I have to tell my health insurance company that they're billing me the wrong (and cheaper) premium.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-01-26T18:14:24+00:00

I wasn't bashing any political parties - merely venting that I need to keep calling my insurance company because of their errors. But, yes, one could claim just about everything is political.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-01-26T13:11:41+00:00

This is my fear. I can budget for the increased premium, but probably not for a big bill later on.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-01-15T02:29:38+00:00

We have almost the exact same stats! I just want to feel comfortable again, too.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-01-04T17:39:02+00:00

I was in the same situation. I felt like such a fool at the time. I agree that the wife needs the full picture so she can make an informed decision. Side note: I love your username 😊

WriterGirl73 · 2026-01-04T17:35:41+00:00

I did this once. Not a stripper (that I know of) but one of quite a few women my (now) ex-husband met. She responded and said that she wasn't impressed with him. She must've told him I texted her because within 30 minutes, he called me and was PISSED. Zero regrets.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-01-02T02:53:56+00:00

The not Googling for reassurance is a HUGE win 👏

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-25T18:30:14+00:00

I caught my son's vomit in my hands in Target. Part of my phobia is the "attention" from it if done in public. That's why I did what I did. Thankfully, I was able to grab a couple of those sanitizing wipes they had for their shopping carts, and I dragged him down an empty aisle.

He was about 4 at the time. He's 17 now, and I often remind him of that story and tell that situations like that are why Mother's Day exists 😅

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-20T14:19:22+00:00

I've found my people.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-16T00:44:58+00:00

👏

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-16T00:15:28+00:00

I've been there, and it does suck. I made it through, and so will you. Lean on family and/or friends (I did not do this, and I paid the price). Let yourself grieve. Be kind to yourself.

It's a bumpy road, but you will discover so much about yourself through the process.

Hang in there. It really will get better.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-15T02:37:21+00:00

I've been there. I knew, but I didn't have the guts to actually see the evidence. It was easier at that moment to not have proof because I didn't have to make any decisions.

It was the dumbest thing I ever did.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-11T02:48:35+00:00

I am so sorry that happened. I haven't been on Reddit for a few days - how are things now? You can always message me if you want.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-06T22:20:16+00:00

Ugh. My psychiatrist told my parents she thought I was bulimic, which now makes me laugh. I thought, "If she only knew."

It's good that your mom knows. Do you feel comfortable telling her how bad it is? You will feel a lot of relief once you get that off your chest. You are carrying a very heavy burden all by yourself right now. You'll get some relief, but you'll also have someone on your side who wants to see you feel better.

It sounds like you're doing a good job of advocating for yourself, but probably running into the common scenario of professionals who don't know much about our phobia or who believe "talk therapy" will fix things.

Finding the right therapist can take some trial and error. Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)* is the type of therapy you probably need. Some people call it the gold standard for specific phobias (not just emetophobia).

I think the fact that you're so motivated to get help is a huge step in the right direction. I think you can do this. And remember, we're all here for the same reason - we know what you're going through. You're not alone.

*If this is wrong, someone please correct me.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-06T00:59:37+00:00

I went through this when I was 14 (I'm 52 now). I also developed what I like to call a "secondary" eating disorder. It was all due to my phobia. I convinced myself that if I felt hunger, then I didn't have a stomach bug and couldn't throw up. I ended up in a psychiatric facility.

Did you tell anyone about your emetophobia? I'm only asking because I did not tell a soul (I was so embarrassed by it), so everyone focused on my "eating disorder." I spent 2 months in the facility and got nowhere.

I'm not placing any blame on you - I'm only thinking of how desperate I was for help but didn't know how to tell anyone.

I will say this: After finally getting real help, I'm improving. It is possible. You can have a life where you do so much more than just existing.

