Overcoming Emetophobia (Vomit Phobia) with a CBT Therapist

Apr 20

Updated: June 10, 2025

If fear of vomiting affects what you eat, where you go, or if you leave the house, you're not alone. Emetophobia, or vomit phobia, can be overwhelming, but there is help available.

Working with an emetophobia therapist can give you the tools to feel more in control, one small step at a time. At Virtual CBT, we specialize in therapy for emetophobia. In this post, you’ll learn what emetophobia is, how it shows up in everyday life, and how treatment can help you. You deserve support—reach out today to connect with a therapist who understands.

Book a free consultation to learn how a CBT therapist can help. If you're ready to work with a caring and experienced emetophobia therapist in Ontario, we're here to help. Click the tab below to get started.

* Must be an Ontario resident. Our therapy fees.

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What is Emetophobia?

Emetophobia is the the fear of vomiting or throwing up. Some people also call it the fear of barf or the fear of vomit. Someone with emetophobia experiences intense and persistent anxiety and fear around the possibility of vomiting or seeing others throwing up.

Emetophobia vs Other Mental Health Disorders

You will need to determine what your “core fears” are to determine if it is truly emetophobia. You can ask yourself: what I am worried will happen if I vomit? Or, what I am worried will happen if someone else vomits?

If you struggle with the act of vomiting or seeing other people barf, you could be struggling with emetophobia.
If you worry about others judging you if you vomit, then you might be struggling with social anxiety. Learn more about CBT for social anxiety.
If you worry about getting contaminated by vomit, you might be dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Read more on OCD and emetophobia.
If you worry about everything, you may be dealing with symptoms of generalized anxiety.

We offer online psychological assessments if you would like a formal diagnosis before starting treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Emetophobia

The fear of barfing can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. These may include:

Intense emotions like anxiety, disgust or shame. You may even be struggling with symptoms of depression because you feel hopeless and different.
Avoidance of situations, places or activities that may trigger anxiety or vomiting. For example, you might avoid: certain foods (eg. chicken or sushi), young children, groups of people, avoiding sick people and children, public washrooms, alcohol, etc.
Obsessive thoughts and rituals (or safety behaviours) around cleanliness or avoiding germs. People with a fear of vomit may try to stay safe by overcooking meat, washing their hands too much, throwing out food early, using lots of hand sanitizer, cleaning often, or distracting themselves from anxiety. People may also carry a water bottle with them, or anti-nausea medications like Gravol.
Physical symptoms when thinking about vomit, such as nausea, sweating, and rapid heartbeat.
Catastrophic thoughts about vomiting, like “I will never stop vomiting”, “people will judge me”, “I won’t be able to cope”, I could choke on my vomit and die”, and “I could lose control”.

Emetophobia: What Is It and How To Treat It? (Source: Kati Morton)

Prevalence of Vomit Phobia

If you struggle with emetophobia - you are not alone! According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), specific phobias, including emetophobia, are among the most prevalent anxiety disorders in the United States. Phobias affect about 7-9% of the population at some point in their lives.

This phobia can significantly impact your daily life. It can make it difficult for you to engage in normal activities, such as going to school, work, or social events. You may even avoid a lot of things like certain foods, young children, or social settings.

Causes of Emetophobia

The exact causes of emetophobia are not well understood. Researchers believe a mix of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors likely causes it. Traumatic experiences can also contribute to the development of emetophobia (e.g. severe illness or a bad experience with vomiting).

Overall, there are probably several reasons why you developed a fear of vomiting. If you can’t identify any causes - no worries - sometimes we develop phobias for no particular reason.

Person is walking over a bridge — "*Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it*." - Nelson Mandela

Therapy for Emetophobia

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of counselling that is particularly effective for treating emetophobia. CBT involves identifying and challenging the thoughts and behaviours that contribute to anxiety and fear.

Book a free consultation to learn how CBT can help (*for Ontario, Canada residents only).

Emetophobia Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a type of CBT treatment that gradually exposes the person to the feared object or situation. This is done in a safe and controlled way. Exposure therapy is the gold standard therapy to help people overcome their fear of vomiting.Learn more about exposure therapy for anxiety.

Examples of exposures for emetophobia:

Writing trigger words (e.g. vomit, barf, puke, hurl, gag)
Write trigger sentences (e.g. I will vomit)
Looking at images of vomit or people vomiting
Watching videos of people vomiting
Listening to the sounds of people vomiting
Making fake vomit
Approaching places that you avoid because of the fear of vomiting
Spending time around kids without using safety behaviours
Imaginal exposure of your worst fears coming true
On occasion, interoceptive exposure should also be integrated into treatment (e.g. purposely feeling dizzy or like you could gag or vomit)

Eliminating Safety Behaviours

An effective treatment plan will also include stopping safety behaviours. This is something that therapists often overlook. Many therapists will unknowingly teach you safety behaviours or "coping tools". If you struggle with emetophobia, you may have quite a few of these.

Although these behaviours make you feel better in the short term, they could worsen your long-term symptoms. To learn more about safety behaviours.

A good treatment plan will help you write out a plan to drop your safety behaviours. You can stop all your behaviours at once, or you can gradually cut them out.

Medications for Emetophobia

If your emetophobia is severe, talk to your doctor or a psychiatrist about whether medication could help. Medication is a good treatment option if you can't or don't want to do therapy. In general, some people will need a combination of mental health counselling and medication.

Alternative Emetophobia Treatment

For those looking beyond traditional therapies, several alternative approaches can help manage emetophobia.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR can serve as a valuable alternative treatment for people dealing with phobias. Although most research focuses on PTSD, studies suggest that EMDR may also help reduce anxiety related to phobias.

