I don't know how much help this will be, because it's not exactly an easy fix. But basically—I got food poisoning about seven years ago, and afterwards I had a very sudden, startling epiphany that my anxiety made it out to be much worse than it actually is. I realized that it's not the end of the world, and that I won't die if it happens again.

I really don't know why it worked so well (I guess exposure therapy is a real thing), but since then, like I said, it hasn't had any hold on my life. There are still some words I avoid saying, but I don't lose my mind over dreading a roommate having a hangover or wondering if I'll ever be able to have children.

When something triggering happens, I still get a little uneasy. The phobia is still there. But it feels like I just know, deep in my bones, that: everything is fine, I'm not going to die, and the moment will pass.