Handle Emetophobia

Momming with Emetophobia and OCD
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If you’ve happened upon this show, there’s a decent chance you’ve Googled something like… ‘Am I going to throw up?’ or ‘How long until I’m in the clear?’ …or maybe you’ve just spent way too much time trying to not feel nauseous. And if that’s you… We just want to say—you’re not crazy…and you’re definitely not alone.” This podcast is called Handle Emetophobia. And it’s not gonna be about avoiding triggers, it’s not about staying safe, and it’s definitely not about finding a way to never throw up again. It’s about retraining your brain and learning how to actually LIVE… even when your brain

  1. 8 Jul

    DON'T JINX ME! | Magical Thinking & Emetophobia: Why Your Brain Believes It & How To Stop The Cycle | Episode 13

    Have you ever felt like saying the word "throw up" might somehow make it happen? Or found yourself typing "unclaim" in the comments of a TikTok, knocking on wood, avoiding certain words, or believing you've somehow jinxed yourself? If so, you're not alone. In this episode of Handle Emetophobia, Katie and Ally explore magical thinking—one of the most common (and misunderstood) compulsions in OCD and emetophobia. Together they discuss: What magical thinking isWhy jinxes and superstitions feel so convincingThe psychology behind "unclaim" commentsHow magical thinking reinforces OCDPractical ERP exercises to challenge these fearsUsing uncertainty instead of reassuranceHow values-based recovery helps you stop obeying compulsionsAlong the way, they share personal stories, laugh about some of the strange rules OCD creates, and intentionally practice "jinxing" themselves as an exposure exercise. Whether your magical thinking revolves around words, numbers, colors, bedtime routines, clothing, comments on social media, or something completely unique, this episode will help you better understand what's happening in your brain—and how to start breaking free. Because recovery isn't about proving that your jinxes aren't real. It's about learning that even if your brain says, "Maybe..." ...you can handle it.

  2. 1 Jul

    Don't Ruin My Trip!: Traveling With Emetophobia Before Vs. After Recovery | Episode 12

    Traveling can be one of the biggest challenges for people with emetophobia. In this episode of Handle Emetophobia, Katie and Ally talk all about traveling with emetophobia—from airplanes and airports to cruises, road trips, concerts, and vacations. They share the travel safety behaviors they used to rely on, how recovery has changed the way they approach trips, and why acceptance—not certainty—is the key to enjoying life again. Together they discuss: Flying with emetophobiaFear of vomiting while travelingMotion sickness and travel anxietyAirport and airplane fearsTraveling with childrenSafety behaviors and reassurancePacking medications "just in case"Public transportation fearsRecovery wins from recent tripsFun travel "This or That" questions and hot takesYou'll also hear Katie's story about witnessing someone throw up in the TSA line, Ally's experience throwing up on a bus in the Dominican Republic, and an honest conversation about how both of them are continuing to challenge themselves through ERP. If you've ever delayed a vacation, skipped a trip, avoided flying, or spent an entire vacation worrying about getting sick, this episode is for you. Recovery doesn't mean you'll never feel anxious when you travel. It means you don't have to wait until the anxiety is gone before you start living. You can handle it.

  3. 24 Jun

    The Hidden Link Between Emetophobia & Social Anxiety | Handle Emetophobia Ep. 11

    What if people see? For many people with emetophobia, the fear isn't just vomiting—it's vomiting in front of other people. In this episode of Handle Emetophobia, Katie and Ally dive into the hidden relationship between emetophobia and social anxiety. They explore why public embarrassment feels so threatening, why many of us become hyperaware of what other people might think, and how fear can disguise itself as anger and judgment. Katie shares several recent public ERP exposures—including carrying a vomit bag through Target, intentionally making a scene by dropping a drink in public, and practicing telling someone, "I don't feel well." They also discuss the backlash those exposures received online and have an honest conversation about trigger warnings, discomfort, and why recovery sometimes means allowing other people to misunderstand you.  Together they discuss: The fear of throwing up in publicSocial anxiety and emetophobiaPublic embarrassment exposuresFear of judgment and rejectionWhy anger is often fear in disguiseTrigger warnings and personal responsibilityHot takes on recovery and willingnessPractical ways to challenge fear through ERPWhether you're afraid of vomiting in public, being judged by others, or simply making a scene, this episode is a reminder that recovery isn't about controlling the world around you. It's about learning that you can handle whatever the world brings. You can handle it. Natasha Daniels | How To Help Kids When the Fear of Throwing Up Takes Over:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-parenting-survival-raising-kids-with-ocd-anxiety/id1205679186?i=1000771845927FearCast Podcast | Trigger Warnings with Nathan Peterson, Kelley Franke, and Lauren Rosen:https://youtu.be/E8dNG7t4aLE?is=80b1IoaH3UvPlzwAYour Anxiety Toolkit | "But My Fear Is Different" -- The Anxiety Trick That's Derailing Your Recovery (with Drew Linsalata):https://youtu.be/YJDF6FyyBxk?is=pAAcdcF0pbsc9GRI

  4. 17 Jun

    Raising A Child With Emetophobia | Ally's Parents Tell Their Side | Handle Emetophobia Ep. 10

    What is it like to raise a child with emetophobia before you even know emetophobia exists? In this episode of Handle Emetophobia, Katie and Ally welcome Ally's parents to share their perspective on her childhood, family life, and recovery. They talk openly about the early signs of anxiety, the accommodations they unknowingly made, the challenges of supporting a child with a phobia they didn't understand, and how their perspective has changed over the years. You'll hear conversations about: Childhood emetophobiaFamily accommodationsParenting through anxiety and OCDRecovery from a loved one's perspectivePublic vomiting, health anxiety, and difficult memoriesSupporting recovery without reinforcing fearWhat they wish they had known years agoThis episode is honest, funny, emotional, and filled with grace—for parents, for families, and for anyone who has ever looked back and thought, "I did the best I could with what I knew." Whether you're the one living with emetophobia or you're supporting someone who is, this conversation is a reminder that recovery is rarely a solo journey. The goal isn't to stay safe.It's to realize that you don't have to be.

