I was naughty and did some research myself, and found there's a condition called gastroparesis where your stomach doesn't empty properly because the nerves controlling this are damaged. There are a few causes but two apply to me, if you've suffered from anorexia (I have since I was 11) and if you're on antidepressants, which I have been for 2 and a half years. These are all possible causes, and I will go to the doctor soon. I've felt a lot better physically these past few days so I hopefully won't be as nervous about going there :) I'm just worried the doctor won't believe me, and there will also be a lot of other ill people there. Definitely as Hugs said before, the fear is far worse than the actual vomiting itself.
It's okay, I compare us to the animal kingdom all the time. I strongly believe in the evolutionary theory, and fight or flight is certainly not anything new. Although, I'm sure we're the only species that actually fears fear itself.
Exactly, everyone on here is so helpful and it's nice to hear other's opinions, it's a good reassurance.
Now that you mentioned that the nausea caused the panic and not the other way around, maybe you should check it out with a doctor. My friend's son throws up quite a lot and found that he just had too much stomach acid and all it required was taking a prescription strength antacid. It could be as simple as that, although going to the doctor sometimes doesn't feel easy to do. Re: the digestive system slowing down and then the blood rushing back to the stomach, could very well be a physical reason for why it happens. I'm not comparing us to animals, but in the animal kingdom, when animals are in flight or fight mode, whether they are attacking or being attacked, sometimes they throw up or go to the bathroom, so they can be more efficient in their flight or fight. It's nature's way of handling it. These are my last ideas on the subject. You've gotten quite a few opinions and you can pick and choose whatever works for you :) I wish you the best with it :)
I have been throwing up quite a bit over the past year, but am scared to go to the doctor. I was coping fine with my panic disorder until the vomiting started. I think in this case, the nausea caused the panic and not the other way around. Hugs, I totally get what you mean, I was quite a sickly kid growing up so it wasn't uncommon for me to feel terribly nauseous yet still not be sick. Although, these times I was sick I honestly don't think there was any way I could have talked myself out of it.
And yes, we aren't the only ones. It's the fifth most common phobia, and there are even online forums much like this one for sufferers. I used to pray whenever I felt sick when I was younger, but now I'm older, I'm not religious so I believe it is up to me. Thank you for your reassurance.
A while ago, Mum asked a friend of ours who's a nurse and she said that during the fight or flight response, all the blood rushes to our muscles, providing oxygen in case we need to run. During this time, our digestive system slows right down. Once we have calmed down, the blood rushes back to our stomach and she said that maybe this might cause vomiting.
That sounds like an awful experience Davit, but it's great that you were able to go back to the hospital afterwards. I haven't found the courage yet to go back to the places I was sick, which includes my school and the university I'm hoping to go to next year. Maybe one day!
On the other hand. I had a panic attack once when I was very sick probably due to food poisoning. I did puke my guts out and I must say I felt better after but the attack was still there. It didn't help being two in the morning in a strange hospital.
I did manage to hold it off for quite a while with coping skills before giving in, but the load was just too much.
It didn't affect my ability to go back to that hospital either. I wrote it off as just an experience.
Remember your body and mind are unique and this could happen. I haven't researched many cases or heard of this happening. Your best to talk to your doctor if this is actually happening, to rule out anything medical as well.
Hope it's okay to jump in and give my opinion on your question. I honestly don't believe you can throw up from a panic attack. What I do believe is that your mind is powerful and if you believe you are going to throw up, you will and if you don't believe you are going to throw up, you won't. I've talked myself out of throwing up many times. I have the same phobia. My Mom has helped me a lot with it over the years. I would call her in a panic saying that I felt like I was going to be sick and she'd say, "No, you're not. You're fine. You're not going to throw up." And, she prayed that I wouldn't throw up and I agreed in prayer with her and I believed I wouldn't throw up, even if I was scared. And, I didn't. It's more of a psychological game with yourself. I do understand that sometimes people throw up for a physical reason, a virus or bad food. But, 9 times out of 10, for me it was just fear. I hope this helps you :) I've since found out that there are many people who fear throwing up and I thought I was the only one :) I honestly believe you won't throw up during panic and if you believe it too, you won't :)
Myth: My heart is thumping during anxiety attacks, is it the symptom of a Heart Attack?
Fact: Many people misinterpret the symptoms of the fight / flight response and believe they must be having a heart attack. The major symptoms of heart disease are breathlessness and chest pain as well as occasional palpitations and fainting. The symptoms in heart disease are generally directly related to effort.
It is important to note that the heart disease will almost always produce major electrical changes in the heart, which are picked up very obviously by an ECG (Electro Cardio Gram). In panic attacks the only change, which shows up on the ECG is a slight increase in heart rate.
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