Swallowing Phobia

[LonersR]

Anyone ever dealt with swallowing phobia im so hungry but scared to eat ive been to hospital multiple times for my throat and its nothing wrong but it always feel tense and im scared if i eat ill choke and die how to get over this ??? Ive lost about 30 pounds in the last month

[FearIsALiar]

I’ve had this before.. long ago

Anxiety cannot kill you or hurt you. What you’re experiencing is anxiety. For me it felt like I had a lump in my throat and throat felt tight.

Try eating mashed potatoes, soup, smoothies etc. anything that you don’t have to chew! That’s what had helped me and I’m sure it can help u!

[Hidden]

Yes, I had/have this bad. I had to have a soft diet for the longest time and it was still hard to swallow. I had to drink Ensure and V8. I don't have any healthy things that helped me with this really, have a drink, pop a pill etc... It took me an hour and a half to eat a bowl of soup one time. I still have this from time to time. It just happened lastnight, but you just have to get a little confidence built back that you aren't going to choke on your food when you swallow, and get over that fear. Eat slow, take smaller bites. And eat Soft foods. I'm much better now, but it still happens pretty often. I also think that I am closer to being on the right medications for anxiety now too. Might as your doctor about taking an antianxiety medication before you eat for awhile, and get some confidence built back up that you're not going to choke, once you get past that fear, it gets way easier.

[duchess1226 in reply to Hidden]

Did you ever have it happen with liquids?? This started 2 weeks ago for me and I tell you what.... its been soooo hard. I see ENT next week to make sure but my panic disorder is so bad I am confident they will find no true medical issue. I was eating soup, it would literally not go down which triggered a HORRIFIC panic attack because I though I was going to choke... its scary. xo

[Hidden in reply to duchess1226]

Yes a few times with liquids, but not nearly as bad as stuff that had to be chewed up. It helped me to eat alone, by myself. Sometimes I would panic and have to stand up and walk around for a bit, or just spit it out.

You are probably right that nothing is physically wrong if you feel panic while trying to swallow, that's probably what it is.

My appetite became really low, simply because I was scared to even attempt to eat, so getting a medication that helped both boost my appetite AND helped with the anxiety helped me get started. If I'm really hungry it doesn't bother me as bad.

Just make sure you get enough food and water each day.

You could even try practicing, chewing up something like a cracker and take a drink and wash every bite down with liquid. That made it a little easier for me to swallow, but it does take sometime to get over that fear. It still happens occasionally but I am much better now. I'm not sure how I even developed this fear, I have never choked but......

Tell your psychiatrist that you are having these issues.

Now I can eat around other people and it rarely crosses my mind unless I am having a super anxious episode.

I hope things get better for you, but since I have gotten much better, I am sure you will too, just hang in there, I know it is frustrating not even beginning able to swallow food or drink. But if I can get better, so can you!