Anxiety and throat symptoms

[Buzzybees101]

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a good day today.

This is my first post. I have suffered from anxiety and sometimes depression for my whole life. Recently my anxiety has been 100x worse (since job loss earlier in the year and losing any sense of direction). Today I dropped my FIFO partner at the airport to go to work and had a panic attack, crying, vomited, hyperventilating etc at the thought of spending time without him while he is gone. Since then I have been feeling like my throat is swollen even though I am able to breathe and swallow fine and of course my brain's rational response is a self diagnosis of thyroid cancer! I am terrified now (I made the mistake of googling it and google only ever tells us we have cancer). Has anybody else had similar symptoms with their throat? I want to book an appointment but I am worried I am going to sound silly explaining this to a doctor.

Thank you for reading

[Learn to Fly]

Hi Buzzybees101

Thank you for sharing your story with us and I am very sorry to hear about what you have been going through for most of your life and recently.

I don’t think you sound silly explaining everything that had happened to you recently as well as your body and mind reactions. I believe a GP wouldn’t dismiss you either. How would you feel about considering seeing a GP so he/she could examine you, evaluate your symptoms and hopefully direct you towards the path of calming your nerves and lowering the stress levels?

You mentioned you had vomited and had a panic attack. I am not a doctor but do you think it might be possible that your throat muscles got badly strained, hence the swelling?

Your GP should give you some answers to this after performing an examination.

[Petal22]

Hi Buzzybees101,

Wellcome to our forums!

Sorry you are feeling this way……

I understand anxiety I had severe anxiety OCD….. I have now recovered from this condition thanks to the help of health professionals……

When I was in the grips of OCD I would obsess over certain intrusive thoughts…… one was my eye I thought something was really wrong with it I had it checked but even though I was told it was ok I would still obsess over it ….. my anxiety was very high.. I’d have panic attacks and always be in a heightened state of anxiety…….. I’d obsess over other thoughts aswell…..

I seeked professional help for what I was experiencing….. I started with my gp we did a mental health plan together….. this then enabled me to see a clinical psychologist and I saw a psychiatrist….. I was diagnosed with OCD…… it’s a anxiety disorder…. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder…… this then led me to a OCD clinic that specialised in OCD this is we’re I learned to master my OCD…… I did meta cognitive therapy……… it took time and practice to master the skills I was taught but have now perfected it and have been free of the vicious cycle of OCD for 4 years going strong………

When I was in the grips of OCD I didn’t like being alone, I’d constantly seek reassurance eg… googling symptoms, checking things…..

To me my thoughts seemed irrational but felt very real……. The anxiety with OCD is very intense……

Yes please don’t hesitate to see your gp…. They will understand…. My gp put me on a antidepressant to help me to manage my anxiety…. And I did therapy I think the two go hand in hand……

Mention OCD to your gp and please don’t google it’s the worse thing to do it will make you more anxious……

try to put your attention on something in the present moment…..

If it is OCD….. there is HOPE that you can recover from it……. There is help available it is treatable….

im here to chat to you 😊

[Buzzybees101]

Thank you, I didn't consider that I could have strained the muscles in my throat/neck area so thank you for pointing that out! If it hasn't improved tomorrow I plan to book an appointment just for peace of mind and maybe some help with my anxiety. I struggle with horrible pms aswell which always makes my anxiety worse so that is probably a factor aswell!

[Buzzybees101]

Thank you so much for your response, that is interesting I had never considered OCD. I used to have horrific health anxiety in my late teens and was very much like that, I haven't had it badly until now but I think I will go and get checked over and discuss this, thank you!

[SpookyScooter]

Hi BB101,

You are not alone, I’m currently going through the same thing.

I've been dealing with what feels like a lump in throat/swelling/tightness.

What your feeling could be described at Globus Hystericus - it’s driven by stress/anxiety. You can eat/drink/breathe fine, but have a constant feeling that something is stuck in your throat/tightness.

Try doing relaxation, breathing exercises, as feeling anxious causes you to be tense, which can contribute to the feeling in your throat.

Of course have a check up with the doc, as that may give you the reassurance that nothing serious is wrong ❤️

[Buzzybees101]

Hey,

Thank you for your reply, I hope you are doing ok ❤ it's a horrible feeling isn't it? I'm still getting it now but only when I think about it, mainly at night when I have time 🙄