Swallow reflex

[Beon]

Anybody have a problem with their swallow reflex?? Not a lump in throat which is all i read about..its that I cant inititate an actual swallow..and i have to wait until it eventually works..very scary...

[Dorsey]

Hi there i used to get that a lot doctor told me don't be ridiculous your senses wont alloiw you not to swallow. That was in my early days of anxiety. I don't get it anymore thank god.

[laglag]

That's exactly what happens to me. This may not be the best way to go about it but it works for me..... Any carbonated beverage will work, when that happens take a sip or two of Coke Zero and belch a few times and it should help it. Works every time for me. I can't talk when it happens. My husband knows now if it happens and I don't have a Coke Zero to run to the refrigerator and get me one. Hope it works for you.

[Beon in reply to laglag]

Many thanks for taking time to reply..its very scary

[peaceandfaith]

Omg that happened to me for a month straight and it was so scary and sucks because I love food and thank god its been slowly getting better some days it’s bad again for like a meal but then some meals I’m good. It was anxiety for me even though I also didn’t believe it.

It feel like I forgot how to swallow and the food just wants to stay stuck right before swallowing and sometimes by breathing feels like I wanna breathe in while swallowing it’s weird

[Beon in reply to peaceandfaith]

Thankyou for taking time to reply..it happens when im not eating too.

[Moose24]

This used to happen to me as a child. I could never go to another person’s house because I couldn’t swallow. I must have had anxiety and didn’t even know it. When my panic attacks were at their worst I could have this for days at a time and only sip water. My GP looked down my throat but couldn’t find anything. It gradually went away but, even now, many years later it sometimes happens. I find eating whilst doing puzzles helps me and always having a warm drink beside me. Cold drinks close your throat more. Distraction when eating works best for me. I wish you all the best.

[Ragdoll15]

Yes, I think it's all to do with tension around the neck muscles which we tighten when feeling anxious. You will find that if you keep chewing your food you will automatically swallow without thinking about it.