Episode 11: My Personal Emetophobia Story How did I overcome emetophobia? That's a question I get asked pretty often, and the truth is, I don't know if I've completely overcome it. But I've come a long way from where I was at seventeen. In this episode, I'm sharing my personal story of living with emetophobia for nearly twenty years. I talk about how it started with a strange feeling in my throat, turned into constant nausea and panic attacks, and eventually got so bad that I dropped out of high school. I spent almost an entire year barely leaving my house, playing RuneScape, avoiding friends, and being terrified of everyday things like eating food from my own refrigerator. Then I made a pretty crazy decision. I got on a moped and rode eight hours to Traverse City to start a new life. From working at Taco Bell and struggling with relationships to dealing with alcohol, panic attacks, and some genuinely awful experiences, I share the things that shaped my journey. I also get into what actually helped me improve: learning how anxiety works, practicing mindfulness, taking baby steps, using my little one-two-three method, changing how I remember past experiences, and gradually facing my fears through exposure. And now, with a wife and a baby on the way, I can look back and see just how much my life has changed. I'm not cured. I still have emetophobia. But it doesn't control my life the way it used to. This episode is about how I got from there to here, including the mistakes, the setbacks, and the things that genuinely helped. If you're struggling with emetophobia right now, I hope hearing my story reminds you that things can change, even when it feels like they never will. A quick content note: This episode includes discussions of panic attacks, alcohol misuse, vomiting experiences (without graphic detail), and exposure therapy. If exposure-related discussions are uncomfortable for you, feel free to skip that portion near the end. I'm sharing my personal experience, not professional medical advice. Everyone's recovery looks different, and working with a qualified mental health professional can be an important part of getting help. FIND US Website: https://emetophobic.com Help and resources: https://emetophobic.com/resources Ask the podcast (anonymous question or story, or just say hi): https://emetophobic.com/ask Community discussions: https://emetophobic.com/discussions Newsletter (optional): https://emetophobic.com/signup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theemetophobiapodcast/ (@theemetophobiapodcast) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmetophobiaPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5F9y6EqOllx5FB0RqQVWbJ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emetophobia-podcast/id1538031589 Support the show (totally optional, no pressure—it helps cover costs): https://buymeacoffee.com/emetophobia Share your story or question with me by email: theemetophobiapodcast@gmail.com Thanks for hanging out with me today. You're not alone.