topic Anxiety and swallowing problems in Anxiety

Anxiety and swallowing problems

KMTE — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 07:29:28 GMT

First time posting,

I've just been diagnosed with anxiety and am seeing a mental health worker next week. For the last week I've been paying heaps of attention to my swallowing and it feels like I think so much about it I forget how to do it and then it feels like I can't swallow and I might choke. That triggers my anxiety even more and then it starts to feel like something is trying to come up almost like I might be sick but without actually feeling sick. Then it all flows from there and I get an even worse choking/something coming up feeling and the trembling hands and light headed ness kicks in. Does anyone else experience this and have any tips on combating it?

Thanks 🙂

Anxiety and swallowing problems

JellicoeGirl99 — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 10:50:19 GMT

Hey KMTE

I think seeing the mental health worker will help so much, it's always helped me to see someone who can explain to me what I'm going through and why, so good luck!

Meanwhile, I think your symptoms sound a bit like you're panicking about the choking feeling. I've had a similar experience where I focused on my swallowing and breathing way too much to the point I thought I couldn't get a grasp of them, however, both are automatic and even though this feels scary, panicking isn't life threatening. So it's important next time you feel this to stop the flow. The panic and light-headedness is usually a result of over-oxygenating your brain as a result of your breathing quickening without you realising. To combat this you should try controlled breathing; breathe in for 6 seconds and out for 8. Take your mind off your swallowing and other anxiety symptoms by using grounding techniques; think of 3 things you can see, hear, touch, etc. These have helped me so I hope they do the same for you.

All the best 🙂

JellicoeGirl

Anxiety and swallowing problems

Guest_9809 — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 11:07:06 GMT

Hi there KMTE and welcome to the BB Forums.

Sorry to hear that you have recently been diagnosed with anxiety. But the good thing is that you are now doing something proactive to combat it. Good on you. I'm sure that seeing a mental health expert will benefit you greatly and will be able to teach you many self help methods to help you through your anxiety and to manage it well in future.

I also have an anxiety disorder (PTSD) and although I dont have a specific problem with swallowing, it is a common symptom of anxiety, especially during panic attacks. It should be noted however, that there are a number of illnesses and diseases which also have the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. So it may be a good idea to see your GP to rule out any other possibility.

For people with anxiety, the difficulty in swallowing occurs because of an over-sensitivity to our body. As you know, most bodily functions are automatic. You breathe without having to think about it. Your hand grips things without thinking about each individual finger. And when you swallow, you do so without consciously moving the muscles in your throat. However if you struggle with anxiety, especially during a panic attack, your mind becomes too focused on things that should be automatic, and you become overly aware of this. You can still swallow, but when you do so, it no longer feels like a natural reflex. The good news is that you're unlikely to choke, but your body is so overwhelmed with anxiety that what used to be an automatic response becomes less so.

How to help the situation? You can try taking a slow and very deliberate breath, and try to sip some water. This should reassure you that you are not choking and that you can indeed still swallow, and you are just overthinking the situation. Try to distract yourself by redirecting your attention to things other than your swallowing difficulties. If you are having an anxiety attack, try to ground yourself by counting backwards from 100, naming all the items on the table next to you, naming out loud the letters of the alphabet. Whatever you chose, the aim of the exercise is to distract you from whatever caused the anxiety in the first place.

I hope some of this advice helps to explain what is likely going on, as well as to offer possible ways to help you in the short term. In the longer term, I'm sure that your MH worker will provide you with tips and tools to help you develop your own methods in overcoming your anxiety.

Taurus

Anxiety and swallowing problems

BlueGrass — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 12:50:28 GMT

Hi KMTE

Re the swallowing. Speak with your doc. I had (still have) similar type issue, and it is catarrh. Sometimes it feels like the swallow mechanism 'jams' or 'locks'.

The specialist I was referred to said it's management, and most people find avoiding dairy, wheat and citrus, or any one or two of those, lessens it. I think potato also affects me.

