For most people, feeling nauseous or being sick is unpleasant but manageable. For others, the fear of nausea or vomiting, whether themselves or others, becomes so overwhelming it starts to affect everyday life. This intense fear is known as emetophobia, and it impacts about 0.1% of the population.

What is Emetophobia?

Emetophobia is an intense and persistent fear of vomiting. This fear isn’t just about being sick, it can include:

• Fear of feeling nauseous
• Fear of seeing or hearing someone else be sick
• Fear of germs, food poisoning, or contamination that might lead to being sick
• Avoidance of specific foods, social situations, or public spaces where sickness feels more likely

While almost everyone dislikes vomiting, emetophobia is different because the fear can feel constant and debilitating.

In this week's podcast episode, we spoke to Mollie Campbell who lives with ARFID linked to emetophobia. She  explained:

“My ARFID is very based around emetophobia, not completely, obviously, like I struggle a lot with textures as well. But I would say one of the main things to me is the emetophobia side of it.”

For her, it wasn’t just about being sick:

“It’s like a very intense fear of sickness. For me, it’s not just the actual vomiting, I find that feeling sick is worse, because at least when I’m actually sick it’s done and usually it does make you feel better. It’s the nausea I can’t cope with.”

How Does Emetophobia Show Up?

For some, emetophobia leads to small changes, like avoiding particular foods. For others, it can affect every part of life:

• Eating habits: Avoiding certain textures, “unsafe” foods, or undercooked meals. This can sometimes overlap with conditions like ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
• Social life: Avoiding restaurants, travel, parties, or public spaces where people might get sick.
• Daily routines: Constant handwashing, checking expiry dates, or carrying “safe” foods to feel in control.
• Anxiety symptoms: Feeling on edge, scanning for signs of illness, or physical sensations like dizziness or nausea that reinforce the cycle of fear.

Mollie described how intrusive the thoughts could become:

“It was things like, ‘If you go out, you’re going to get sick. If you eat the same thing as someone else, only one of you is going to get sick. If I eat this, my family is going to get sick.’ That was how my eating disorder voice worked.”

Emetophobia and Eating Disorders

Emetophobia is often misunderstood or overlooked, but it can play a major role in the development of eating difficulties. For some, the fear of being sick leads to food avoidance, very restricted diets, or difficulty maintaining weight. This overlap is increasingly recognised in those diagnosed with ARFID, where emetophobia drives the restriction of certain foods.

Unlike anorexia, which involves reducing food intake to impact weight and shape, the main drivers of ARFID revolve around sensory difficulties, a lack of interest in food, or a fear of aversive consequences due to eating, of which emetophobia is included.

As Mollie reflected:

“People always say ARFID has nothing to do with body image, but that doesn’t mean people with ARFID don’t struggle with it. Just because it’s not in the diagnostic criteria doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”

What Helps with Emetophobia?

While emetophobia can feel overwhelming, support and treatment are available:

• Therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy are often recommended. These can help gradually reduce the fear response.
• Gentle exposure: Gradual “laddering” techniques, like putting foods into traffic light categories and gradually working through green → orange → red foods or situations.
• Grounding techniques: Managing panic when fear strikes, such as breathing exercises or self-soothing strategies.
• Support networks: Talking openly with friends, family, or peer groups about the impact of emetophobia.

Mollie shared a technique she found useful:

“One of the most useful things I learned was the traffic light system. Green foods were safe, orange were uncomfortable but possible, and red were terrifying. Slowly, I’d try to move an orange or red food into green by trying a little bit each week.”

She also described how even small changes, like food packaging, could be a huge challenge:

“Even if the food itself hasn’t changed, new packaging can throw me. Only yesterday I panicked because the garlic bread we always buy looked different. I had to remind myself: it’s just the packaging, it’s still the same food.”

These examples show why recovery should be gentle, gradual, and ideally supported by a professional who understands ARFID and emetophobia.

Final Thoughts

Emetophobia is more than just “disliking being sick.” For those who experience it, the fear can shape daily decisions, eating habits, and relationships. But with understanding and support, it’s possible to find relief and regain freedom from the fear.

If you’re struggling, you are not alone. Speaking to a GP, therapist, or eating disorder specialist can be the first step towards support.

Learn More



For a deeper conversation on emetophobia, ARFID and lived experience, listen to our episode with Mollie.

You can also check out ARFID awareness UK for further support.

Sending positive beans your way,
Han 💛