Reviews of Internet Programs on Emetophobia
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CHANGE THAT'S RIGHT NOW
by Christine, an emetophobia sufferer
Intrigued by the claims on their website and desperate for a "cure" for my debilitating emetophobia, I contacted the CTRN. I felt pressured to speak with "Shelley" by phone instead of having all my questions answered via email, which is what I would have preferred. This is identical to insurance companies who will not give you a quote by phone and instead send a salesperson to your home - more chance of "closing the deal" this way. It worked.I asked if their CD program works for emetophobia. They told me it probably wouldn't work so well for this particular phobia and really pushed the much more expensive one-on-one sessions by telephone which they guaranteed would definitely work. I could not afford the $2500 cost for this, so I opted to start with the CD program since it came with an unconditional money back guarantee - what could I lose? They were right, the CDs did nothing but teach me to "relax." I found the entire CD program silly and insulting to my intelligence. You have to listen to it to know what I mean. So, desperate for help, and "sucked in" by their "typically the one-on-one takes only a few sessions to rid you completely of your phobia but we'll work with you for as long as it takes without charging more" (I'm paraphrasing), I paid the $2500 I could not afford, and began the personalized telephone sessions, excitedly anticipating complete freedom from my fear.
I put my absolute all into doing this "right" because I wanted to get my money's worth - and I wanted to be cured!The one-on-one telephone version of the Change That's Right Now is just the CD version expanded - nothing more. It's a combination of NLP and visualization - doing things like working yourself up to a "feel good" state and then repeatedly squeezing your thumb to "anchor" that feeling. The theory is, when you're having a panic attack, you just squeeze your thumb and .... voila! .... you feel great! Oh if only it were that easy! All I got from this was a sore thumb.Initially I did feel better overall. In retrospect, this was nothing more than a placebo effect - a result of being brainwashed by their repeated mantra: "you have to give this 100% for it to work." Translated: "Just believe" and "If this doesn't work, it's YOUR fault." Nobody wants to feel like a failure so of course I felt better at first. However, when the real test came - when I was faced with a situation that triggered my emetophobia, all that expensive one-on-one therapy did NOTHING. I finally gave up because even though they will work for me for "as long as it takes" why would I want to continue wasting my time on something that doesn't work? I suppose if a person has a very mild phobia, or generalized anxiety, this program could work. However, if, like me, your emetophobia is extreme and debilitating, you may want to spend your money and time on something that does not claim to be a quick fix.
by "Unnerved"- an anxiety sufferer
This program definitely has the most aggressive sales pitch of any that I have looked in to. Videos on every page. Testimonials from “prominent” media figures. Worldwide acclaim. Promises of results in 24 hours. Rebates and guarantees. It must be the answer, right? Wrong!
Out of every program that I have researched and purchased, this is the worst...read more
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by Christine, an emetophobia sufferer
Intrigued by the claims on their website and desperate for a "cure" for my debilitating emetophobia, I contacted the CTRN. I felt pressured to speak with "Shelley" by phone instead of having all my questions answered via email, which is what I would have preferred. This is identical to insurance companies who will not give you a quote by phone and instead send a salesperson to your home - more chance of "closing the deal" this way. It worked.I asked if their CD program works for emetophobia. They told me it probably wouldn't work so well for this particular phobia and really pushed the much more expensive one-on-one sessions by telephone which they guaranteed would definitely work. I could not afford the $2500 cost for this, so I opted to start with the CD program since it came with an unconditional money back guarantee - what could I lose? They were right, the CDs did nothing but teach me to "relax." I found the entire CD program silly and insulting to my intelligence. You have to listen to it to know what I mean. So, desperate for help, and "sucked in" by their "typically the one-on-one takes only a few sessions to rid you completely of your phobia but we'll work with you for as long as it takes without charging more" (I'm paraphrasing), I paid the $2500 I could not afford, and began the personalized telephone sessions, excitedly anticipating complete freedom from my fear.
I put my absolute all into doing this "right" because I wanted to get my money's worth - and I wanted to be cured!The one-on-one telephone version of the Change That's Right Now is just the CD version expanded - nothing more. It's a combination of NLP and visualization - doing things like working yourself up to a "feel good" state and then repeatedly squeezing your thumb to "anchor" that feeling. The theory is, when you're having a panic attack, you just squeeze your thumb and .... voila! .... you feel great! Oh if only it were that easy! All I got from this was a sore thumb.Initially I did feel better overall. In retrospect, this was nothing more than a placebo effect - a result of being brainwashed by their repeated mantra: "you have to give this 100% for it to work." Translated: "Just believe" and "If this doesn't work, it's YOUR fault." Nobody wants to feel like a failure so of course I felt better at first. However, when the real test came - when I was faced with a situation that triggered my emetophobia, all that expensive one-on-one therapy did NOTHING. I finally gave up because even though they will work for me for "as long as it takes" why would I want to continue wasting my time on something that doesn't work? I suppose if a person has a very mild phobia, or generalized anxiety, this program could work. However, if, like me, your emetophobia is extreme and debilitating, you may want to spend your money and time on something that does not claim to be a quick fix.
by "Unnerved"- an anxiety sufferer
This program definitely has the most aggressive sales pitch of any that I have looked in to. Videos on every page. Testimonials from “prominent” media figures. Worldwide acclaim. Promises of results in 24 hours. Rebates and guarantees. It must be the answer, right? Wrong!
Out of every program that I have researched and purchased, this is the worst...read more
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"How to Handle Emetophobia" ~ Review by Anna S. Christie
Anette Svedberg wrote to me and asked if I would review her e-book How to Handle Emetophobia. I informed her at the time that she would get a brutally honest review and she welcomed that. Sometimes you should watch what you pray for.