Try to relax your throat muscles anyway, that might help. I find it frustrating and sometimes a tad frightening, so one would think I'd be more careful avoiding ice cream (which I had for sweets and am now suffering ).

hugs

Anxiety and swallowing problems

KMTE — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 08:43:36 GMT

Thanks for your responses. I went to the doctors last week and he said it was definitely anxiety related but all he did was look down my throat and ask some questions. This week has been pretty good I haven't seemed to focus on swallowing and it's hardly caused an issue. I had a slight something coming up in my throat feeling (without the swallowing feeling) on Sunday with some burning in my chest which I thought might have been heartburn/ reflux so I took an over the counter heartburn tablet and it disappeared. And I didn't let the panic take over me anywhere near as much as I did last week. Also I've had a bit of food repeating on me and some chest burn/pain so I thought maybe heartburn/reflux could cause the swallowing sensation to some extent too. Also I had a meeting for my local sports club last night and when it was my turn to speak in front of everyone I had the lump/ swallowing sensation again and managed to overcome it and say my piece. Also I never actually have any trouble swallowing food or water just every now and again my saliva. And whenever the swallowing sensation comes it comes with a nervous butterfly feeling in my stomach and a bit of panic. I also hold my jaw quite clenched which creates a dryish feeling and I thought maybe this could cause it? I've only ever experienced this swallowing/ lump throat sensation since my anxiety diagnosis. I know you guys aren't doctors it just brings some relief sharing my experiences with people with similar experiences. I am off to my health care worker tomorrow after a long waiting list so hopefully I will be on the road to feeling better soon.

Anxiety and swallowing problems

BlueGrass — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:30:10 GMT

Hi KMTE

Interesting re the jaw clenching. My jaw and upper neck used to ache, so I've tried to train myself to always have my teeth apart, not touching as is natural.

It's relieved the pain, ans as soon as I get ache, I realise I am clenching again.

So pleased you are getting things under control. The mind is an incredibly powerful thing.

hugs

Anxiety and swallowing problems

KMTE — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 20:31:52 GMT

Thankyou BlueGrass 🙂

Anxiety and swallowing problems

KMTE — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 21:58:44 GMT

So the appointment with my health care nurse went great. It's so easy to see things rationally and believe it's the anxiety while your there but not so much when your at home and the mind starts to go into overdrive and the symptoms start filtering in again. The swallowing thing has only happened probably 3 times this week and instead of going full blown panic I managed to just get on with things. But yesterday I wanted to say something to my husband and it felt like I couldn't get the words to my mouth and my jaw felt almost clenched. It lasted a split second and my husband said he didn't even notice it. I've been noticing lately I've been holding my mouth really firm and jaw really tense which the doctor said is just part of my coping/anxiety. So after that I went in full blown panic chest pain, shallow breathing, light headed just full panic thinking i have a neuro disorder. I must note that all my family and doctor say they notice no change in my voice or speech and 99.99% of the time I have no trouble

Anxiety and swallowing problems

SureJersey — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 02:49:51 GMT

Hi KMTE

Just wanted to check in and see how you've been? I have the same symptom, swallowing is so hard, I have trouble eating, mainly have liquids. I know I've developed anxiety, have seen psychiatrist and psychologist, have had my throat scan and diagnosed with Hashimotos, my thyroid is currently swollen 19ml. I've been told this shouldn't affect my swallowing. I get throat burn, like lots of bubbles of air pushing up through my throat right after I've eaten. I go nowhere without my water, it helps to ground me when I worry, and I drink to prove myself there's no problem. I spit put my own saliva. I am booked for an endoscopy to check down my throat. I'm just not sure what symptom to attribute to what anymore. I hope you've found peace

Anxiety and swallowing problems

KMTE — Wed, 02 May 2018 13:47:33 GMT

Hey sureJersey,

Sorry you find yourself in the same situation. Im travelling prettt well at the moment. We discovered i have acid reflux and heartburn which was contributing to the swallowing problem. Also i became too conscious of the swallowing so was doing it too much and always checking if i could swallow whicg

Anxiety and swallowing problems

KMTE — Wed, 02 May 2018 13:50:12 GMT

Made it worse. I too kept a water bottle with me at all times. I had 6 months with a mental health worker (fortnightly then monthly) and while i have my bad days still im on top of my anxiety for the most part 🙂

Anxiety and swallowing problems

Meoverhere — Fri, 11 May 2018 07:16:33 GMT

Hi SureJersey.

Just seeing if you’ve had your endoscopy yet. I have same issue w swallowing as everyone here. Feels like something in there? Little swallow? Like I have to swallow in order to swallow? Food and drink are going in fine. It’s all the other times. I have an endoscopy booked in a month. Doubt anything will come of it. Doctor thi is I have globulus sensation.

Hope you’re feeling better.

