Main description:

Emetophobia-the disproportionate fear of vomiting or being in the presence of someone vomiting-affects millions of people yet is seldom discussed. Part-memoir, part clinical history, Dara Lovitz provides a brutally honest account of her life as an emetophobe. Written with her therapist, Dr. David Yusko, her story unravels the mystery of emetophobia.

Lovitz spent years trying traditional talk therapy and self-help books-nothing seemed to reduce her anxiety. In desperation, she tried the radical exposure therapy. With a therapist's guidance, she exposed herself to the thing she had avoided all her life. Within weeks she showed improvement and within months she had overcome emetophobia. The history of exposure therapy for treating emetophobes is covered.

Contents:

Introduction 1
Act 1: Avoidance
One-Growing Up as an Emetophobe 5
Two-Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on My Own 18
Three-The Proverbial Straw That Broke the Proverbial Camel's Back 37
Four-Easing Into Exposure Therapy 51
Five-Learning. Doing. Learning. Repeat. 63
Act 2: Exposure
Six-The History of Exposure Therapy 83
Seven-How the Wonderfully Awful World of YouTube Changed My Life 99
Eight-"Join the Fiesta, Bitches!" 114
Act 3: Maintenance
Nine-Relapses and How to Prevent Them 127
Ten-Maintaining Recovery 142
Eleven-My Life as a Recovering Emetophobe 153
Appendix I: Exposure Therapy Treatment Rationale for Emetophobia 169
Appendix II: Exposure Homework Forms 172
Appendix III: SUDS Thermometer 175
Appendix IV: Instructions for In Vivo Exposure 176
Appendix V: Sample Exposure Hierarchy 178
FAQs with Dr. Yusko 179
References 189
Index 191