This is a BIG one right? Traveling can be a hot topic and pain point for most with emetophobia, germaphobia, ocd, and health anxieties.
For those with emetophobia, the fear of vomiting, travel, whether for business or pleasure, can be incredibly stressful. One thing all emetophobes have in common is a high desire for control over their lives. This means anything unpredictable, like travel, can feel intensely anxiety-provoking. Here’s my Podcast on “Fearless Travel with Emetophobia”-If you Love it and it’s helpful please give it a Like on the Tube and Comment your own stories!
Clients often share sentiments (before their recovery) like, “I’d love to travel, but it’s too terrifying, getting on a plane is out of the question,” or, “I’ll only travel in a car if I’m driving, know exactly where I’m going, and can leave anytime.” One of my clients even cried at the thought of practicing sitting in the passenger’s seat before overcoming. It’s pretty serious, and it was for me as well before I got my life back.
These thoughts stem from the need to feel in control because emetophobes often feel powerless and are hypervigilant about avoiding any perceived threats.
With emetophobia, many situations are perceived as potential threats simply because there’s no way to guarantee you won’t get sick. This is why our Emetophobia-Free TQ (Thrive Questionnaire) reports often show a high percentage of “fearful cognitions.” Emetophobes not only dislike unpredictability, but fear it scoring highly in their desire for control, a common pattern in their thought processes. The idea is “I don’t like to be out of control” or ” I need 100% certainty and control”…
They also feel a strong need to prepare for worst-case scenarios, wanting full control over the details of what they’re “signing up for.” This need for control is often coupled with high levels of social anxiety and a heightened sensitivity to disgust, as Rob frequently explains-even in how they perceive themselves. These tendencies are further compounded by an intense desire to control their environment, which stems from feeling deeply out of control over their own bodies.
Emetophobia stands out as a unique phobia. Unlike fears of heights or snakes, which can often be avoided, emetophobia centers on a fear of losing control over a natural bodily function, creating a deeply negative, catastrophic, and helpless emotional reaction to the thought of being sick.
When it comes to travel…
New foods, unfamiliar facilities, and unpredictable environments can feel like huge risks, easily being a conducive environment for a sufferer to create anxiety around the possibility of feeling nauseous.
Let’s break this down into what it really means to an emetophobe-unpredictable environments, fear of the unknown, and feeling out of control when you just could not cope with the consequences of the worst case scenarios. Many sufferers have created a safe bubble or predictable world that they believe is protecting them from outside threats and dangers with finely tuned rituals that would remind one of a scientific procedure just to make their breakfasts.
They even have “safe people” and “safe places” they refer to (and I used to also). They are homebodies most of the time and at an extreme level, lean toward agoraphobic tendencies. Many have convinced themselves they have fixed personalities and are simply introverted or homebody type people. Is this true?
I can tell you when you speak to the heart of an emetophobe, when they feel safe with you as their coach, they will all tell you of the dreams they have of travel whether it be just to a local park to walk their pup, to have a sleepover with friends, or their face tends to light up with the bigger ones like seeing the Eiffel tower one day…they tend to look away with a sparkle in their eyes and this is one of my favorite parts of our sessions…when they tell me their goals, hopes, and dreams and we get them Thriving so they can actually live them!
Emetophobes tend to feel to vulnerable to travel fearing various potential outcomes. For some, even the thought of riding in a car with another person, especially someone they don’t know is “safe” can be daunting. A “safe” person is someone who “get’s them” someone who will be supportive and non judgmental no matter what goes down! This is often a parent, best friend, sibling, or partner. It doesn’t mean they are collusive necessarily, but empathetic enough to be kind and helpful if the worst happens. In other words, if they got sick, this person would not “give” them social anxiety in their view. This person would likely accommodate their emetophobe needs with no pushback, so if they need to ride in the front seat, if they are traveling with children and need two hotel bathrooms they’ll buy an extra, if they believe they need to leave dinner from a gas pain that could mean they are sick the person will grab the check lightening fast and rescue them and get them to a safe place like home.
For me this was dad. To this day, if my sweet father sees any distress on my face he will immediately try to offer mitigation no matter what it means for him. This is an admirable trait but it was never helping me challenge my discomfort, fears, or learn to tolerate unpleasant situations! I often remind him now that I’m just having some stomach trouble, to finish eating dinner and we will leave when everyone is ready!
Accommodating emetophobes can be expensive and loved ones and friends may miss out on a lot of experiences. One client from Malta told me a week before we began meeting that she had run off of a plane and felt terrible about a large sum of money she spent on that ticket.
Many times the sufferer experiences shame, guilt, perceived harsh judgement/criticism, and anxiety because of this…and don’t get me wrong, some people are quite harsh and mean but the point here is about the sufferer missing out first and foremost.
You see, running away from hardship creates a lack of coping skills and more feelings of powerlessness and confirms that “throwing up would be the most embarrassing terrible thing in the world and I could not cope with it” which is exactly what maintains the phobia for sufferers.-Coach Lauren
Sometimes, emetophobia sufferers create a double dose of anxiety by fearing the panic attacks they might have even if they don’t actually end up sick. Imagine fleeing a high-class business dinner after flying overseas to close a deal with your boss, only to panic and bolt out of the room. Yes, that has happened to me! These fears aren’t just about being sick; they’re about the potential embarrassment, the loss of control, and the sheer exhaustion that comes from constantly battling your own mind.
“Having Emetophobia feels like you are fighting your own body much of your life” -Coach Lauren
As someone who has been where you are, my goal is to help you tackle these challenges and step into travel—and life—with confidence and calm. The ultimate solution is becoming a Thrivey person because, when you’re thriving, these mental health symptoms no longer control your life.
For now, let’s explore some of the most common travel concerns for emetophobes, and I’ll share how my coaching can help you overcome them. Together, we’ll address those fears tied to vulnerability and control, break down unhelpful thinking patterns, and guide you toward thriving on your next journey.
1. Need to Feel in Control Over Decisions and Environment
Unpredictability, Control, and Travel Challenges for Emetophobes
Travel often feels like stepping into chaos for someone with emetophobia. Unpredictable disruptions, flight delays, schedule changes, or unfamiliar environments can heighten anxiety, particularly when routines are thrown off. Emetophobes tend to feel safe only when they have complete control over their surroundings and decisions. This strong desire for control stems from a belief that managing external factors can prevent vulnerability and discomfort. Unfortunately, this creates a false sense of security that reinforces fear instead of resilience.
Whether it’s turbulence on a plane, unpredictable social situations, or sudden disruptions, emetophobes often interpret these as signs of potential danger.
“Their discomfort isn’t about the event itself but about the fear of losing control and their emotional response to that fear.“-Coach Lauren
I coach my clients to have a more helpful perspective about these situations, seeing them as opportunities to build resilience instead of threats to be avoided. Each time the client takes baby steps in the right direction they realize how powerful they actually are internally.
Coach Lauren Singer 
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