Anxiety and swallowing problems

GBC — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 01:57:33 GMT

Hi KMTE, I know it has been a long time since you have posted this, just wondering how are you doing? I just have developed something similar when I am eating is like I forget how to swallow for a few seconds and then work it out? It causes me a lot of anxiety

Anxiety and swallowing problems

SLP01 — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 23:11:59 GMT

Hi GBC,

I have come across your post regarding problems with swallowing. I too have recently found this to be a problem. Out of nowhere I simply go to swallow and it just doesn’t happen. I used to have this problem where if I got my throat irritated and started coughing my throat would close up. It’s a scary feeling when you can’t breathe but eventually the throat opens automatically. I had seen a throat specialist and he looked down my throat and obviously found nothing but it was something that he said that helped me.... The worst case scenario would be I fall unconscious and my throat will automatically relax! Knowing I won’t stop breathing reassures me I will be okay. One day I was in a restaurant and it started happening and I quickly got up to leave the room and make my way to the bathroom as no doubt people would think I’m chocking. When I reached the bathroom it stopped automatically which never happens. The next time it happened I was at home and I made my way outside and it worked. I now realise that when I have my brain think about walking and doing another motion it stops. Its now been years since I had this problem. I did the same thing recently when I can’t swallow and got up, walked a little around the room without anyone else noticing and distracted myself and it worked. I went back to swallowing. Please try it. I just have a feeling if our brains are distracted then the automatic motions will happen.

Anxiety and swallowing problems

GBC — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:22:20 GMT

Hi I hope you can read this message I have been having swallowing difficulties, when I swallow my food is like the swallow process stops and I can't do it then I panic and try to swallow again until when I am able to do it and then I panic I was wondering which symptoms did you have? How did they discover you had catarrh? Please if you could help me will be wonderful

Anxiety and swallowing problems

GBC — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:34:10 GMT

Hi Thank you very much for replying do you feel you are actually choking? like you need air but then after like 5 seconds it dissapears? It has affected me that much that I've lost 10kgin a month and a half and I feel devastated because I am breastfeeding my baby and at the moment trying to stop. So what happens with me is I swallow and it is like the swallow process stops I can't swallow and I feel I am choking I don't have air and then after a few seconds I breath and try to swallow again and I am able to do it and then it passes. All of this happens in about seconds that I panic a lot. Do you know the cause of it? how long does it last for you? Do you have the choking sensation or forgetting how to swallow sensation? Has it happened to you when eating? Thank you and sorry for so many questions.

Anxiety and swallowing problems

SLP01 — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 00:48:38 GMT

Hi GBC,

I was really sorry to hear what you are going through. With me my muscles in my throat would simply close up and air couldn’t get through. I could not breathe in any air. It would last about 2 minute and then suddenly my throat would open up and I would be okay again. It would happen if the food was a little spicy or a grain of toast irritated my throat. I became careful with what and how I ate. If I felt it come on I’d move around and distract myself to relax and not panic and it worked. I was going through something at the time and no doubt it was related to anxiety. It’s been over a year now and it hasn’t returned. Particularly because of what I wrote in my previous post about moving around when it happens. However out of the blue I now get this sensation of not being able to swallow suddenly. It’s like I forget how to swallow. The food doesn’t get a chance to get caught as it happens before the food goes down. It creates immediate anxiety but I again distract and move around to have my mind focus on something else. It works for me. Sometimes reassurance from a throat specialist may ease your mind which in return helps you relax. I know that when I’m anxious about even the smallest things my throat feels like I have something stuck in it. I guess everyone’s body reacts differently to even the smallest of stresses. I have learnt over the years mine goes straight to my throat tensing up and then the rest started happening slowly over the years.

Anxiety and swallowing problems

GBC — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:56:29 GMT

Thank you for replying does it happen when your food is between your mouth and throat? for how many seconds does it happen that you are with the food there? What do you usually do? For me I swallow and then food is between back part of mount and throat it stays there until when I remember how to swallow again? what do you usually do when you forget how to swallow? Do you try swallowing again or just bring food out? Thank you for your help.

Anxiety and swallowing problems

Supersteve — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 12:39:55 GMT

Yep I’m a veteran at this or at least I was ... I have out grown that , which all started from my first panic attack ... it’s all anxiety no need to worry about it , just will make u panic more.. .

Anxiety and swallowing problems

SLP01 — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 02:11:00 GMT

Hi GBC,

Apologies for the late reply. I have been off line. I hope you are doing better. I still wanted to reply in case you come across the thread again. In regards to how long will my throat close up for..my husband says about 2 minutes. I do get a tiny bit of air which can be described as through a straw that has been flattened. I gasp for air and it sound scarey to those around me. I find that moving has my silly brain think of walking or just doing another motion that it stops me focusing on my throat. I don’t get a chance to get food stuck as it happens before I swallow. While the food is in my mouth I get up and move around then I can swallow. I hope that all makes sense. My advice is try relax before you eat or distract yourself while you are eating. Tv, playing with your baby or having a conversation. Anything.