Emetophobia
Does the Fear of Vomiting Control Your Life?
Do you constantly worry about getting sick?
Avoid restaurants, travel, social events or certain foods “just in case”? Check expiry dates repeatedly? Panic when someone says they feel unwell? Find yourself scanning for the nearest exit or avoiding situations where vomiting might happen?
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone — and you are not “overreacting.”
Living with emetophobia can feel exhausting. It affects where you go, what you eat, who you spend time with and, for many people, how safe the world feels. You may look calm on the outside while constantly battling anxiety, intrusive thoughts and worst-case scenarios in your head.
Many people suffer in silence for years, feeling embarrassed, misunderstood or worried that no one will truly understand how frightening this fear feels.
But emetophobia can be treated effectively, often in around 5-6 sessions - sometimes less.
You do not have to live like this forever.
What Is Emetophobia?
Emetophobia is an intense fear of vomiting, nausea or being around vomiting. It is sometimes called a fear of being sick or vomit phobia, but for those experiencing it, it can feel far more overwhelming than people realise.
The fear may involve:
Fear of vomiting yourself
Fear of feeling nauseous
Fear of seeing or hearing someone else vomit
Fear of catching a stomach bug or gastro
Fear of losing control or being trapped if sickness happens
For some people, emetophobia develops after a difficult experience with illness. For others, there is no obvious reason at all - which can feel confusing and frustrating.
What usually happens, however, is that life slowly starts shrinking.
You may avoid eating out, public transport, travel, pregnancy, crowded places, social events or even being near people who appear unwell. Over time, the anxiety builds because trying to control every possible risk becomes exhausting - and impossible.
The result? Constant hypervigilance, heightened anxiety and, for many sufferers, panic attacks.
The Hidden Impact of Emetophobia
If you have emetophobia, you probably already know how misunderstood it can feel.
People may say things like, “Nobody likes being sick,” without understanding that this is not a dislike - it is an overwhelming fear response that can completely take over daily life.
Many sufferers feel ashamed or embarrassed and hide their fears from family, friends or partners. Some become highly focused on hygiene, food safety or contamination. Others stop doing things they once loved.
You may even feel trapped by your own thoughts.
The good news is: this can change.
Can Emetophobia Be Treated?
Yes.
One of the biggest myths about emetophobia is that it is untreatable - or that you simply have to “learn to live with it.”
That is not true.
Another common fear is that treatment means being forced into distressing exposure exercises.
That is not how I work.
My emetophobia programme is gentle, effective and does not involve exposure therapy.
Over approximately 5–6 weekly sessions (sometimes fewer), I help you understand how your fear response and thinking patterns are operating at a deep level. Once you understand why your mind is responding this way, it becomes possible to challenge those unhelpful patterns and stop feeling controlled by fear.
People with emetophobia often feel powerless. They feel as though vomiting would be unbearable, catastrophic or impossible to cope with. Over time, this creates escalating anxiety and panic.
The work we do together helps you regain a sense of calm, confidence and control - often much faster than people expect.
Online Emetophobia Treatment — Wherever You Are
Sessions are conducted online via Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp or Messenger, making treatment simple, private and accessible wherever you are in the world.All you need is a phone, tablet or computer and a good internet connection.
Many clients actually prefer online sessions because they can work through treatment from the comfort and safety of home.
Imagine Your Life Without Constant Fear
Imagine eating out without overthinking.
Travelling without panic.
Being around people who are unwell without spiralling into anxiety.
Trusting your body again.
Feeling free.
If emetophobia has been controlling your life, there is help available that genuinely works.
You do not have to continue living around fear.
Reach out today and let’s talk about how you can finally start getting your life back.
There is help available so if you would like to be free of your fear of vomit please either email or call me on 0409 254 500 or email me and we can arrange a free no obligation consultation.
Testimonials
I'm living through what would have normally been my worst nightmare. Went to watch my daughter's first school assembly and in the middle my younger daughter was sick everywhere. And she's been sick 3 times since. But I'm not panicking - I'm calm and in control. It's such a relief! I have just finished the therapy and I can honestly say I feel like a different person. I feel calm, I feel positive but most importantly I have not had a panic attack for several weeks and I have been freed from the claws of emetophobia.
