HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Anxiety with swallowing food?

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic locked
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/16/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
about 3 weeks ago I was eating out when all of a sudden I felt like food kept getting caught in my throat everytime I swallowed. I am 20 years old and I have been diagnosed with anxiety when I was 14. The anxiety I had when I was 14 was just panic attacks brought on by not having an "escape". I fought through it and after about a year they went away. Now I feel as if I have a lump in my throat and everytime I swallow food (not liquids) it feels like it gets stuck at the bottom of my throat. I went to an ENT doctor and he did a larynoscopy and he said everything looked perfect so he sent my to do a barium swallow and a modified barium swallow (where they make you eat different foods). Everything came back normal and the speech pathologist said that it is more than likely anxiety due to that fact that I choked 2 months ago. I feel like Im losing my mind. I made a doctors appointment to get put on anxiety medication. Can anxiety really make it feel like food gets stuck in your throat everytime you swallow solids? I have never been through anything like this before. Also she said I could have acid reflux but it didnt show up on the barium swallow so if I did actually have it, it should cause this problem.
Posted 6/16/2011 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hello km3119,

Yes, anxiety can make it feel like food gets stuck in your throat every time you swallow solids - even liquids for some of us.

It took me a long time to be able to eat without worrying about choking on my food after my anxiety disorder fully developed (I choked numerous times before that - small esophagus). I still can't eat without something to drink unless I am simultaneously ravenous and relaxed (a rare combination indeed).

This will probably pass, you just need to learn to relax and not think about it too much while you eat (this might be difficult at first). Have some liquids on hand when you do eat, eat slowly and chew your food really well (I practically have to chew until my food is liquefied - sounds grosser than it is, lol).

Best of luck,

DarkWolf
Posted 6/16/2011 10:29 PM (GMT 0)

It makes me feel 100% better now that I know someone else has this problem. Not that I'm happy anyone feels like this, lol I just don't feel alone anymore. It's hard for anyone I know to understand what I'm going through because no one I have talked to ever felt it before.

Thank you so much for the reply, I feel more at ease knowing that it is in fact a symptom of anxiety. I am a pretty strong person (mentally) and I was able to overcome my panic attacks with out help of medication or speaking to a professional so I am sure I will be able to overcome this as well.

Posted 6/17/2011 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
I always tell people I am a choke-a-phobic

I had two traumatic incidents when I was a kid and everything that goes down wrong freaks me out even if I hear people choking I get spooked.
Posted 6/24/2011 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
When I was about 15, I decided to take one of my father's daily vitamin pills...it looked like a horse pill, but as I had no problems before swallowing pills, I decided to take it.  It felt like it got caught in my throat and I ended up retching for several minutes.  Though it went down, it left a lasting, hurting impression on my throat.

After that, I couldn't take pills, no matter the size.  I had to crush them up and put them in juice.  Even now, 18  years later, I still sometimes try to swallow pills and get scared.  I either need to, take them out of my mouth and try again, or take in more water.

I think this is the time when my fear of choking in public happened.  I remember many times, while eating in a restaurant, during my teens, that no matter how small I chewed my food, the food wouldn't go down.  I could feel the gagging/choking sensation.  Many times I needed to take home my entire meal.  I'm sure people thought I was anorexic.  At home, I didn't have the problem.

As crazy as it seems, I think I was afraid of choking in public and having to call attention to myself to resolve the life threatening issue.

Occasionally, I still feel this way, while eating out.  I just remind myself to chew slowly and completely and relax.  And if all else fails, enjoy the company and the leftovers later.

Posted 6/24/2011 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
My throat use to feel like it was going to close up completely.  Scary!  It is definitly an anxiety symptom but is also a symptom of a B1 Thiamine deficency.  I use to have a terrible time with muscle tension, back, throat until I started taking B-complex with one extra niacin and one extra thiamine before bed.  Cured my insommnia as well.  Maybe give it a try, you can get liquid vitamins now or buy tabs and crush them up.

