Married At First Sight’s Rhi Disljenkovic has opened up about suffering with a “debilitating” condition she’s kept secret from even her closest friends for years.

The 35-year-old revealed she has emetophobia, an intense fear of vomiting, that leaves her frozen and hyperventilating and that she fears will impact motherhood one day.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Rhi explained that her fear wasn’t just an ick or dislike but rather “a fully-body panic reaction [she] can’t control.”
Rhi said she’d kept her emetophobia a secret from some close friends for years. (Instagram @rhijisljenkovic)
“I’ve barely ever spoken about this because it’s one of the hardest things to explain and one of the most misunderstood phobias,” she wrote.

Rhi has kept the phobia a secret from some of her closest friends, too many times Rhi said people simply don’t understand the severity of emetophobia.

For Rhi, her emetophobia began with OCD-type tendencies. She recalled “touching every tile in the shower before getting out” or “making sure ever drip from the tap stopped” to help ease her fears.
Rhi’s phobia was debiliating at times leaving her shaken and hyperventilating. (Instagram @rhijisljenkovic)
“At the time it felt like life or death even though I knew it didn’t make sense. You keep it to yourself because it feels embarrassing. You know it sounds irrational but your body reacts as if it’s in real danger,” Rhi penned.

She described living with emetophobia is “debilitating”. Not only does it take a mental toll but physically too.

Rhi “instantly” feels sick when she sees vomit and begins to “freeze, shake or even hyperventilate”.
Rhi married partner Jeff Gobbels at first sight on the show at the start of 2025. (Instagram @rhijisljenkovic)
Rhi’s biggest worry was that her emetophobia will get in the way of her coming a mother.

“I really want to be a mum one day. And I know this phobia will make that incredibly hard. But my want to be a parent is bigger than my fear. I know it’ll challenge me but I also know I’ll be okay. Because love will always be stronger than fear.”
The 35-year-old said her emetophobia started with “OCD-type tendencies” (Instagram @rhijisljenkovic)
Rhi’s post was met with an abundance of support as well as responses from many people who lived with the same experience.

“Thank you for sharing, this is the first story I’ve read where it resonates, I’m not triggered and I feel understood, it’s a tough journey but this makes me hopeful it gets easier to live with,” one follower said.

Another wrote: “You are not alone! This has been the biggest controlling factor of my life! Thank you for speaking out Rhi it’s not easy xx.”

A third commented: “Ahh I feel so seen!”
Rhi worried her phobia would impact becoming a mum one day but was determined to overcome it. (Instagram @rhijisljenkovic)

Rhi’s MAFS journey

Rhi became a familiar face on Aussie TV when she appeared on Season 12 of Married At First Sight.

It was there that she met partner Jeff Gobbels… although it turned out they’d already met.

When Rhi and Jeff laid eyes on each other at the altar they clocked that they’d in fact already dated prior to being on the show but broke up on good terms.

It was an awkward start to their MAFS relationship but Rhi and Jeff soon became the season’s golden couple and have continued on to be one of the most successful relationships to come out of the show.

The pair are happily living together in Melbourne more than a year after marrying at first sight.