I'm getting my hair cut next week, I've been putting it off over a year because of my tendency to feel nauseous while my hair is being cut. I've always loved going to the hairdresser's as I find it so relaxing, and I don't have any social anxiety or anything when I go, but I start to feel clammy under the cloak they put around you and then my emetophobia anxiety starts acting up, convincing me that I feel nauseous, then my heart rate starts increasing and my mouth goes dry. Then I start picturing scenarios in my head of me suddenly throwing up in the middle of a haircut, and I then have silent panic attacks. I feel like I just want to escape. But knowing it's just in my head doesn't seem to ease the anxiety. I then start thinking "what if this is the one time I do throw up? What if I have caught norovirus?" Yes, norovirus can still go around in the summer. Yes I do wash my hands but you could still sometimes just catch it other ways, unless you obsessively wash your clothes on a boiling hot wash every evening and disinfect everything including your purse, shoes, etc.
My ADHD doesn't allow me to focus on OCD behaviours to that extent, so instead I just sit and panic when sitting in an enclosed space.
I don't get these panic attacks when I'm in the supermarket, probably because I'm standing and moving (I feel anxiety when there are too many people or babies crying, but it doesn't bring on any physical effects). But when I'm sitting somewhere among other people, I suddenly picture myself throwing up for no apparent reason and start mentally planning an escape route.
What if I feel sick next week when I'm getting my hair cut?