Gem

Posted 6/24/2011 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Feeling like food is getting stuck in your throat is also a sx of GERD. You may want to review the following article:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5445083_globus-syndrome.html

Posted 6/26/2011 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
smilewinkgrin  I am 61 years of age and have had trouble swallowing anxiety issues since I was about 21 years old. For eleven years I suffered, and told no one because I thought they would think I was crazy. It got so bad that I started doing shots of straight alcohol . It helped temporally. I met a psy having coffe one day and told him my problem. I got treatment and was placed on meds and still am , it helps most of the time and for a few years I was symptom free. It's back again and Iam dealing and seeing a psy for help. Threw out the years when I had severe swallowing issues , I one day got some mentho lyptus cough drops and sused them to give my mouth more lubrication and discovered that it gave my about 95% ,if not all relief of my symptoms. I am having one now because this morning been one of those days. When you have troble again try a cough drop and see if it doesn't help. It may sound silly but it gives me temp relief and seems to prevent recurring attacks. Good luck and have a great anxiety free day.
Posted 6/28/2011 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all your replies. I went back to my family doctor and after she looked at the test results from the barium swallow tests she also said it was more than likely related to anxiety. She also said that my anxiety could in fact be causing acid reflux symptoms. She put me on Sertraline (Zoloft) and omeprazole (Prilosec). I just started the Zoloft today and have yet to take the prilosec but I will as soon as i get food in my stomach. This anxiety I can say has got the best of me, physically and emotionally. I am almost always sick to my stomach and have stomach gurgling, especially when I think about choking on food. It has actually gotten to the point that I lost ALOT of weight over this month and a half "problem". Everything that I have read points to all of this being due to anxiety.
Posted 6/30/2011 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
hi kmr3119,

i would goto to an ENT to scope your throat to rule out reflux.

Check the gerd forum, its called lpr reflux.

the typical symptoms of acid reflux damage to the throat are stuck feeling in your throat, a sore throat that doesn't go away, constant throat clearing.

can anxiety cause reflux? i think so..


i was diagnose with LPR a few months ago, my barium swallow was fine, however scope of my throat suggested reflux damage.

at the start i could only eat soups, solid food caused me great pain. The first doctors thought it was in my head, it clearly wasn't.

hope that helps.
Posted 6/30/2011 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kmr, just thought Id pop by and help, so many folks have helped me here in the past (especially Skitt). So been there done that got 5 tee shirts to prove it! lol.. Glad its put you at ease. Im totally anxiety free after years of turmoil, it all started like you with food sticking, especially peas, dry stuff, it was abit of reflux, tests were negative though all that stuff but was put on PPI's (proton pump inhibitors) I never got the food sticking after them meds (although occassionally now it gets fast, but I dont worry about it and it goes off like after a day). But it in the past left me with a fear of swallowing. I used to even grip objects when I was swallowing nothing, my own saliva! Anyway, most def it is anxiety, over-tightening the throat becomes a habit and a bad one to break!

Relax your throat when your eating, i mean dont move any muscles in your throat or tense up whatsoever, it over-exaggerates everythin, then you start catastrophizing . Its as simple as that. Relaxation, just let it go. You wont lose your mind no no you wont, you might come to the thread over and over again for reasurance, but thats fine.

Relax, it does heal, just have a little patience with the throat and dont focus on it, hard to do I know!!

Good luck hun.

J

Post Edited (acidgirl) : 6/30/2011 10:30:28 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/1/2011 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hey acidgirl,

Great to see you my friend.  Thanks for posting as your advise is always wise and so supportive. It puts a smile on my face whenever I see your name in the forum.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

 

Posted 4/5/2013 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
So I randomly started choking on my food. Only, I wasn't choking, I just got stuck like half way through the swallowing process. I did some reading and decided it was likely caused by acid reflux. I got some PPIs and made an ENT appointment.

But I noticed that the more it happened, the more I thought about it, and the more I thought about it the more it happened. I googled swallowing anxiety and found this page. I'm so glad I did. I've never been diagnosed with anxiety or any other disorder. But the longer I've gone without eating anything, the more panicked I've felt. My heart has been racing all day, and every time I swallow food I get a jolt of adrenaline. I have an appointment with my PCP Monday morning. I think I can make it that long.

