Anxiety and swallowing problems

[KMTE]

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 🙂

[KMTE]

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 🙂

[Meoverhere]

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.

x

[GBC]

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

[SLP01]

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.

[GBC]

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

[GBC]

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.

[SLP01]

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.

[GBC]

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. 

[Supersteve]

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.. .

[SLP01]

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.