Learning How to Meal Plan with Emetophobia

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

Many people may not be as familiar with Emetophobia as well as other types of phobias and fears, however, it is a reality that countless individuals struggle with.

The Fear of Vomiting

Emetophobia is defined as an intense, irrational fear or anxiety related to vomiting. This can include a fear of seeing vomit, a fear of vomiting in public, the fear of seeing someone else vomit (or the action of vomiting), or the fear of being nauseated. While many might dismiss this as an illegitimate fear compared to other fears, those who struggle with emetophobia can attest to how debilitating this phobia might be.

Individuals who struggle with emetophobia commonly experience a fear of eating food that has not been prepared themselves or food outside of their own home for fear of becoming sick and vomiting. Other people with emetophobia may restrict their food intake due to the belief that they will be less likely to vomit if their stomach is “empty”.

This can lead to extreme weight loss, which can result in a host of medical complications, such as cardiovascular issues, fatigue, dizziness, poor bone health and more.

Seeking Professional Help

If you or someone you know is dealing with emetophobia and an overall poor dietary intake, it is important to seek out professional help and treatment. Treatment for emetophobia should be comprehensive and include a counselor, psychiatrist, and registered dietitian, who can be helpful with meal planning.

While learning how to meal plan to eat successfully is an important piece of the puzzle, a person dealing with emetophobia also needs to effectively address any underlying issues related to their phobic, such as comorbid psychiatric disorders, anxiety, and more.

Meal planning with a registered dietitian can help a person with emetophobia learn how to put together meals for themselves while assisting them with a guide for adequately feeding and nourishing their body over the course of a day.

Having some exposure therapy to some foods that a person might be fearful of can also be helpful in renegotiating foods and eating with emetophobia. Maintaining health and wellness is possible with the guidance of professionals who can support recovery from emetophobia.

 

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About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on March 8, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com