Fear of swallowing food. Even soup sometimes

[DanieleM]

I have been having this issue forever a year now. I feel the trigger was an important life event. I recognise it to be anxiety but I am seriously struggling. Even eating soup I have to chew and keep moving food in my mouth and make it smaller and smaller. Sometimes, it takes me 30 minutes to finish a small meal. I am really tired of it. I feel like not going out and meet people.

[Alexlisa]

Hi DanieleM,

Welcome to the forums. I’m very glad you reached out here because I know how hard this situation can be.

A few years ago I experienced the same issue. I have anxiety and OCD and it was a period in my life when I was having the worst symptoms I’ve ever experienced. I was having panic attacks and constant rumination. And then suddenly I started having panic attacks when I had to eat as I was terrified of choking. I used to even have trouble eating yoghurt, so I understand just how hard it can get.

I was wondering if you’re getting any professional help, from a psychologist? I was already seeing one at the time and it did help somewhat. I was taught really helpful skills to help me manage my anxiety and panic.

In the end though it was medication that helped reduce the symptoms. Because for me it was a bigger anxiety issue at its core I was prescribed an antidepressant (which helps with anxiety) by my doctor and after a few weeks it started to get easier. I couldn’t stay on the medication for more than a couple of months, but it never came back again. And that was about 4 years ago.

Sometimes it still crosses my mind, but it’s much easier now to just dismiss without it hooking into my mind. The thoughts are less ‘sticky’. Would you consider speaking to your GP? They will also be able to give you a Mental Health Care Plan so that you can see a psychologist for free, 10 sessions per year. You shouldn’t have to do this alone. I know that I couldn’t have.

Take care,

Alexlisa

[WPoppy]

Hi Alexlisa & DanieleM,

Thank you for sharing your stories. I have been suffering the same thing for over 12 months now. It always been on and off, however in just the last few weeks its become so bad that I am now struggling to get through my soup.

I've tried so many different things to change my mindset, however I just can't seem to shake it. I think a lot of my anxiety comes from this phobia which also gets me quite down as it is limiting my life as I can no longer go out and eat at nice restaurants, attend work lunches or even just eat a normal meal at home with my husband.

I'll take your advice and go and see my GP. I've always been so hesitant to turn to medication but perhaps that's what its come down to.

How are you both going with it?

[Beaglefitz]

Hi, my names Steve. Maybe I can share my story and what helped me. It was different scenario than your story but I can see how Anxiety may come in many forms, but the underlying problem all seems to be similar. At my Anxiety's peak I had it 24 hours a day. It felt that virtually every minute was dealing with my recurring, self-perpetuating, unrelenting state of mind. Going to see a doctor would have been impossible at this point because even trying to discuss the subject would potentially send me into a panic attack.
In order to move forward it came down to acceptance and overcoming fear.
Accept that the real world is still out there, and you are just having a few problems getting back there. Accept that the problem has been generated by you in your head. Can you recognise any factors that have come into play that have got you there? Accept your anxiety instead of fighting it. Accept the way it feels. Accept that it makes you feel different and that's OK. Don't fear the panic attack or the unknown if that's where you think your anxiety may take you. If you are having a panic attack then accept it, don't fight it. After it don't let it get you down. See that it all turned out OK. There is only one outcome to a panic attack and that is that it will pass, and you will get through it and you will be fine. Anxiety is built on fear and worry. Panic attacks are built on fear and worry. When you accept that you have anxiety and that's what is causing these thoughts and problems it takes the power away from it. Accept that there is plenty of time to get through this and it will all be OK in the end.
Try to work on your distractions. Try not to engage in any recurring conversations about the subject in your head. That is always the anxiety talking. The less you think about it gets you to the end goal where you are not thinking about it. Recognise the start of the thoughts that always end up back in the same place and don't entertain them as quickly as you can. This all takes a bit of time and may seem impossible at first but stick with it.
As suggested Anxiety comes in many forms. You may think you’re going crazy, you may think you’re going to have a heart attack and die, you may think you’re going to choke, it’s all the same. You have allowed an unrealistic, unsubstantiated thought get the better of you and it has become relentless and all consuming. It is all built on fear of the immediate or long-term future. That is Ok. That is Anxiety.