EMDR helps by processing memories and altering the emotional responses associated with fears. Case studies have demonstrated improvements in phobic reactions following EMDR therapy (Ironson et al., 2002). Read more about the benefits of EMDR.

Meet our EMDR Therapist, Catherine Sullivan, RSW, MSW. Discover the differences between CBT and EMDR.

Mindfulness for Emetophobia

Research supports the use of mindfulness in managing anxiety and stress. Studies show that these practices can improve emotional regulation. This means that it may help with anxiety related to emetophobia (Keng et al., 2011). It’s important to practice mindfulness regularly to see its full benefits.

Will I Have to Make Myself Vomit to Overcome Emetophobia?

No, you don’t have to make yourself vomit to overcome emetophobia. Facing a fear doesn’t mean experiencing the worst-case scenario. CBT focuses on understanding and managing your reactions to the fear without needing to actually vomit.

CBT uses gentle, gradual steps to help reduce anxiety around vomiting. The goal is to build your comfort and confidence over time without forcing you into distressing situations. Exposures should feel challenging but manageable.

Tips for Managing Emetophobia

People with emetophobia can also try a few simple ways to manage their fear and anxiety. These may include:

Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation. It’s best to schedule a time to practice relaxation techniques so that it does not become a “safety behaviour” . A safety behaviour helps you to feel better in the short-term but will maintain your symptoms in the long term.
Consider gradually cutting back your avoidant behaviours and stopping your safety behaviours.
Challenging negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety and fear using a thought record.
Learn how to practice mindfulness.

The fear of barf can be a crippling anxiety disorder, but it is also treatable. With the right support and treatment, people with emetophobia can learn to manage their anxiety.

If you or someone you know is struggling with emetophobia, it's important to seek professional help and support. Remember that you are not alone and there is hope for recovery.

How to Help Someone with Emetophobia

Supporting someone with emetophobia requires understanding and patience. Here are some ways to help:

Listen Without Judgment. Take time to really listen. Validate their fears without minimizing them, even if you don’t understand. A calm, accepting attitude helps them feel safe.
Be Patient. Recognize that this phobia won’t disappear overnight. Avoid pushing them into situations that might feel overwhelming. Instead, let them set the pace.
Ask What They Need. Everyone’s experience with emetophobia is unique. Ask them what would be helpful in stressful moments or when their anxiety spikes. Some people find it calming to have company, while others may need quiet or reassurance.
Encourage Small Steps. Celebrate any small progress they make. It could be as simple as talking about their fear or making small steps to approach their fears. Small victories build confidence over time.
Educate Yourself. Learning about emetophobia can help you better understand what your loved one is going through. The more informed you are, the better equipped you’ll be to offer meaningful support.
Encourage Professional Help. Let them know it’s okay to seek professional help, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Therapists can guide them through techniques that gradually reduce their fear and help them feel more in control.

Vomit Phobia Resources

Books on Emetophobia

Free Yourself from Emetophobia: A CBT Self-Help Guide for a Fear of Vomiting

The Emetophobia Manual: Free Yourself from the Fear of Vomit and Reclaim Your Life

Websites about Emetophobia

We also like this website on emetophobia for exposure and treatment ideas for vomit phobia (although, you may want to meet with a therapist who can show you how to do exposures, create a fear hierarchy and help you to identify your safety behaviours).

Common Questions About Emetophobia

Can emetophobia cause stomach problems?

Yes, it can. When you're really anxious or afraid of vomiting, your body can react in physical ways. This can lead to stomach aches, nausea, or a tight feeling in your stomach. Anxiety causes these symptoms, not a physical illness. This can cause a vicious cycle of fear and feeling nauseous.

Can emetophobia cause vomiting?

It’s possible, but not common. Most people with emetophobia are so afraid of vomiting that they avoid it at all costs. Sometimes, anxiety can make you feel sick or even throw up, but this doesn’t happen to everyone.

If you vomit from anxiety, you might want to make an appointment with your family doctor.

Who can diagnose emetophobia in Ontario, Canada?

A psychologist, doctor, or psychiatrist can diagnose emetophobia. They will ask you questions about your fears, how long you've had them, and how much they affect your daily life.

You can start getting help without a diagnosis. Many therapists treat this fear and have the training and experience to support you.

We offer online psychological assessments at our clinic (for Ontario residents). Read more about psychological assessments.

How common is emetophobia?

It’s more common than you might think. Some studies suggest that up to 1 in 100 people may struggle with a strong fear of vomiting. It often starts in childhood or the teen years. However, most people don’t like to vomit.

At Virtual CBT, we receive multiple referrals each week for vomit phobia. Book a free consultation to learn how we can help.

Why is emetophobia so common?

Vomiting is uncomfortable, messy, and sometimes happens without warning. It is also disgusting. So it makes sense that some people would fear it.

For others, the fear may come from a bad experience in the past or from seeing someone else get sick. Over time, this fear can grow and start to affect daily life.

Getting Started with an Emetophobia Therapist

Most of the therapists at our mental health clinic are trained in providing exposure therapy for emetophobia. Many of our clients have overcome their anxiety symptoms related to their vomit phobia. Treating emetophobia has become one of our specialties.

You can book a free consultation with a CBT therapist by clicking the tab below. Check your benefits to see if your plan covers psychotherapy by a social worker, psychotherapist, or clinical psychologist. Learn more about our therapy fees.

*The psychotherapists at Virtual CBT Psychotherapy can provide care to Ontario residents (adults, teens and children).