Emetophobia

[James]

Okay, so this is the first time I'm speaking publicly about having emetophobia, so sorry if this is a bit of a ramble. There's no real reason why I've not really told anyone (except a few close friends), I just felt uncomfortable speaking about it because I don't like thinking there's something wrong with me, as it worries me.

Basically, emetophobia is being scared of being sick/ill. For me, I'm absolutely terrified of food poisoning or puking/diarrhoea in general. I honestly think this is a huge issue for me, because it's not just a small fear, it's actually taken control of my life. It's caused me to be so paranoid about food to the extent where I'm really not healthy anymore, I don't eat meat, I don't eat meat alternatives & I have no source of protein (As I'm allergic to nuts). It's getting to the point where over the past 12 months, I have felt really suicidal because of how unhealthy I am, which causes me to feel ill anyway, which is making it unbearable for me. The way I see it is I'd rather not be here to feel sick, than to feel sick.

I really need some advice from you guys. I want to start eating meat again, but it's been 4 years now, and I'm scared that if I have some, I'll get ill from it as it'll be a shock, then I'll never eat it again, which will put me back where I started.

I'm too scared to speak to a counsellor or similar because I'm the most squeamish person in the world, and the second they say something that sounds remotely medical, I'll get really scared & feel faint.

Any advice to getting over ir/learning to deal with it? As well as how to reintroduce meat back into my diet.
Thanks to anyone that read this fully.

[lemons]

maybe try quorn products they have protein i think then gradually introduce meat into your diet even if it's just half a chicken nugget but don't force yourself

you should go and see your gp about it if you haven't already because it's unhealthy and they could give you better advice

also there are online forums for these types of things

http://www.emetophobia.org/forum.php

[James]

maybe try quorn products they have protein i think then gradually introduce meat into your diet even if it's just half a chicken nugget but don't force yourself

you should go and see your gp about it if you haven't already because it's unhealthy and they could give you better advice

also there are online forums for these types of things

http://www.emetophobia.org/forum.php
I used to eat quorn all the time, when I first started vegetarianism, but stopped eating it because it was too expensive & was driving our shopping bill up from £50 normally, to £90/week including quorn.
I tried tofu and that's just no.

I have been looking around a few forums like that one, but that's mainly discussing it, not really offering too much advice with how to deal with it.

[dbgtz]

If you want some protein drink milkshakes. Can't suggest anything on the rest of it.

[James]

If you want some protein drink milkshakes. Can't suggest anything on the rest of it.
I've never looked into protein shakes before. I've just heard they're bad for you if you're not like... working out or whatever, so I just avoided them.
but I guess I'll be worse off not having the protein so yeah, I'll look into them.

[Earthquake]

You could try a diet Herb-a-life a supplement for your meals basically.

[dbgtz]

I've never looked into protein shakes before. I've just heard they're bad for you if you're not like... working out or whatever, so I just avoided them.
but I guess I'll be worse off not having the protein so yeah, I'll look into them.

No I mean actual milkshakes :P Like bog standard Nesquik or something.

[James]

No I mean actual milkshakes :P Like bog standard Nesquik or something.
Ohh, thought you meant protein shakes :P
I didn't know they were any good for protein either tbh. I'll look at them as well then :D
I love making fruit smoothies though.

[Empired]

Jamez; if you're worried about protein you need to eat red meat. It's pretty much impossible to harm yourself with red meats but is very easy to do with white meat (chicken, turkey) so avoid those. Unless you're actually dipping some beef in a pot of salmonella or something then you're fine. It would be disgusting but you can technically eat red meat raw and still be fine.

Also have you ever tried looking at it in a different way? Idk if this would work for you but if you think about it, the more you limit yourself the weaker your immune system becomes. If you get out there your immune system will naturally strengthen over time and you're much less likely to be ill.

[Zak]

I know this isn't probably going to help but you need to just get over it. It's all in your head and I know, trust me, that you can't just forget about it.. but you can't let fear run your life, it will make you miserable. The best thing you can do is take it one step at a time but if you never try you'll never get better. I worry about a lot of things but I push myself all the time and it works for me. It's rarely as bad as you think it's going to be anyway, don't over-think it.

[James]

@Jamez (http://www.habboxforum.com/member.php?u=93499); if you're worried about protein you need to eat red meat. It's pretty much impossible to harm yourself with red meats but is very easy to do with white meat (chicken, turkey) so avoid those. Unless you're actually dipping some beef in a pot of salmonella or something then you're fine. It would be disgusting but you can technically eat red meat raw and still be fine.

