The impact of emetophobia is broad and pervasive, with symptoms including persistent racing thoughts and the avoidance of social situations where someone might be sick or they themselves could become ill. Sufferers may avoid certain foods or eating out due to mistrust of food handling and preparation. While it’s rational to want to avoid illness, the anxiety experienced by those with emetophobia is far more intense than usual. This high level of anxiety often leads to significant disruption in daily life, as individuals go to great lengths to avoid situations where they might become sick (Lipsitz et al., 2001). Common safety behaviors include taking anti-nausea medication, obsessively disinfecting surfaces, and overcooking food. Additionally, one factor that sets emetophobia apart from other specific phobias is the heightened sensitivity individuals have to interoceptive cues, meaning they are more attuned to internal bodily sensations and more likely to interpret these sensations in a negative way Bogusch et al., 2018).