  5. 10 Jun

    Are They Hurting Your Recovery? | When Family Enables The Phobic | Handle Emetophobia Ep. 9

    What happens when the people who love you most are accidentally helping your emetophobia stay alive? In this episode of Handle Emetophobia, Katie and Ally talk about family accommodations—the ways spouses, parents, friends, and loved ones can unknowingly reinforce emetophobia and OCD through reassurance, avoidance, other safety behaviors, and attempts to reduce anxiety. We discuss: • Reassurance-seeking and why it never truly satisfies anxiety • How accommodations become part of the fear cycle • The challenges family members face when trying to support recovery • Parenting children with emetophobia • The difference between helping and enabling • Why loved ones sometimes need to be willing to make us uncomfortable • How families can become powerful allies in recovery This episode is equal parts practical, funny, honest, and challenging. If you've ever asked someone, "Do you think I'm sick?" or "Do you think this food is safe?"—or if you've been the person answering those questions—this conversation is for you. Recovery isn't about staying safe. It's about learning that you can handle uncertainty—and helping the people around you learn that too. You can handle it.

  6. 3 Jun

    I Didn't Want Kids! | Being Afraid Of Having Kids Because Of Emetophobia | Emetophobia Recovery | Handle Emetophobia Ep. 8

    Can you be a good parent if you have emetophobia? In this episode, Katie and Ally tackle one of the biggest questions many people with emetophobia quietly wrestle with: pregnancy, parenting, and raising children while living with a fear of vomiting. They discuss fears around morning sickness, labor, stomach bugs, sick kids, and the reality of how emetophobia can affect family life. They also share personal stories about pregnancy, motherhood, safety behaviors, mom guilt, recovery, and what happens when the thing you're most afraid of becomes part of everyday life. This is an honest conversation about fear, values, uncertainty, and why recovery matters—not just for you, but for the people you love. If you've ever wondered whether emetophobia should determine whether you have children, this episode is for you. Topics discussed: Pregnancy and emetophobiaMorning sickness fearsParenting with OCDStomach bugs and sick childrenSafety behaviors in motherhoodMom guilt and anxietyExposure and response prevention (ERP)Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Recovery while raising kidsBecause the goal isn't to stay safe. The goal is to learn that you can handle life—even when it's uncertain. 💛 Join the HANDLE Community: https://handle.mn.co/ Dr. Max Maisel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmaxocd/ OCD SoCal: https://ocdsocal.org

  7. 27 May

    The Goal Is Not to Stay Safe | Emetophobia & Safety Behaviors | Handle Emetophobia Ep. 7

    In this episode of Handle Emetophobia, Katie and Ally talk about one of the biggest things keeping emetophobia and OCD alive: safety behaviors. From chewing gum, taking Zofran, avoiding situations, distracting ourselves, mentally preparing for worst-case scenarios, and trying to prevent nausea at all costs — we unpack the many ways fear convinces us we need these behaviors to stay safe. We discuss: Safety behaviors and compulsionsAcceptance vs. controlExposures vs. “experiments”Parenting with emetophobiaFear of airplanes, stomach bugs, and public vomitingThe placebo effect and anti-nausea medicationWhy recovery requires willingness instead of certaintyThe conversation is honest, funny, emotional, and deeply relatable for anyone struggling with emetophobia, OCD, panic, or health anxiety. The goal of recovery is not to stay safe.The goal is to learn that you don’t need to be.

  8. 20 May

    How To Start Recovery From Emetophobia | Episode 6

    “How do I actually start recovery?” We’ve been getting this question constantly lately, so in this episode we sat down and talked honestly about what beginning recovery REALLY looked like for us. Katie shares what it was like realizing she’s now weaning off therapy after a year of ERP work, while Ally talks about just beginning OCD therapy and feeling completely overwhelmed by how big recovery can seem at first. We walk through:• the OCD/emetophobia cycle• triggers, feared stories, and safety behaviors• reassurance seeking and mental compulsions• why exposures aren’t usually the first step• how delaying compulsions helped us• the importance of values and finding your “why”• acceptance, uncertainty, and willingness• why recovery is uncomfortable… but worth it We also get very real about parenting with emetophobia, health anxiety, avoiding discomfort, and the fear of vomiting itself. And maybe most importantly:The goal of recovery is not to stay safe.The goal is learning that you don’t need to. If you’re feeling hopeless, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin, we hope this episode helps you take your first step.

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If you’ve happened upon this show, there’s a decent chance you’ve Googled something like… ‘Am I going to throw up?’ or ‘How long until I’m in the clear?’ …or maybe you’ve just spent way too much time trying to not feel nauseous. And if that’s you… We just want to say—you’re not crazy…and you’re definitely not alone.” This podcast is called Handle Emetophobia. And it’s not gonna be about avoiding triggers, it’s not about staying safe, and it’s definitely not about finding a way to never throw up again. It’s about retraining your brain and learning how to actually LIVE… even when your brain

Information

  • Creator
    Momming with Emetophobia and OCD
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Momming with Emetophobia and OCD
  • Show Website
    Handle Emetophobia