How My Dog Helps with My Emetophobia (In Ways I Never Expected)
I don’t think I fully realized how much my dog would help my mental health until I found myself breathing easier just because she was nearby. If you live with emetophobia, the intense fear of vomiting, you know how much it can quietly control your life. It’s not just a fear of getting sick. It’s the constant scanning, worrying, and over-preparing that seeps into your day-to-day. Having June, my long-haired dachshund, has gently changed the way I move through those moments.
She’s my emotional support without even trying
When anxiety hits, sometimes the only thing that calms me is feeling her little body curled up next to me. Her warmth, the sound of her sleepy breathing, and the way she looks at me with that soft, trusting face—it grounds me. I don’t have to explain what I’m feeling. I don’t have to pretend to be okay. She always licks my face when I’m crying too.
Our walks have become my reset button
There are days when my thoughts start spiraling and I feel trapped in my body. On those days, walking June has been a quiet reset. The fresh air, the rhythm of her little paws, the way she stops to sniff every flower or leaf—it pulls me out of my head and into the moment. I started calling them my “come back to Earth” walks. They remind me that I’m safe, that I’m not in danger, even if my brain is telling me otherwise.
Even her being sick has helped me heal
This part surprised me. There have been a few times when June has thrown up (usually after eating too fast or getting into something she shouldn’t), and while it was hard to witness, it became a strange kind of exposure therapy for me. I didn’t panic the way I thought I would. I have not gotten to the point where I can clean it up (my sweet husband does this part), but I can be close by and comfort her, and move on. Each time, I realized something important: I was okay. Nothing bad happened. It wasn’t as terrifying as my brain always makes it out to be. I also realized I want to be there for her and that overcomes any part of my fears.
She teaches me to be present
Emetophobia pulls you into “what ifs.” But June lives fully in the “right now.” When she wants to nap, she naps. When she’s happy, her whole body wags. When something scares her, she shakes it off—literally—and moves on. I learn a lot from her without even meaning to. She’s a constant, quiet reminder that I don’t have to be afraid of every possibility. I can just be here and enjoy the moment.
If you’re someone who lives with emetophobia, you’re not alone. And if you’ve ever wondered if having a pet could help, my answer is a gentle yes. June has been one of the best things to happen to my nervous system. She doesn’t take the fear away completely, but she helps me soften it. She helps me breathe through it. I can’t imagine my life without her.
