Bella ramsey Opens Up About Emetophobia and Autism
Bella Ramsey, the 21-year-old actress celebrated for her portrayal of Ellie in HBO’s hit series The Last Of Us, recently shared personal insights into her life, revealing her struggles with emetophobia and how her autism diagnosis has provided a deeper understanding of herself.
Battling Emetophobia: A Fear That Covered Everything
Ramsey described her experience with emetophobia, a severe fear of vomiting or seeing others vomit, as a condition that prevented [her] from leaving [her] home.
This phobia, which she says she has had as [she has] memory,
significantly impacted her daily life and social interactions.
She recounted an early memory from nursery school involving a child vomiting in the sandbox, which, despite initially seeming amusing, evolved into a persistent source of anxiety.As then, every memory I have of vomiting scares me. Even now, I can remember any time when someone felt ill or was sick in my presence,
Ramsey explained, highlighting the enduring impact of these experiences.
Ramsey acknowledged the irrational nature of her fear, noting, But it’s a fear so irrational. I was very aware of how irrational it was, and people with emetophobia often describe the same. Logically, it is not something to be afraid.
Autism Diagnosis: A Key to Self-Understanding
Ramsey discussed how her autism diagnosis has helped her contextualize her experiences, including her emetophobia. While not all individuals with autism experience emetophobia, Ramsey found that the diagnosis provided a framework for understanding her sensitivities and anxieties.
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Not all people who have autism or are in the autistic spectrum have emetophobia, but when I received that diagnosis, much in my life made meaning and much of my growth experiences made sense. It is useful for me every day to have that understanding.
The intensity of her fear led to deeply dark thoughts and limited her social life. Seeking professional help from a mental health expert was a turning point, enabling her to work towards self-acceptance and develop coping mechanisms.
Sharing Her Story: Breaking the Stigma
ramsey emphasized her motivation for sharing her story, aiming to support others facing similar challenges. Today, I share my story so that they know they are not alone,
she stated. By giving her fear a name,she found it became less daunting.
She also revealed that she felt agreeable disclosing her autism diagnosis during the filming of The Last Of Us, where she stars alongside Pedro Pascal. I feel very good about it,
she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
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It’s simply fun, and just said that now I can understand it. It is indeed a way in which people will see me and ask: ‘Why stunning behaves a bit rare? Now people can see why I’m a bit rare. It’s like saying: ‘Now they know.’
ramsey further explained her decision to go public with her diagnosis, stating, I did not feel that it would be told to people in this very way an crucial decision. I found out and influences my day to day and it helps me understand myself. There is no reason for people not to know. In fact, it frees me even more.
