It’s Nothing Personal: How Essays Make Secrets Seem Silly

By Nikki Campo

When I published an essay recently about my lifelong struggle with emetophobia, the clinical fear of vomit, my dad sent me a text message: “Wow! I’m surprised you’re willing to publish something so personal.”

I scratched my head. Really? I had previously published stories about grief after losing my mom, about my exploration of psychedelics for anxiety (though I never partook), even about my pesky mustache. None of those topics had garnered that kind of surprise from my ...