Also have you ever tried looking at it in a different way? Idk if this would work for you but if you think about it, the more you limit yourself the weaker your immune system becomes. If you get out there your immune system will naturally strengthen over time and you're much less likely to be ill.
Do you know which sort of red meat you can eat raw? I know steak can be eaten pretty much raw, but I don't want to come off vegetarianism with a full on steak, because that might shock my body a bit too much. Is there anything smaller that I can ease myself into maybe?

& also, I've never thought about it like that. I know I've been getting a lot weaker, and I know why, but I always assumed that as I wasn't being physically sick, my immune system would be okay. But obviously if I'm feeling sick often too, it's clearly not.

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I know this isn't probably going to help but you need to just get over it. It's all in your head and I know, trust me, that you can't just forget about it.. but you can't let fear run your life, it will make you miserable. The best thing you can do is take it one step at a time but if you never try you'll never get better. I worry about a lot of things but I push myself all the time and it works for me. It's rarely as bad as you think it's going to be anyway, don't over-think it.
The thing is.. I know it's all in my head and I know that I need to just deal with it.. it's just actually doing it that's the issue. I struggle to get to terms with 'I could get ill from this' thoughts that always run through my mind while eating something.
Every night, literally, I lie there thinking "Well I didn't try anything new today, but I promise I will tomorrow". Then never do & think the same again the following night.

[Phil]

James I wouldn't recommend eating anything raw because you don't know what kinda of bacteria could be living on the food. To kill any bacteria it needs to be cooked to 75 degrees Celsius to it's core


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[James]

James I wouldn't recommend eating anything raw because you don't know what kinda of bacteria could be living on the food. To kill any bacteria it needs to be cooked to 75 degrees Celsius to it's core


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Definitely wouldn't eat anything raw anyway, but I like having that security that I won't get food poisoning if it isn't 1000% cooked

[Phil]

Definitely wouldn't eat anything raw anyway, but I like having that security that I won't get food poisoning if it isn't 1000% cooked

Then cool your food until the core of the meat is 75 degres Celsius. Bacteria grows fastest between 5-63 degrees so if it gets to that you need to reheat it to at least 70


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[James]

Then cool your food until the core of the meat is 75 degres Celsius. Bacteria grows fastest between 5-63 degrees so if it gets to that you need to reheat it to at least 70


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I'm currently attempting to convince my parents to allow me to buy an instant-read thermometer for our food. I only told my mum about my emetophobia last night, although she kinda knew anyway. Dad doesn't understand so he's harder to convince.
I'll probably end up buying one anyway.

[Phil]

I'm currently attempting to convince my parents to allow me to buy an instant-read thermometer for our food. I only told my mum about my emetophobia last night, although she kinda knew anyway. Dad doesn't understand so he's harder to convince.
I'll probably end up buying one anyway.


Yeah I would recommend it James and I don't think they are too expensive either. When is the last time you ate meat?


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[James]

Yeah I would recommend it James and I don't think they are too expensive either. When is the last time you ate meat?


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Meat, 4 years ago last christmas (As i remember the first time saying no to meat was christmas dinner 2011), so just over 4 years.
But I had quorn after that for ~~2 years.

[Phil]

Meat, 4 years ago last christmas (As i remember the first time saying no to meat was christmas dinner 2011), so just over 4 years.
But I had quorn after that for ~~2 years.

Woah well then if you do try soon which I really hope you do only take in small amounts at first



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[James]

Woah well then if you do try soon which I really hope you do only take in small amounts at first



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I was considering just starting small, like on a ham sandwich or something. then work up from there

[Phil]

I was considering just starting small, like on a ham sandwich or something. then work up from there

Sounds good since that doesn't need to be cooked :)


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[Empired]

I wouldn't recommend buying a thermometer because to me that sounds like avoiding your fear instead of dealing with it if that makes sense. So you can check the temperature of your food and think "OK it's unlikely to make me ill" instead of allowing you to get to the point where you can think "maybe it'll make me feel a bit weird but it doesn't matter". If you think it would help then ignore me tho!