For the past 30 years of my life, I have had a debilitating fear of vomiting in public. Before I had to leave my house I would suffer from panic attacks and would vomit as a result of my phobia. I would starve myself of food all day or make myself vomit, just in case I had to leave my home...I might vomit in public. Over the past 12 years I have spent thousands of dollars on “treatment” for my Social Phobia, Agoraphobia, Panic Disorder, Depression and Emetophobia nothing I tried worked. My life was an absolute mess! My fears were affecting my marriage, my children and my health. I was at breaking point.
I made an appointment to meet with Liz Hogon to try yet another treatment option. I went into this latest venture guarded and sceptical. Within 6 short weeks of meeting Liz and beginning the program, my life has changed dramatically. I used to suffer numerous panic attacks everyday and vomit sometimes as much as 5 times a day. Since completing this program, I haven’t vomited in 4 weeks! Only a short time ago I was terrified of leaving my house and of eating, I now put my two young children in the car and drive to places we have never been and have lunch in public places and I am finally loving my life.
Before discovering this program and working with my supportive consultant Liz, doing these things were unimaginable to me. I was a prisoner trapped by my own negative and obsessive thinking. This program is not a magic cure you have to do the work. But if you want to gain control of your life then this is the program to choose. This programme taught me how to live without fear of my own thinking and I am forever grateful as is my family.
N.B.
(Melbourne, Australia)
I cannot thank Liz enough for helping me work through the programme. I feel so strong facing my fears everyday and living life the way it should be. Liz is an absolute dream to work with. She is compassionate, patient and absolutely hilarious. You will not regret working with her :-)
SB xx
(Canberra, Australia)
After years of trying what I thought was everything to try and cure my Emetophobia, I did one last search on the Internet and came across Liz Hogan, and I`m sure glad I did. Little did I know how easy it was overcome my fear and the programme was a real eye opener and a life saver. It explained how my negative thoughts and actions were not only conforming my fear, but contributing to other issues in my life such as self esteem and social anxiety. It taught me simple ways in which I can become a more positive, confident person and ultimately overcome emetophobia. I learnt so much from the program.
Working through the book with Liz was great. She is a very caring, positive and understanding person, and I felt very comfortable attending her sessions. At the start of the program I was very unconfident and had almost accepted the fact that I would have emetophobia for the rest of my life. After completing the program, I feel much more confident, stress and worry less, and am well on my way to completely recovering from Emetophobia, and I have Liz to thank for that!
C.H.
(Melbourne, Australia)
Before working with Liz, I used to often go into panics and let my anxiety over take my day to day living. I have now learnt to overcome my fears. Working with Liz has not only changed helped my emetophobia, but changed my ways of life and thinking for the better. I have such a clearer way of thinking and understanding of life. This program is a great program to work through and I would recommend it to every one.
JT
(Sydney, Australia)
Before starting this therapy, I was doubtful that it would help. I had gone to several different therapists and an Anxiety and OCD treatment center, which all had promised positive results. Yet, through the nine years of struggling with Emetophobia and the four years I spent in constant therapy, nothing seemed to make a drastic change. I felt like I had lost myself and my love for things that had once made me happy. I was unable to eat before going to school, work, social situations or even in the car because of my overwhelming fear of throwing up. I felt trapped within my own thoughts that were constantly spiraling with the idea that I would be sick if I ate. I was unhealthy due to my lack of food intake and had convinced myself I would be stuck with this phobia for the rest of my life. That is, until I found and worked with Liz.
I found Liz at the end of January, 2022 and am living a completely different life only two short months later! I had worked every aspect of my life around this phobia, and for the first time I am able to say it is no longer in charge. I can not thank Liz enough for making me feel so comfortable and understood. Though I wish I would have found Liz years ago, I completely believe she came into my life at the right time. I am forever grateful for the impact she has made in my life.
Thank you my Australian Goddess!!
H.B.
(Utah, USA)
I started seeing Liz after 12 long years of trying to cure/ find a way to cope with my emetophobia. I wasn’t really sure how it all worked or what to expect and had trouble believing I could ever be helped as I had tried psychologists and self-help courses in the past and nothing seemed to be working.
However, after only 5 sessions with Liz, I am now able to finally take control of my life and start doing the things I love again. I really didn’t think this would ever be possible, let alone in such a short period of time but Liz has amazed me and changed my life.
Liz has turned my life around in a matter of weeks! I noticed improvements after the very first session and just wish I had found her sooner. I cannot thank Liz enough and highly recommend her!
Thanks Liz!
LS (Sydney NSW)
There are further testimonials at lizhogon.com/testimonials