Sunday, February 26, 2012

Getting Sexy Back

I am in a slump....

The pony-tail wearing, T-shirt and jeans type of a slump.

Great for working out - not for every day!

 I have had two amazing children and along the way I forgot I had a sense of fashion. I mean it is like the kids have sucked the sexy out of me.

I used to be a stylish momma who rocked some serious stilettos, a fierce manicure, and some fashionable frocks.

Hanging with Wayne from the Flaming Lips
I used to have a life.

But lately I have felt so darn disconnected from who I was. I feel frumpy.

I am frumpy.

So I am going to try to say good-bye to frumpy me and get my sexy back.

I will put down the cupcakes - I am a sugar addict :(


I enlisted some suggestions from fellow emets and here are the tips I have gathered:

  • Me time is a must
  • Manicures - even if you do them yourself can do wonders
  • Go out and get a pedicure
  • Getting ones hair done can make a world of difference
  • Shopping therapy is not just for single ladies
  • Exercize
  • Yoga
  • Run
  • Repeat!
So for the month of March I am going to work on getting my sexy back. Do you want to join me? I don't have a fancy linky party or a badge, but I do promise I will keep you updated and would love it if you would do the same.

Comment below, add some tips, get your sexy back!

I can't wait to hear from you.

Photobucket

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Guest Blogger: Suzanne's Struggles

My name is Suzanne, I’m 26 years old and I’ve had emetophobia for pretty much as long as I can remember. I’d like to share my story with you all, but I apologize in advance if it gets a bit long! :-/
My earliest memory of becoming aware of it is when I was in Year 3, when I was about 8 years old (although I’m told I showed signs before this age, this is the first time I personally remember it affecting my life!).  We were all sat in class like any normal school day, when I was suddenly aware of a commotion at the back of the room. It transpired that one of my classmates  - a good friend as it turns out, had thrown up all over the floor….. I clearly remember the immense panic that suddenly gripped me! Suddenly, I felt like I just had to get out of there. I burst into tears and I’m told that the teacher didn’t know who to go to first – me, or the girl who had been ill! So that is my first memory of it freaking me out. As I went through school, there were a few more of these kind of incidents, as there inevitably are when you’re in amongst a group of young children, and each time I’d respond in the same way. Tears, and getting out of there as soon as possible!
Then things developed…. One day, it wasn’t just other people being ill that scared me, but I started to become terrified that I was going to become ill. It dominated my every thought and I started eating less and less in the belief that if my stomach was empty, then I wouldn’t be ill. (Please note, this is NOT the case. I have it from the doctor himself, that if you catch a vomiting bug, then you will throw up regardless of how much food is in your stomach!). Sorry, not a nice thing to talk about but I know a lot of emetophobes have this same view! Anyway, I ate very little and consequently lost a lot of weight…. I wasn’t anorexic, I wasn’t worried about getting fat. But I certainly had a very uhealthy relationship with food.  I started to dread having to sit in lessons for an hour at a time, with no way of getting out! They implemented a rule at my school whereby you weren’t allowed to leave a lesson – not even to go to the toilet! So I started to get really panicky at the thought of feeling trapped if I, or someone else was ill. At this point, I started to avoid school in general as much as possible. I constantly felt sick and convinced myself every single day that I had a bug and wanted to stay home (my safe place). Finally, my head of year called me and my Mum in to school to ask if there was a problem and that’s when I finally confided in someone (outside of my family) about my ‘problem’. He was amazing and really did his best to help. He issued me with a special card that I could use to excuse me from the room if I ever felt like I needed to escape. Ironically, I never did actually use the card, but just having it made me feel better.
But by the time I hit around 17 years of age and things were no better, I decided I really needed to get some professional help. So, I went to the doctor and asked to be referred to the psychiatric team. I saw a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist who was really good. I had to endure some pretty horrifying things – suffice to say it involved a lot of listening to audio tapes, watching film clips and looking at some photos taken in sequence of someone throwing up….. NOT pleasant. It was hard, but eventually I really did start to feel better and my whole thought processes changed. I cant really explain how, but it did work, and for a couple of years I felt great. I enjoyed life, never worried about becoming ill and didn’t spend my time constantly monitoring everyone around me for signs they might be ill!

But, eventually, after a few years the old thoughts and feelings crept back in…. Things dramatically deteriorated just last year when I got engaged! Obviously, I was delighted to be engaged to the man I loved, but the thought of being ill on my wedding day completely and utterly consumed me. I couldn’t look forward to it at all like normal brides do, and all I thought about regarding the day itself was that I was going to feel ill, and wouldn't be able to go though with it. To cut a very long story short, I tried hypnotherapy in desperation which unfortunately didn’t work as I just couldn’t relax enough and I never once went ‘under’ so to speak. It did relax me a little in general though….. Eventually the big day came and, amazingly, once it arrived and I knew I had to go through with it (there was no way I was going to stand my hubby up at the altar!!!) I just kinda got on with it. I had a big freak out in the morning but the minute I got my dress on and got to the venue I suddenly relaxed and ended up really enjoying it! I hoped that once the wedding was out the way, things would calm down a bit, but unfortunately that hasn’t happened.
 
Currently, I’m struggling to get out and about. I don’t like venturing too far from my house because I worry I’ll become ill. I HATE public transport and refuse to use it. I am always armed with hand sanitizer if out in public and will never touch a door handle! I constantly worry about getting ill. The list of ways it affects my life goes on and on…..
So, I have once again decided to try and sort it out once and for all. I’m tired of wasting my life away… I have asked to be referred for CBT again and I have my first appointment on the 27th Feb (that’s if I manage to get there in the first place)!
So, that’s my story…. I have a blog which I set up in January this year so if you’d like to follow it please do. You’ll find it at      http://emetophobia-struggles.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Tired of being emetophobic

I mean really this phobia during this time of the year sucks.

My way of coping/getting over it is doing things outside oft comfort zone so this week the kids and I: traveled to the gym, went to a public dinosaur exhibit that was hands on fit the kidlets, survived the little gym, went to school, and rummaged around the library.

Truth be told I want to stay in house. I want to avoid germs, I want to keep the kids in a bubble so they don't get sick.

It is funny because as a family and a stay at home mom my kids are super active. We go everywhere and other then being super vigilant about germ-x we lead a normal life. Yes I have anxiety for the first five minutes of just about any trip or adventure, but I soon get over it and live my life. I even have fun most of the time.

Life is for living. The phobia sucks, the panic sucks, but I refuse to let them win. I refuse to not have fun and make sure my kids experience every exciting kid thing they can to the point where my parents tell me that they have too many activities.

So if you are tired of being emetophobic take one step each day outside of your comfort zone. You will see the world outside isn't so bad.