Like you said, ham would be a good place to start especially as it doesn't have to be cooked. If you still want it to be heated to decrease the risk of bacteria I guess you could pop the sandwich in the oven first and have a ham toastie (they're so delicious omg). If you want to try ham I recommend you avoid supermarkets at first if possible and find a butcher or farm shop to sell you some ham. If you have to shop in a supermarket, head over to the meat counter and always avoid buying that disgusting packet ham thats like 1000% water (exaggeration ok).
Duck in a stir fry might be quite good too but I think ham is your best bet xx

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[Zak]

Do you know which sort of red meat you can eat raw? I know steak can be eaten pretty much raw, but I don't want to come off vegetarianism with a full on steak, because that might shock my body a bit too much. Is there anything smaller that I can ease myself into maybe?

& also, I've never thought about it like that. I know I've been getting a lot weaker, and I know why, but I always assumed that as I wasn't being physically sick, my immune system would be okay. But obviously if I'm feeling sick often too, it's clearly not.

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The thing is.. I know it's all in my head and I know that I need to just deal with it.. it's just actually doing it that's the issue. I struggle to get to terms with 'I could get ill from this' thoughts that always run through my mind while eating something.
Every night, literally, I lie there thinking "Well I didn't try anything new today, but I promise I will tomorrow". Then never do & think the same again the following night.

That's not uncommon for mental illness. May be next time think of the odds of that actually happening if you eat it.. very very low I'm sure. You and I both know that the thoughts in your head are ludicrous but you have to push past that if you ever want to get better. :)

[Stephen]

this thread is making me hungry

[Phil]

I wouldn't recommend buying a thermometer because to me that sounds like avoiding your fear instead of dealing with it if that makes sense. So you can check the temperature of your food and think "OK it's unlikely to make me ill" instead of allowing you to get to the point where you can think "maybe it'll make me feel a bit weird but it doesn't matter". If you think it would help then ignore me tho!

Like you said, ham would be a good place to start especially as it doesn't have to be cooked. If you still want it to be heated to decrease the risk of bacteria I guess you could pop the sandwich in the oven first and have a ham toastie (they're so delicious omg). If you want to try ham I recommend you avoid supermarkets at first if possible and find a butcher or farm shop to sell you some ham. If you have to shop in a supermarket, head over to the meat counter and always avoid buying that disgusting packet ham thats like 1000% water (exaggeration ok).
Duck in a stir fry might be quite good too but I think ham is your best bet xx

Sent from phone

Depending on how bad the situation is I don't think a thermometer is a bad idea because then at least how knows and can get used cooking foods and knowing they will be safe to eat because he would know from doing it in the past and what it takes to get it to the appropriate core temp.

[Kyle]

Supplement meat with other proteins until you are comfortable cooking and eating it. Eggs and dairy are great, beans are amazing and a lot of veg is very nutritious too. Your options aren't limited to tofu, quorn and nuts - experiment with flavours until you find something suitable for you. As for meat itself, pre-cooked food is probably your best bet, can't really go wrong. Using an app like myfitnesspal will help you to keep track not only of your calories but your nutritional intake and help you create a balanced diet over time.

[James]

I wouldn't recommend buying a thermometer because to me that sounds like avoiding your fear instead of dealing with it if that makes sense. So you can check the temperature of your food and think "OK it's unlikely to make me ill" instead of allowing you to get to the point where you can think "maybe it'll make me feel a bit weird but it doesn't matter". If you think it would help then ignore me tho!

Like you said, ham would be a good place to start especially as it doesn't have to be cooked. If you still want it to be heated to decrease the risk of bacteria I guess you could pop the sandwich in the oven first and have a ham toastie (they're so delicious omg). If you want to try ham I recommend you avoid supermarkets at first if possible and find a butcher or farm shop to sell you some ham. If you have to shop in a supermarket, head over to the meat counter and always avoid buying that disgusting packet ham thats like 1000% water (exaggeration ok).
Duck in a stir fry might be quite good too but I think ham is your best bet xx

Sent from phone
I think I'll be getting a thermometer until I get used to cooking, like Phil said. Once I have done it a few times, I'll be fairly confident that I know it's cooked enough & I'll eventually stop using it.

