A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Seeing all of these comments about sickness phobia makes me feel a bit better it isn't just me. I struggle every day, If I try new food I have to try it in the morning because otherwise I wont sleep at night worrying I will be ill! I have only ever been sick in the night so never worry during the day, only ever after eating. eating out is a nightmare, I hate watching new films in case there's sick in it because it will cause a panic attack, I hate flying in case other travellers are sick; thank goodness I'm not actually travel sick myself. I haven't been sick in over ten years so can't actually remember how it feels, all I know is if someone even says they feel ill I avoid them like the plague, even leaving my house if it is my family or not seeing my boyfriend. I constantly and obsessively check food sell by dates, over cook everything and always worry for about 6 hours after eating in case i'm sick as that it the most likely hours I would be! Going out to town with my friends drinking is a nightmare, I get anxiety really easily about it all the time and the stress and anxiety of it is causing me to be ill in other ways- I get a lot of bad tummy aches because I'm so tense! I am waiting for cognitive behaviour therapy, does anyone know if this will help at all? this phobia really is ruining my life and my friends and family either don't take me seriously or act as if I imagine it or exaggerate :( Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (4 April 2014):
 CBT help give you tools to work on yourself. I was diagnosed with eating disorder and OCD in my late teens and CBT was without a doubt the best thing for me.
My OCD rituals do not control me to the extend that I will have an anxiety attack if I couldn't "perform" one - I USED to. I still have OCD, I'm not "cured" but I know how to stop myself from panic mode. I use my "tools".
You actually describe how I feel about germs. I don't like being around sick people. I don't use public rest rooms if I can avoid it. If I have to, then I have Clorox wipes and sanitizes in my purse - yea, a little nutty I know, but some people are just gross. Again the wipes and sanitizers are part of my "tools". I could otherwise just sit at home and never go out because the world is full of gross & germy people. I don't want to not live life because of these fears. I don't want them to control me.
So yes, GO for the CBT - take it all in, find what works for you. Breathing exercises, yoga, meditation even to an extend compartmentalizing and so forth. Get your tools and apply them.
DO NOT let this control you. DO NOT let this stop you from travelling, socializing, living your life to the fullest.
A
female
reader, Daisy_Daisy +, writes (4 April 2014):
 Hi OP, I don't have a phobia like yours but I do suffer excessive anxiety about other things. I had CBT and can happily tell you that it did help me. It didn't 'fix' me, and I still have work to do myself, but it helped. I hope it helps you, too. I can see how much of an impact your phobia has on your life. All the best.
...............................
|
