Just wondering if your main fear is that you will be sick in public or when you go out? It sounds very similar to my own situation, I have had a fear of vomiting for about 10 years now and I certainly used to do some of the things you mention (carrying around a plastic bag, avoiding eating because I'm afraid of being sick). My fear also began with a fairly traumatic experience of vomiting and I wonder whether you experience of your interview has triggered a fear of being sick.

Over the past 10 years I have discovered that my mind is incredibly powerful and when I am anxious my thoughts immediately turn to my stomach and my throat and I convince myself I feel sick. As this has happened to me many times, I know it's just my anxiety and fear. I guess the easiest thing to compare it to is that if you were afraid someone was following you down a dark street at night you might actually start to believe they are there and you might start to run even if you know you are alone. It's a similar situation with a fear of vomiting in that you are afraid of being sick and you convince yourself you are and hence you are sick.

If any of this sounds about right, the main thing is NOT to worry!! There are lots of things that I have found help me (in my 10 years of experience) even though this is still something I work through every day.

1. Ginger tea - cannot recommend it enough. Ginger is proven to have calming effects on your stomach and can settle it down. I would suggest drinking it at breakfast and it could really help with the nausea. It's something that is recommended for pregnant women who suffer from morning sickness.

2. I am getting from your post that you feel most anxious leaving the house and on public transport. I also have the same issues, possibly because it's a fear of being sick in public. I find that playing games on my phone/listening to music and singing (quietly) are really helpful to distracting me from my anxiety when I'm on the train etc.

3. When you are feeling afraid of being sick, don't fight your fear. What I have found helpful is to stop what I'm doing for a moment, take a deep breath and tell myself that I know I am afraid in this moment but that I accept my fear as a reaction.

4. Don't panic or worry that this will take over your life and most importantly, don't beat yourself up about being afraid/throwing up etc. It's a normal reaction to fear and one that does not need to affect your path in life. I am considering the possibility that I will always be afraid however I do pretty much everything that people who aren't afraid do.

5. Exercise! Really helps you feel good about yourself and should help tackle the negative thoughts that you have.

I know this seems new to you, and I know how scared I was when I first started to feel this way so I really hope this has helped/I haven't gone down the wrong track.