Supplement meat with other proteins until you are comfortable cooking and eating it. Eggs and dairy are great, beans are amazing and a lot of veg is very nutritious too. Your options aren't limited to tofu, quorn and nuts - experiment with flavours until you find something suitable for you. As for meat itself, pre-cooked food is probably your best bet, can't really go wrong. Using an app like myfitnesspal will help you to keep track not only of your calories but your nutritional intake and help you create a balanced diet over time.
Absolutely hate Tofu and I'm allergic to nuts, so I am quite limited in that respect. But as you say, with precooked meals, not much can go wrong really, so they'll probably be the first meals I introduce myself to, maybe. Not too sure because they can also be quite unhealthy for you. but either way, thanks for the advice :)

[buttons]

sigh i wrote something big then it messed up.

ok, firstly i have had this and i'm not 100% over it but it doesn't affect my life on a daily basis anymore. secondly, i don't recommend trying to control it by trying to control HOW you eat and WHAT you eat. yes, it is important to cook food as risk free as possible but that isn't the problem. you can get ill at any moment in time, as can anyone else. the biggest thing for me was the anxiety about POSSIBLE situations. "if i eat this i might get ill", "if i don't sit near the toilets at a restaurant i won't make it to the toilet if i get ill", just absolutely ridiculous situations which may happen once in my lifetime. and the worrying causes you to be ill. for some reason, i'd worry so much about getting ill that i'd be awake 3am to 6am feeling ill. i tricked my body into it...

so my point is you somehow have to stop thinking "what if___" or "this is going to happen" sort of thing. yes, take care of what you're eating and how you prepare it but don't put too much thought into it. i do recommend going through with it and eating the meat and realizing it isn't going to make you ill like you think it is but if you're not in the right frame of mind, youre going to be anxious and just put it off as well.

i don't know how i got over it. i wouldn't say i am but the biggest thing for me is that i don't get those "what if ___" situations anymore. i don't think if i don't do this, or if i eat this, i'm going to get ill or someone else is etc.... i do still get shaky and uncomfortable when i am ill or someone else is but it doesn't affect my life as much as it used to. it's a really common phobia though so i'm sure you'll find loads of tips online. i kinda just stopped caring about it after being around illness so much (babies and drunks) that i realized it wasn't that big of a deal and it'll be over with soon.

i guess at the end of it i've realized that being ill isn't that big of a deal. that's it. it's over and done with. but i do know how you feel. mine started cause i got sick in front of my whole class on a trip and they kept going on about it as though it's a bad thing?! now i'm just... whatever, get over it.

[_HeyyItsHannah_]

Well. As I am a vegetarian myself, I can inform you, just don't START eating meat. If it has been that long since you have eaten meat or animal products, you have probably lost your meat enzyme which means you probably won't be able to digest it. Which would be a mess for you since you are afraid of sickness and illness. I get so sick if I have something crossed with meat. I'd just advise you to go to a doctor to help. It might be hard to get meat back into your diet alone.

You are probably feeling weaker because of no protein in your body obv.

You don't want to mess with this stuff. Keep it as slow of a process you can. You might get sick in the first few stages to be completely honest with you.

[Empired]

To the message above can I just say I was a vegan for a few years, then downgraded to vegetarian, then became a full meat eater and was absolutely fine. You just have to take baby sets each time. Sure, if you're gonna start with a massive steak followed by a roast lunch then you're probably going to have a problem but if you start with a small ham sandwich or like a cocktail sausage you're fine.

[_HeyyItsHannah_]

To the message above can I just say I was a vegan for a few years, then downgraded to vegetarian, then became a full meat eater and was absolutely fine. You just have to take baby sets each time. Sure, if you're gonna start with a massive steak followed by a roast lunch then you're probably going to have a problem but if you start with a small ham sandwich or like a cocktail sausage you're fine.

And how did you do that lol. Weren't you sick so much? I can't have anything crossed with a meat. If someone touches my fork or something with meat, I immediately have to get rid of that fork and get a new one because I get sick. I could never imagine actually eating meat after being a vege.

[Empired]

And how did you do that lol. Weren't you sick so much? I can't have anything crossed with a meat. If someone touches my fork or something with meat, I immediately have to get rid of that fork and get a new one because I get sick. I could never imagine actually eating meat after being a vege.
Sounds like you have anxiety surrounding meat really. Maybe I was lucky but I really had absolutely no problem. I felt a slightly worse for the first little while (just more tired but found it harder to sleep.. that kind of thing) but I picked up pretty soon and started being healthier than I had been before being veggie/vegan.

[_HeyyItsHannah_]

Sounds like you have anxiety surrounding meat really. Maybe I was lucky but I really had absolutely no problem. I felt a slightly worse for the first little while (just more tired but found it harder to sleep.. that kind of thing) but I picked up pretty soon and started being healthier than I had been before being veggie/vegan.

