Emetophobia is an intense, disproportionate fear of vomiting, seeing someone else vomit or feeling nauseous. People may start avoiding foods that might make them sick, travel, people who are ill and crowded places.

Can anxiety cause nausea?

Yes, anxiety can cause digestive symptoms such as nausea, butterflies in the stomach and loss of appetite. Nausea caused by anxiety usually doesn't lead to vomiting. In emetophobia, this feeling of nausea can trigger the fear and create a vicious cycle.

Can emetophobia be cured?

Emetophobia is a fear that can be worked on with methods such as CBT and gradual exposure. As safety behaviors decrease and feared situations are faced step by step, many people notice significant relief. Working with a professional makes the process easier.

I eat very little because of my fear of vomiting. What should I do?

Skipping meals, greatly reducing the variety of foods you eat or losing weight because of a fear of vomiting needs to be taken seriously. See a doctor and a mental health professional without delay.

Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting): Symptoms and How to Cope

If you panic the moment you feel nauseous, check food expiry dates again and again, or avoid being near someone who's ill or taking long trips, a fear of vomiting may be taking up a large part of your life. Emetophobia is rarely talked about, but it's more common than you might think.

What is emetophobia?

Emetophobia is an intense, disproportionate fear of vomiting, seeing or hearing vomiting, and feeling nauseous, which leads to avoidance. It is considered a specific phobia. People are usually afraid of vomiting themselves; for some, seeing others vomit or the thought that vomiting would bring a loss of control and embarrassment is central.

Nobody likes vomiting; in emetophobia, however, the fear clearly restricts daily life, and any situation that might involve vomiting is perceived as a threat.

What are the symptoms of emetophobia?

Type of symptom	Examples
Bodily	Intense anxiety at any sense of nausea, racing heart, sweating; anxiety itself also causing nausea
Mental	"I'll vomit and won't be able to stop", "If I vomit in front of everyone, I'll be humiliated", "This food will make me sick"
Avoidance	Avoiding restaurants, travel, alcohol, people who are ill, hospitals, certain foods
Safety behaviors	Checking expiry dates over and over, excessive handwashing, overcooking food, always carrying mints or stomach medicine, sitting near the door

There's an important vicious cycle: anxiety causes sensations like nausea and "butterflies in the stomach"; these sensations then trigger the fear "I'm going to vomit".

What causes emetophobia?

Emetophobia often starts in childhood and may be linked to:

A difficult experience of vomiting, your own or someone else's (for example at school, in front of everyone)
Sensitivity to nausea and bodily sensations
Fear of losing control and embarrassment
Avoidance and safety behaviors that widen over time

How can you cope with emetophobia?

The foundation of coping with emetophobia is reducing safety behaviors, experiencing that sensations of nausea aren't dangerous and gradually facing feared situations.

1. Notice and reduce safety behaviors

For one week, write down everything you check, avoid and "take precautions" against. Then reduce them, starting with the easiest: for example, checking an expiry date once and then letting it go.

2. Tell nausea apart from vomiting

Nausea caused by anxiety is very common and most of the time doesn't lead to vomiting. You can remind yourself: "I feel nauseous; this may be a symptom of anxiety. Feeling nauseous doesn't mean I'm going to vomit."

3. Question your thoughts

In the past year, how many times did I feel nauseous, and how many times did I actually vomit?
Even if the worst happened, how would I cope?
Vomiting is unpleasant, but it's usually brief and it passes.

To catch thinking traps, you can use the thought record in our article on catastrophizing.

4. Gradual exposure

Emetophobia can also decrease with gradual exposure. The steps vary from person to person; for example:

Writing and reading the word "vomit"
Reading a short text about vomiting
Looking at a cartoon-style image
Eating a small amount of a food you avoid
Eating at a restaurant, at a table away from the door
Taking a short bus or car trip

Some professionals also work on getting used to bodily sensations through exercises that create mild dizziness or stomach sensations in a safe setting. Because exposure steps in emetophobia can be sensitive, it's best to plan them with a professional.

5. Calm your body

When nausea and anxiety rise, slow breathing, especially lengthening your exhale, can help. The 4-7-8 breathing technique can be used in these moments; but use your breath not to "make the nausea stop at all costs" but to be able to stay with the sensation.

Emetophobia and eating: when to be careful

In some people, emetophobia can lead to seriously restricting food. If you skip meals because of a fear of vomiting, if the variety of foods you eat has become very limited, or if you're losing weight, see a doctor and a mental health professional without delay. This can overlap with eating problems that need to be assessed separately.

When should you seek professional help?

If a fear of vomiting restricts your work, school, travel and social life, affects your eating, or causes great anxiety about things like pregnancy or caring for children, working with a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can be very helpful. CBT and exposure-based approaches are used for emetophobia.

In short

Emetophobia is an intense fear of vomiting and nausea that is fed by avoidance and safety behaviors.
Anxiety can cause nausea too; feeling nauseous doesn't mean you'll vomit.
Reducing safety behaviors, questioning thoughts and gradual exposure planned with a professional are the core steps; if your eating is restricted, seek support without delay.