Married At First Sight (MAFS) star Rhi Disljenkovic has opened up about a difficult health condition she battles, sharing with fans the toll it takes on her daily life.
Discussing a condition called Emetophobia, it’s not the first time Rhi has mentioned the debilitating phobia, but she recently went into more depth, saying that finally talking about it felt like a “weight off my chest”.
MAFS’ Rhi opens up about intense phobia
Taking to Instagram, Rhi shared a carosuel of photos describing the condition and the everyday impact it has on her.
“Sharing this today because it’s something I’ve carried quietly for most of my life and finally talking about it feels like a weight off my chest,” she wrote.
“It’s scary being honest about something that controls you in ways people can’t see, but the more we open up, the less shame it holds.”
She also addressed people who may be suffering the same thing, calling them brave.
“If you deal with this too, please know you’re not broken. You’re brave for getting through every day with it. And you deserve people who understand, not people who dismiss it.”
What is Rhi Disljenkovic’s condition Emetophobia?
Emetophobia is a specific phobia characterised by an intense, persistent fear of vomiting (either vomiting oneself, others vomiting, or situations where vomiting might occur). It can lead to avoidance behaviours, heightened anxiety, and significant impact on daily living.
According to mental-health sources, phobias like emetophobia often remain hidden because they’re not widely discussed, yet can deeply influence one’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Rhi detailed her experience with the phobia, saying she first experienced the feeling at seven years old, and said some of her closest friends didn’t even know about her daily battle.
“It began with OCD-style tendencies,” she wrote, saying she used to touch every tile in the shower before she got out, turned light switches off with her elbows, and flushed public toilet buttons with her feet.
“You keep it to yourself because it feels embarrassing. You know it sounds irrational, but your body reacts as though it’s in danger,” she continued.
Rhi detailed that her body reacts as though she’s in danger, tensing up, freezing, shaking and even hyperventilating.
“Not a single day goes by where I don’t think about vomiting,” she said, saying that when friends or loved ones get sick, she turns into a “full blown detective”. “Can I catch it? Will it make me vomit?”
Rhi said she’s made progress with the condition.
“Progress doesn’t mean it’s fixed,” she said. “Sometimes it means thing don’t control you like they used to.”
Love to chat about Reality TV? Join us in our new Facebook group and come chat! Or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for more entertainment news.