It's not anxiety lol. I really do get that sick aha. It's like i've ended up with food poisoning. I think you were just lucky ahaha. I don't think I'd ever be able to go back to meat without a doctor's help. I don't know how you did it. lol.

[Phil]

It's not anxiety lol. I really do get that sick aha. It's like i've ended up with food poisoning. I think you were just lucky ahaha. I don't think I'd ever be able to go back to meat without a doctor's help. I don't know how you did it. lol.

It's not food poisoning if people eating even more of the same thing don't have a problem with it. It sounds like you've developed an intolerance or just an idea in your head that meat makes you sick and now it's almost like a placebo or something

[James]

Big news guys! I had my first bit of protein in years last night lool. I was making my mum a pasta salad, with pasta, tuna, sweetcorn and red onion. Tried some of the tuna that was left in the bowl after putting it in the plastic tubs for her lunches this week. I haven't died yet!

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It's not anxiety lol. I really do get that sick aha. It's like i've ended up with food poisoning. I think you were just lucky ahaha. I don't think I'd ever be able to go back to meat without a doctor's help. I don't know how you did it. lol.
How long have you been a vegetarian?

[_HeyyItsHannah_]

It's not food poisoning if people eating even more of the same thing don't have a problem with it. It sounds like you've developed an intolerance or just an idea in your head that meat makes you sick and now it's almost like a placebo or something

I know it's not food poisoning :P But it's symptoms like food poisoning. I've read it's either fine or bad for some people. I guess it just depends on the person and the type of meat.


Big news guys! I had my first bit of protein in years last night lool. I was making my mum a pasta salad, with pasta, tuna, sweetcorn and red onion. Tried some of the tuna that was left in the bowl after putting it in the plastic tubs for her lunches this week. I haven't died yet!

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How long have you been a vegetarian?

Just a few years now. Not for too long but long enough.

[Empired]

Big news guys! I had my first bit of protein in years last night lool. I was making my mum a pasta salad, with pasta, tuna, sweetcorn and red onion. Tried some of the tuna that was left in the bowl after putting it in the plastic tubs for her lunches this week. I haven't died yet!

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How long have you been a vegetarian?
Omg I completely forgot about the possibility of trying fish first. Congrats on your protein progress James xxxx

[James]

Omg I completely forgot about the possibility of trying fish first. Congrats on your protein progress James xxxx
I have always said I eat fish (Pescitarian) but I haven't in the past year or so because I didn't trust my dads oven as it was really dodgy. We have fish fingers in the freezer so I'll probably go back to them first as it won't be as big of a shock to me. then I'll go onto like.. ham etc.

[Charz777]

I would say I have a less extreme case of this. I don't particularly limit what I eat but if I take a bite of something and it is in some way 'not perfect' either seems a bit undercooked or I feel it tastes slightly off then I won't eat it. The worst for me is food other people make (with the exception of my parents who I trust not to poison me!) I like to eat out or get a takeaway but I'm always concerned about unhygienic cutlery/crockery and it making me ill, or worse, actually being sick. If I eat out or get a takeaway I feel social pressure to eat, particularly if somebody else paid. I always count ahead after I've eaten to six hours when in my head I'm convinced if the food would make me sick it would have done so by then, which sounds silly but I've done it for as long as I can remember. I don't tell my family about the counting because I get enough stick for my paranoid eating habits.

I don't drink. When I was 18, 19-ish I'd go out with friends and have one alcopop and that's it. I've never even been slightly tipsy through the fear of being sick.

I'd actually managed to convince myself that I can't be sick in the sense that I will not let myself be sick even if I can feel it about to happen. I had a very severe vomiting bug as I child which I think terrified me. In recent times I hadn't been sick for 4 years, and that was only from being nil by mouth in the hospital, so I didn't count that as being 'ill.' Before then I can't pinpoint a specific time in my life or a year where I was sick from being ill. Until a few weeks ago where I had dreadful flu and I actually got sick. It was terrifying right before it happened but now I feel I'm almost not so scared; I still hate feeling sick but it's almost like my adult brain has rationalised a little so it's a tiny bit less scary. So maybe I was somewhat scarred from my ordeal as a child.

