17_ by H2Newsmagainze

NOVEMBER 2017

OPINION 17

Shedding light on

EMETOPHOBIA /əˌmedəˈfōbēə/

Sydney Hirt Staff Writer Emetophobia is defined as an irrational fear of vomit and getting sick. That sort of thing is not typically dealt with every day, so it sounds simple to avoid. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it seems. Emetophobia is not just being grossed out by vomit, which is a common misconception. Everybody is grossed out by vomit, but emetophobia takes it to another level. People with emetophobia are known to experience severe panic attacks and mental breakdowns when they are faced with someone who is sick, or if they themselves become sick (The Independent). Unlike other phobias like astraphobia, the fear of thunder, or cynophobia, the fear of dogs, emetophobia cannot be planned for and accommodated ahead of time. One with astraphobia could wear headphones to block out the sound, and someone with cynophobia could take extra care to make sure where they are going will be dog-free. Unfortunately, it is different with emetophobia. People can’t typically predict when and where they’re going to be sick, making leaving the house an obstacle of its own. People with emetophobia tend to be sheltered, isolating themselves for fear of an incident occurring if they were to leave their houses (BBC). Any place could be dangerous, especially places where children, animals or anyone else who cannot communicate that they could be ill are present. Not only does emetophobia make daily planning difficult, but it can also shape one’s entire future. People with emetophobia have to be careful if they are going to have a pet, especially if they’re living alone. Animals that are capable of being ill, like cats and dogs,

are not an option, leaving only small animals like rodents. If someone with emetophobia chooses to have children, they will have trouble during pregnancy if they experience morning sickness or are in the scenario that their child is sick. Not only does the latter bring about the issue of being around vomit, but also the issue of feeling powerless if they are ultimately incapable of helping their child. Some people develop this phobia after a traumatic event. For me specifically, one sticks out in my mind. This occurred in the fifth grade, so I was 10 at the time. That morning, my best friend was talking to me about how he had felt sick. I didn’t think anything of it, as he had played it off as a joke. He remained rather talkative throughout the day, so I assumed he was feeling better. I had shoved the conversation we had that morning to the back of my mind. We sat together at lunch that day, and out of nowhere, he got sick. My first instinct was to get as far away from the scene as possible, so I leapt up from my seat and practically sprinted across

the cafeteria; I wasn’t afraid of people staring or laughing at me. I had bigger things to worry about. I heard voices, but my brain wasn’t processing what they were saying. All I could focus on was my pounding heart. I tried to keep it together throughout the rest of the day, focusing all my energy on trying to quell my rushed breaths and spasm-like shivering. I gave in eventually and told my teacher I wasn’t feeling good. She remarked on how pale I looked, and I was quickly sent to the clinic. I went home within a half hour of showing up, as I was suffering from a panic attack. Emetophobia is not the hidden, rare phobia that people like to believe it is. According to Vice, it is suffered by 8 percent of the American population, most of which are women. “No one likes the topic of vomit,” they’ll say, but refuse to see the reality of it. It is more than a fear. It is a debilitating hurdle to overcome, and it has no cure. It is not being able to have fun with your friends because of the fear of an incident. It is the fear of not being able to have the future you desire. It is emetophobia.

BY THE NUMBERS

(Fear of Speaking) Glossophobia (Fear of Death) Necrophobia Arachnophobia (Fear of Spiders) Achluophobia (Fear of Darkness) Percentage of Acrophobia (Fear of Heights) Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting) U.S. Citizens Sociophobia (Fear of Social Interaction) affected by Aerophobia (Fear of Flying) certain phobias Statistics from Statistics Brain and Claustrophoba (Fear of Confined Spaces) Maudsley NHS Trust Agoraphobia (Fear of Open Spaces)

74 68 30.5 11 10 8 7.9 6.5 2.3 2.2 0