[44Max44]

Hi Daniele, I'm very sorry to hear you're going through this.

I've personally had this exact same fear, but in my case, it went away after maybe a month or two. z
It all started while I was eating a steak, and I swallowed a fatty bit that wasn't quite chewed up enough and it got stuck in my throat for a couple of seconds, but those couple of seconds is all it took for me to go into full-on panic mode because I thought I was going to choke which is one of my biggest fears. \

Long story short I coughed it back up and didn't choke, but for a month or two after that, I found myself second-guessing myself every single time I went to go and swallow food, and sometimes even when I wanted to drink something. I was doing exactly what you were doing and keeping food in my mouse and chewing it excessively until it was super small and I could swallow it without fear of choking on it, but even so, it was very difficult at times.

Those couple of months were torture, I hated not being able to enjoy eating food because of my fear of swallowing and even avoided eating where people could see me altogether because it was impossible for me to eat normally because I'd have to chew for so long and would often cough up food right as I went to swallow because I second-guessed myself and thought I might choke. There were several occasions where I went out for lunch/dinner with my family and would either order something small so it wouldn't take me long to eat it, or just not eat much at all and say I 'wasn't hungry' when in reality I was.


For me, I'm not exactly sure what made this fear of swallowing stop, I guess I just realized after a while that this fear was irrational and that the only reason I had the fear in the first place is because I was laser-focused on my swallowing every time I did it instead of it being automatic like it usually is. All in all it probably took me at least 2 to 3 months before I was completely over it, but it wasn't like I flicked a switch and the fear was gone, it was slow and steady progress over those 3 months until eventually I was no longer thinking about swallowing anymore.

One thing you could try is eating ice or other foods that melt (icecream, etc). Why I think these could help is because even if you were to choke, you know that they'd just melt in your throat making them practically impossible to choke on, so you can 'practice' swallowing these things and build up confidence without the fear of choking.

All the best,
Max

[Jessee]

Hi there,

I was wondering how you are going now?
I too have a swallowing phobia over past 5 months and counting I am unable to eat solid foods.
This has had a dramatic affect on my overall health and my weight has plummeted I am now just 40kgs.

I have been seeing a physcologist but I am not seeing results I am lost at what to do next.

[Ashesc93]

Hi guys. My name is Ash and Im currently having this issue. Ive been struggling with this for around 3/4 months now after having a choking incident roughly 3/4 weeks before it all began. After attempting to eating extremely soft food e.g. mashed veg and soups, It can take me a few hours to calm down again and lose the sensation or idea that I'm choking. It gets so bad that I can even fear swallowing liquids at times and can feel hunger pains but unable to eat anything to ease the hunger. Today I actually felt like i was going to faint as Ive been unable to eat close to anything for the last 4 days. I was sent for a barium swallow which showed nothing unusual and am now seeing a psychologist however am having very mixed results. I have lost about 10/15 kgs and feel lucky that i had the wight to lose without becoming sickly but sick and tired of feeling this way. I just prefer to sleep so I don't have to deal with this

[Sophie_M]

Hi Ashesc93,
  We're so grateful that you have reached out to our community tonight, we know that it is not an easy thing to do and you have shown a lot of strength in sharing your story. We're also really sorry to hear of the difficult past few months that you have had. We understand that dealing with this issue must be exhausting. Please know that you don't have to do this alone. We would urge you to contact the Beyond Blue Support Service anytime on 1300 22 4636 or get in touch with us on Webchat 3pm-12am AEST here: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport One of the friendly counsellors can offer you some support but also provide you with advice and referrals.  We hope that you keep checking in to let us know how you're going, whenever you feel up to it.

[Louj]

I can really relate with this, sounds like what I’m going through now. Can I ask what or how you became better after a few months? Medication or. Psyc?