. For most of the spring and summer, I would say that about 30% of the time I would either panic or change my daily pattern to accomodate this phobia.

Now that it's fall, the daylight is shorter, and the temperature turns colder, my emetophobia usually comes on full force. It's different this year than in the past. Now, I find myself in a panic for other issues.

For example, I convinced myself I had Ovarian cancer even though I had no symptoms of it, no ill feelings, and a clean bill of health from the Doctor. There was absolutely no reason for me to doubt the tests and exam from the Dr. except for my irrational thoughts.

Several other Emetophes have told me that they too develop additional phobias in relation to emetophobia. A fear of germs is one such phobia since germs may cause us to get sick.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is chronic and exaggerated worry and tension, even though nothing seems to provoke it. Having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work.

to be continued....

Where have I been? I'm here and the same.

At one time this blog was much more active. And for a while, I felt really really good. But then autumn arrived and that's usually the toughest time of year for me. The weather gets colder, days are shorter, and emetophobia hits me extra hard. Now, I'm going through a very tough time. It seems every night I have mild panic and depression.

On top of that, a frightening epidemic - H1N1 is making the rounds, or at least that's what the PR is saying. I'm scared to get the vaccine, but also scared not to get it. I haven't had a chance to make the 45 minute drive to Whole Foods to get my immune boosting herbs from Dr. Weil and the mail-order through his website it too expensive.

Normally, I wouldn't mind paying the extra money, but to add on to my anxiety this fall, the recession has hit my income very hard and I just don't have the disposable cash. I'm also in the "saving my money" mode since there is a chance I'll be unemployed early 2010.

My appetite has been light to moderate but at least I'm eating and over the years, I learned how to maximize nutrition with the least amount of food consumption. Someday, I'll write a blog entry just on that.

Anyway, I hope all of the readers of this blog are doing well.

H1N1 vaccine. I'll get this vaccine when swine's fly

In case anyone is wondering, NO, I'm not getting the vaccine. I have never had a flu shot and I never had the flu.

As an emetophobe, I go over and above all recommended preventative measures. This includes:

*Washing my hands frequently especially before eating.
*Not hugging or kissing friends when I greet them.
*Taking vitamins, astragalus, and other immune boosting herbs.
*Using hand sanitizer when I can't get to a sink.
*Being extra careful with the above mentioned steps when I'm at places with a lot of kids around particularly my karate class.

If everyone else gets the vaccine, then the chances of me getting it are slimmer.

Writersblock...indeed

It's been over a month since my last entry. There are a few reasons for this. For one, my summer has been filled up with one relative visiting after another. And when they visit, it's either a day trip somewhere or sometimes an overnighter.

Another reason is that my emetophobia hasn't been that bad lately. I guess that's good.

Last, I ran out of things to write about. That's right, I have writersblock, just like my name suggests. Hopefully, I come out of it soon. I tend to be more emetophobic in the fall and winter.

Things That Make You Go Puke

Last week my office sponsored a table at the Southampton Days Fair. There's something about fairs and carnivals that makes me feel both exhilarated and scared to death at the same time.

In general, I love the atmosphere and excitement that surrounds county fairs. The face painting, games of chance, sideshows, cheesy puppet shows and other activity that I associate with fairs and carnivals.

Even some of the rides can be fun. It's the ones I won't go on that scare me. For the record, I've never, ever felt nauseated or vomited after going on an amusement ride. That's because I won't go on rides I believe will make me sick. That includes rides that spin fast, go upside down and yes, roller coasters. Funny thing is that I will go on virtual rides that are known to cause motion sickness and I love them and never feel sick from them. Merely closing your eyes while on these rides will remedy any motion sickness so I'm not afraid of them.

Watching some of these rides operate puts a pit in my stomach. Our table was near this nausea inducing twirling ride.
















Other rides I won't go on are:

The Gravitron














The Roundup














Combining these rides with typical fair food is another fear inducing thought. I don't like fried, greasy foods and the smell of them on a sizzling day makes it that much worse. Emetophobics ponder the thought of how many people during a typical day at the fair vomited somewhere on the grounds.

Honey and Cinnamon

Writersblock is a screenname I commonly use and for good reason. It's been almost a month since my last blog entry and that's mostly due to writersblock - not having any good stuff to write about. Rather than repeating how awful panic attacks are or the dire fear I have of getting a stomach flu, I prefer to write about different, helpful and interesting matters somehow related to emetophobia or what us emetophobes want to read.

Last week a family member sent me an e-mail about the medicinal value of honey and cinnamon. I don't know where this e-mail originated from so I can't give anyone the credit, but nonetheless, I'd like to share snippets that I found of particular interest.

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing". When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey contain in the hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy, is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.

Since us emetophobia sufferers obsess over expiration dates, this is good news and one less item in my pantry to worry about.

It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

I've heard before that cinnamon has antimicrobial properties but can't swear by the above claims that both honey and cinnamon cures "most" diseases. In fact, I strongly doubt them but scientific studies do claim that many ailments and illnesses can be remedied or cured by honey and cinnamon. And it's cheap enough to keep stocked in the pantry. However, diabetics should consult their doctor before self-dosing on honey.

The e-mail goes on to list the conditions and how to prepare a honey and cinnamon remedy. I've snipped out a few that relate to illnesses that emetophobics would be the most interested in.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:Take two tablesp oons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a Glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, were found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic Cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon Lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This Process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears Stomach ulcers from the root. GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral Diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkl ed on two tablespoons of honey taken before food Relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day