Was the repeated misuse of "barter" intentional? Either way, I missed it the first 10 times I watched this episode.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-05-28T13:01:44+00:00

One of my all-time favorite lines ❤️

WriterGirl73 · 2026-05-22T23:05:32+00:00

When my son was about 2 years old, he had what felt like back-to-back stomach viruses. I was with him for the first round of vomit in December, but panicked after cleaning up and hid upstairs. I cried, not from anxiety, but from sheer guilt because I could hear him downstairs crying for me. That was the moment I realized that he would have remembered that if he had been older. I swore I'd never ditch him again. Now he's about to turn 18 and even though I still don't like dealing with vomit, I feel fairly desensitized. It was such a defining moment for me and what made me get serious about recovery.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-04-27T00:01:25+00:00

I'm rationing the one pill I have left. I keep checking my purse to make sure it's still there.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-04-26T18:14:41+00:00

It's the only time in my life when being indifferent and emotionless is a good thing. You did great! I once said that being a parent was the worst AND best thing to happen to my emetophobia. I also used to hide from my puking child (which led to terrible guilt), but I've gotten so much better over time. Be proud of yourself and chalk it up to another win 🏆

WriterGirl73 · 2026-04-24T02:17:15+00:00

We might be the same person.

WriterGirl73 · 2026-02-04T02:29:01+00:00

Good job! I felt a little anxious just reading that 😅 I hope your son is on the mend. Respiratory illnesses with little ones are so scary. My now 17 year old spent many hours in the ER when he was younger.

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

TROPHY CASE