‘A debilitating phobia means I can’t leave my house from November to February’

The colder months are already a challenge, writes Jess Watts. Add to that an all-encompassing fear of getting sick – as I have – and it becomes nearly impossible

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From November to February, I am pretty much incapable of leaving my house. I spend my days curled up on my bedroom floor punctuated by trips to the bathroom to wash my hands over and over again. Every few hours I burst into tears, shaking uncontrollably and dreading having to go through the same thing tomorrow.

I am deathly afraid of vomiting. Actually, it’s worse than that. I’ve often said I’d rather die than be sick: it seems extreme, but that’s exactly what the problem is.