When Fear Feels Bigger Than the Body: Supporting Children with Emetophobia

At Mable Therapy, we’ve recently seen a noticeable increase in referrals for children and teens struggling with Emetophobia—a specific phobia characterised by an intense fear of vomiting, seeing others be sick, or feeling nauseous. It’s a condition that can be deeply distressing, not only for the child experiencing it but also for the parents, carers, and educators supporting them.

While it's normal for children to dislike being sick, Emetophobia goes far beyond that. For some young people, the fear becomes so overwhelming that it starts to shrink their world—impacting their eating habits, social life, school attendance, and even their sense of safety in their own bodies.

So why are we seeing this rise now, and how can we best support these children?

What is Emetophobia?

Emetophobia is more than just a dislike of being ill. It's an anxiety disorder where the fear of vomiting becomes a driving force behind daily decisions. Children with Emetophobia might:

• Avoid certain foods or entire food groups

• Steer clear of social events where illness might be present

• Obsessively wash hands or check expiration dates

• Refuse to go to school or participate in activities like sleepovers

• Experience panic attacks or high levels of distress at the thought of someone being unwell

It's important to note that many children won’t—or can’t—articulate that vomiting is at the heart of their anxiety. Instead, we may see avoidance, meltdowns, tummy aches, or restrictive eating, which can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis or delayed support.

How Therapy Can Help

Therapists take a gentle, child-centred approach to treating Emetophobia. Therapy isn’t about jumping straight into exposure or forcing children to face their fears. It’s about building trust, safety, and understanding—laying the foundation before moving toward gradual change.

Here's how we help:

1. Making the Invisible ,Visible

Children often struggle to describe their fears. We use creative tools—like drawing, storytelling, and play—to help them externalise their anxiety and see it as something they can work with, not be ruled by.

2. Understanding the Body

Emetophobia can cause children to become hyper-vigilant about bodily sensations. Therapists can teach them how anxiety affects the body, helping them distinguish between a tummy ache caused by nerves and one caused by illness.

3. Building Coping Strategies

We support children in developing personalised coping tools—like grounding techniques, breathing exercises, and safe scripts for anxious thoughts—so they can feel more in control when anxiety strikes.

4. Supporting the Family

Parents, carers, guardians and teacher play a huge role. We provide guidance on how to respond with compassion, avoid reinforcing avoidance, and create a supportive home environment that doesn’t fuel the fear.

5. Gradual Exposure (When Ready)

For some children, gradual exposure to the idea of sickness is a helpful step—but only when they’re ready. This might look like watching a scene in a film, reading a story, or having an open conversation about germs. Always at their pace.

Why the Rise Now?

The increase in Emetophobia referrals isn’t entirely surprising when we consider the context of the past few years:

• The Pandemic: COVID-19 brought health anxieties to the forefront. Children were exposed to constant messages around illness, contagion, and hygiene. For some, this created a blueprint for anxiety that fixated on vomiting as a particularly scary symptom.

• Increased Awareness: Parents and schools are becoming more attuned to children’s mental health. We’re talking more about anxiety and seeking help earlier—which is a good thing, even if the numbers seem to rise.

• Social Media and Information Overload: Children and teens are more exposed than ever to health-related content, which can amplify fears and skew perceptions of risk.

If your child or student is struggling with Emetophobia, know that you're not alone—and neither are they. While the fear may feel irrational from the outside, it’s very real to them. Dismissing it or trying to logic it away rarely helps. What they need is connection, curiosity, and calm.

At Mable Therapy, we’re here to walk that journey with you. With early intervention, the right therapeutic approach, and plenty of patience, children can move past this fear and reclaim the parts of life that anxiety has taken away.

If you’d like to speak with a therapist about Emetophobia or any anxiety-related concern, reach out to our team at Mable. We’re always here to listen.

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