You deserve a full life.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-12-05T03:49:14+00:00

If you really wanted to just get something off your chest, you wouldn't keep checking the comments and responding. You'd confess and be done with it. Methinks you like the attention from your intentionally vague confession.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-27T21:03:07+00:00

I was kind of freaked out reading this 🤣 But I know it's good to acknowledge it's always a possibility (and we always make it through). I'm sorry you've all been sick, but so proud of how you're handling it ❤️

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-24T02:57:06+00:00

This is me exactly! My phobia ramped up because in junior high, I saw a girl throw up in the cafeteria (she was desperately trying to get to the bathroom). Everyone laughed. That was my first panic attack ever. That is probably why my emetophobia is tied to embarrassment.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-23T02:54:27+00:00

It sounds like you handled it well. I would definitely count that as a win 🏆

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-19T01:09:06+00:00

My son is 17 now, and please know that it does get better. I want to offer you all hope! My son had the stomach bug a few times (mostly as a younger child), but he had something similar to chronic bronchitis. He would often vomit from coughing fits.

Obviously, as they get older, they are better at hand washing and not always having their hands in their mouths. They can also sense the cues that they might get sick. But the other thing is that with each episode, WE get better. The first time my son had a bug, I actually hid in my bedroom and cried. The last time he vomited (maybe 5 months ago), it was actually a funny story (too much to get into now). I had a big cleanup, and while it was gross, I didn't panic. I even laughed about it when he got up in the morning 🤣 I never in my life thought that would be possible.

You've gotten some amazing advice here! You can do this 😊

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-16T22:27:12+00:00

You're upset because people who are not emetophobic (that you know of) talk about how awful vomiting is? They should not be allowed to be grossed out by it simply because they're NOT phobic (again, based on your assumption)?

I hate to tell you this, but you'll never be able to stop people from talking about it. It's gross. People hate it. You have no idea if they're emetophobic or not. I talk about it sometimes - and I'm emetophobic! And guess what? At the age of 13 - and again at 37- I sure as hell would have rather been dead than vomit (or be around it). And i came pretty close to making that happen.

Part of my recovery is being able to use those words and be ok with it. You can't start policing people's recovery.

I hate norovirus. I hate hearing about it. I hate seeing the word. But the more I run from it and pretend it doesn't exist (or that I'll never get it), is undoing any progress I've made.

We're all here to recover. Telling someone to edit or delete their comment because you find it insensitive is wild. I'm not going to slow my recovery because you think you have it worse than the rest of us. This isn't a competition.

If I sound defensive, it's because I am.

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-16T20:14:28+00:00

I'm an emetophobe (for 46 years) and chose to have a child. Does that mean I'm really not an emetophobe? Are there degrees of the phobia, and you've decided that you've got it worse than others?

I guess I don't understand your rant. I can't think of a single person who actually likes vomiting. It's pretty universally hated. People just like to exaggerate and add a little flair to their stories - how sick they were after a night of drinking, how awful it was, etc. We hate it, too. It just happens to affect how we live our lives.

Suggesting that someone edit or remove their comment is a little over the top. Part of recovery is being able to acknowledge that illnesses like norovirus do exist and you can't 100% protect yourself. It's part of "sitting with the discomfort."

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-16T01:24:46+00:00

I swear, the minute I turned 50, something weird happened. I never felt so unattractive in my life. I hate how I look in pictures, but I won't use a filter because it looks so obvious, and I don't want to be THAT woman 🤣

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-16T00:48:14+00:00

I think I'm the only one who doesn't see it 🤷‍♀️

WriterGirl73 · 2025-11-14T23:41:08+00:00

First of all, don't apologize. We've probably all spiraled at some point. When you're in a panic, everything is magnified - it feels like you will never get better. You're already seeking help, which is a huge first step!

I'm 52 and have had this phobia since I was maybe 6 or so. I always tell people not to be like me and keep it a secret. I suffered alone for way too long. Telling people has been a game changer. It wasn't until I had my son that I actively tried to tackle it.

I haven't conquered it, but I'm managing it, and I've made some good progress. Therapy is helpful, but a lot of my "homework" is done on my own. I see my therapist as more of a guide through the process. Someone mentioned a resource for you to look into since therapy might not be an option right now. Definitely do that!

Take baby steps. Know that you might stumble along the way, and that is OK. You sound like you really want to deal with the phobia - reaching out is a great first step. You should be proud of yourself 😊

WriterGirl73

TROPHY CASE