I'm convinced a lot of the time that I'm going to be sick, even with just a mild stomach ache and everybody tells me it's in my head. I'm almost 22 and still the only person who can calm me down and get me thinking straight once I get myself in a state is my mum. It's very frustrating because you want to live an adult life and not rely on your parents but I've felt held back by my sickness paranoia since a young teenager.

I don't know how to make it any better; I know I will always wash my hands before eating (even though the ladies' room is in the other building a work!) and then sanitise my hands with an anti-bacterial gel. I know I will always be picky about what I eat and then paranoid for hours after. All I can suggest is to keep going with getting used to eating red meat and fish, a little bit at a time. Hope it starts to get better for you :)

[James]

I would say I have a less extreme case of this. I don't particularly limit what I eat but if I take a bite of something and it is in some way 'not perfect' either seems a bit undercooked or I feel it tastes slightly off then I won't eat it. The worst for me is food other people make (with the exception of my parents who I trust not to poison me!) I like to eat out or get a takeaway but I'm always concerned about unhygienic cutlery/crockery and it making me ill, or worse, actually being sick. If I eat out or get a takeaway I feel social pressure to eat, particularly if somebody else paid. I always count ahead after I've eaten to six hours when in my head I'm convinced if the food would make me sick it would have done so by then, which sounds silly but I've done it for as long as I can remember. I don't tell my family about the counting because I get enough stick for my paranoid eating habits.

I don't drink. When I was 18, 19-ish I'd go out with friends and have one alcopop and that's it. I've never even been slightly tipsy through the fear of being sick.

I'd actually managed to convince myself that I can't be sick in the sense that I will not let myself be sick even if I can feel it about to happen. I had a very severe vomiting bug as I child which I think terrified me. In recent times I hadn't been sick for 4 years, and that was only from being nil by mouth in the hospital, so I didn't count that as being 'ill.' Before then I can't pinpoint a specific time in my life or a year where I was sick from being ill. Until a few weeks ago where I had dreadful flu and I actually got sick. It was terrifying right before it happened but now I feel I'm almost not so scared; I still hate feeling sick but it's almost like my adult brain has rationalised a little so it's a tiny bit less scary. So maybe I was somewhat scarred from my ordeal as a child.

I'm convinced a lot of the time that I'm going to be sick, even with just a mild stomach ache and everybody tells me it's in my head. I'm almost 22 and still the only person who can calm me down and get me thinking straight once I get myself in a state is my mum. It's very frustrating because you want to live an adult life and not rely on your parents but I've felt held back by my sickness paranoia since a young teenager.

I don't know how to make it any better; I know I will always wash my hands before eating (even though the ladies' room is in the other building a work!) and then sanitise my hands with an anti-bacterial gel. I know I will always be picky about what I eat and then paranoid for hours after. All I can suggest is to keep going with getting used to eating red meat and fish, a little bit at a time. Hope it starts to get better for you :)
I'm exactly the same about counting the hours afterwards & paranoia about 'public utensils'. I haven't eaten at a restaurant for about 8 years because of it. & Whenever I try something new, or try to reintroduce something back into my diet, I only ever do it on days where I am doing nothing the next day, as I usually get ill the following morning if I do get ill from it. Then obviously I'd feel crap for the rest of the day.
Nothing planned this weekend so going to be trying some fish fingers again tomorrow (Saturday) so if I do get ill, it won't matter too much.

[Empired]

Until a few weeks ago where I had dreadful flu and I actually got sick. It was terrifying right before it happened but now I feel I'm almost not so scared; I still hate feeling sick but it's almost like my adult brain has rationalised a little so it's a tiny bit less scary. So maybe I was somewhat scarred from my ordeal as a child.
This sounds like when I used to have a huge fear of being stung by a wasp :P I hadn't been stung for one since I was about 9 and I just remember it being the worst thing in the world so I used to completely freeze whenever something buzzy came near me and would actually have panic attacks to the point where I'd be like crying and shaking uncontrollably and my mum always just told me to man up :( But I got stung by a wasp last year despite trying to run away from it and it was painful but not nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. And now my fear is completely gone! :)

[-:Undertaker:-]

Wow I have never heard of this before.

Can't you reason with yourself that this is completely irrational? Meat is lovely, very safe and in trying to avoid being sick you are actually making the risk of being sick in the future even worse. There's a reason why older people have such good immune systems: because they ate such good food but food which wasn't cleaned to within an inch of its life.

I once drank water out of a puddle and was sick from it but it probably did me good in the long run. Not that i'm advising that.