Prompt Cast
Understanding Metaphobia: The Fear of Vomiting
TLDR Metaphobia, a specific phobia characterized by a fear of vomiting, can be debilitating and can significantly impact a person's life. Exposure therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is a recommended treatment for metaphobia, helping individuals gradually confront their fear and manage their anxiety.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" discusses a specific phobia called a metaphobia, which is a fear of throwing up.
04:19
A metaphobia is a debilitating fear of vomiting that can overtake your life and is more common among women, with less than 1% of the population suffering from it.
08:33
A traumatic experience can lead to a metaphobia, where the fear of vomiting can escalate to the point of becoming hyper vigilant and constantly worried about throwing up.
12:09
Once the fear of vomiting becomes a phobia, individuals become constantly worried about it and can experience panic attacks when confronted with vomit, even though they are statistically less likely to vomit than the general population.
16:07
Individuals with a metaphobia, or fear of vomiting, can become hyper vigilant and anxious about vomiting, leading to a vicious cycle of anxiety and queasiness, even though anxiety cannot actually make them throw up.
20:09
Individuals with a metaphobia, or fear of vomiting, can have their lives significantly altered and restricted due to their fear, leading to avoidance of travel, certain foods, and even pregnancy, as well as constant worry and anxiety.
24:14
Exposure therapy, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is a recommended treatment for metaphobia, involving gradually exposing the individual to vomit-related stimuli to help them manage their fear and anxiety.
28:18
Exposure therapy for metaphobia can also be done at home using websites like Rate My Vomit, which allows individuals to view vomit-related content as a form of exposure therapy.
32:20
The hosts share a tragic story about their dog suffocating from getting its head stuck in a bag of chips, and they emphasize the importance of keeping plastic bags and other potential hazards away from pets.
Categories:
Society & Culture