When it comes to emetophobics, I think of them as I do my own children: I’m fiercely protective. Anyone who attempts to exploit them sees the “mother-bear” in me come out, so I apologize in advance if my review seems overly-harsh.
How to Handle Emetophobia is a 29-page e-book that is downloaded into .pdf format and sells for $22USD. The “book” would have been better as a blog or an article perhaps – the story of the author’s battle with emetophobia and the thinking that may have contributed to her success in overcoming it. As such, it would have been shorter, properly edited and most importantly, free – which I would suggest is the only appropriate price for it.
I hope I am right in assuming that English is a second language for Svedberg, who works as a cleaner in a hospital in Sweden. Only with that assumption can I forgive the atrocious grammar and writing style. And I would forgive it, if the content were of any value – which unfortunately it isn’t. With no educational credentials or research citations, Svedberg attempts to tackle difficult subjects such as the human brain, evolution, psychology, microbiology and statistics. As a result her conclusions vastly miss the mark.
I compare this work with The Emetophobia Recovery System written by Rich Presta, also a recovered phobic and not an academic. Yet Presta has really done his homework: the research is sound and he’s also gone to a lot of trouble to consult with and even interview psychologists and other professionals, making the work credible. He’s also had it properly edited.
I’m sorry to say I would have to warn emetophobics away from How to Handle Emetophobia, not only because it is over-priced, poorly thought-out and badly written but also because some of the writing is rather graphic – such as the story of the author vomiting on the couch one Christmas. Emetophobics tend to get re-traumatized when they read such things or at the very least feel worse afterward.
In short, I do not recommend How to Handle Emetophobia but I do encourage Svedberg to write her stories and ideas on a blog. Blogs like that are always interesting.
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When it comes to emetophobics, I think of them as I do my own children: I’m fiercely protective. Anyone who attempts to exploit them sees the “mother-bear” in me come out, so I apologize in advance if my review seems overly-harsh.
How to Handle Emetophobia is a 29-page e-book that is downloaded into .pdf format and sells for $22USD. The “book” would have been better as a blog or an article perhaps – the story of the author’s battle with emetophobia and the thinking that may have contributed to her success in overcoming it. As such, it would have been shorter, properly edited and most importantly, free – which I would suggest is the only appropriate price for it.
I hope I am right in assuming that English is a second language for Svedberg, who works as a cleaner in a hospital in Sweden. Only with that assumption can I forgive the atrocious grammar and writing style. And I would forgive it, if the content were of any value – which unfortunately it isn’t. With no educational credentials or research citations, Svedberg attempts to tackle difficult subjects such as the human brain, evolution, psychology, microbiology and statistics. As a result her conclusions vastly miss the mark.
I compare this work with The Emetophobia Recovery System written by Rich Presta, also a recovered phobic and not an academic. Yet Presta has really done his homework: the research is sound and he’s also gone to a lot of trouble to consult with and even interview psychologists and other professionals, making the work credible. He’s also had it properly edited.
I’m sorry to say I would have to warn emetophobics away from How to Handle Emetophobia, not only because it is over-priced, poorly thought-out and badly written but also because some of the writing is rather graphic – such as the story of the author vomiting on the couch one Christmas. Emetophobics tend to get re-traumatized when they read such things or at the very least feel worse afterward.
In short, I do not recommend How to Handle Emetophobia but I do encourage Svedberg to write her stories and ideas on a blog. Blogs like that are always interesting.
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EMETOPHOBIA RECOVERY SYSTEM
by Steve, an emetophobe I purchased a copy of it. If you are prepared to take mental steps against your phobia, then it can definitely help. It's not a quick fix, but compared to therapy it's so inexpensive. by Kim, an emetophobe I just bought this last week, and it has some great information and exercises to help with this phobia. I have just read through the manual, and used a couple of the suggestions while going out, and they really |
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worked for me. It seems important that the steps are followed to get the most out of what the program offers. Also, I have a feeling that it may be easier/harder for some depending on where you are with really wanting to overcome your fears. The program really makes sense to me though, and i am looking forward to really beating this thing.
by Alexandra, an emetophobe
I got it, but I couldn't really get into it. I think it was more because I was in too bad of a place to even really sit down and read or listen to the CDs than anything wrong with the product. BUT....I did get my money back, so that should reassure anyone who wants to try it that it's no scam.
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by Alexandra, an emetophobe
I got it, but I couldn't really get into it. I think it was more because I was in too bad of a place to even really sit down and read or listen to the CDs than anything wrong with the product. BUT....I did get my money back, so that should reassure anyone who wants to try it that it's no scam.
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Caroline Dowdall contacted me to review her book, and was kind enough to send me an e-copy.
This is a small self-published book of only 100 pages. It is an autobiographical account of the author's life with emetophobia. Ms. Dowdall has not been successfully treated for the phobia, although her symptoms have diminished over time. She says that her main goal in writing was to help emetophobics' families understand the phobia. Unfortunately it contains no scholarly or scientific facts and is simply a narrative account by one person who often makes broad-sweeping statements and generalizations. While I found the book interesting, I do not recommend it for emetophobics mainly because of the graphic descriptions of vomiting in it. I am concerned that they may re-traumatize themselves. But also, I found the book sadly devoid of hope. And there is plenty of hope. Hundreds of emetophobic people find treatment and relief from their anxiety, and they go on to lead normal, healthy and happy lives. It's time one of them wrote a book for a change! |
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