Thank you all for sharing your experience. I thought I was going crazy.
Posted 4/14/2013 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am so happy I found this place.Nice to know I am not the only one experiencing this. I developed panic attacks when I was younger. It led into full fledged agoraphobia when my son was 3. Hes 19 now. My trouble with swallowing can be horrid at times-but was always sporadic. A good friend passed 3 weeks ago-I couldnt swallow food OR even liquids. Four days ago my sons friend lost his daughter to SIDS. 11 MONTHS OLD.. Cant really get much down. Afraid to eat now. I love to cook-so this is not good. Just want to be and feel normal again. The deaths have really made an impact on me and my anxiety. Dont know how to help myself
Posted 4/15/2013 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am suffering with this at the moment because of a cricopharengeal spasm, 90% of the time i have a constant sensation like someone has their hand around my throat and is squeezing. I also suffer from anxiety which doesn't help. I feel for anyone who experiences this, i wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Posted 4/15/2013 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi A7i20... and feather1 and welcome!
Hi sezz, good to hear from you again.:)

I am glad that you have all found comfort in knowing that you are not alone in this issue.

I hope that you all continue to post with us, and know that there is much support and understanding here in this group!

Feel free to start new threads of you own on any anxiety topic at any time if you wish.

Looking forward to getting to know you all better.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/23/2013 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

First I got this problem on August 2011. After having some medication i was all right. But this problem came back many times. Sometimes it takes a day, a week to recover. I never find this problem when i eat in front of my friends in restaurants. But when i concentrate my swallow i felt really bad. Today I could not complete my lunch. Sometimes i even afraid to take water. My doc says now its time to do some works with my mind. I am having problems with panic disorder. My doc tells me to ignore this. I am trying. Is there any way to relax myself or get the swallowing things out of my mind?. Please let me know. And never the less i find this forum is very much helpful. Thank you all.
Posted 4/23/2013 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi msh and welcome!

I am sorry that you are having problems with anxiety and its symptoms lately.

I am glad however that you have joined us, and are feeling a bit better from reading and posting here.

Your doctor is right in that the less you pay attention to this, the less power it has...however, it is not always easy to just ignore such things.

There are some great ideas for self-help in our Resources here . (main page, 1st post) They are for lowering your anxiety levels in general, which should result in reduction of symptoms. The breathing and relaxation video links are especially effective if practiced daily.

Another thing that has helped me when I am having bothersome symptoms is saying a positive mantra.

I might repeat to myself:

"I am okay, this symptom of anxiety is harmless, and will go away as I relax and breathe."

Then it is a good time to put those exercises to work! The combination of positive thinking (the words we say to ourselves have power!) and breathing and relaxation is amazing.

Keep posting here with us as well. We understand, and are here to listen and support!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/23/2013 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
At one time in my life I thought everyone had over acid stomach, I just endured the pain, one day my Dr.
gave me some Prilosec samples, I never dreamed one could get so much relief from a once a day pill,
I now take the generic over the counter from Sam's Club, costs about 18.00 for 42 days.
If I forget it two days in a row it will let me know quick, best relief ever.

Larry ***
Posted 7/29/2013 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,
I am new here and I am really glad I found this forum. It was only 2 weeks ago that someone actually gave a name to what I've been experiencing for the last 4 years. She asked how long I've been having panic attacks. I broke down and cried as finally I had an answer. It all started about 4 years ago ( I was 40) and my husband and I went on our very first cruise. The first night on the open ocean was crazy rough. Lying in bed I had never felt such terror in my life. I just wanted off the ship. 2 days later it hit when we sat down for lunch. Couldn't swallow - anything. Long story short it was a complete nightmare. My chiropractor helped me (she never said it was a panic thing though) with teaching me the EFT (tapping) tool. It helped a lot. I've been struggling with it ever since. It was two weeks ago when it really hit again. We were at an air show and my husband, son and I went up in a helicopter. Absolutely loved it. Complete euphoria. As soon and we landed and I grabbed some food - the "cruise ship diet" hit me again. Three days later I went to see an NLP coach (among other things) and she talked to me for and hour and a half about what was happening to me. Even in times of complete euphoric states it can rear its ugly head. She gave me so many tools to help. As she put it - I'm going to lay out a buffet table for you and you get to pick off it. So many options I can use to help me through all this. I will go back to her probably in a couple of weeks and go through hypnosis too. I have strong feelings of frustration, depression, etc., with this disorder and it's sometimes hard to look forward to the future, but I am optimistic. I read a posting on Facebook last night that really stuck with me "nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know".

Thanks all.
Posted 7/29/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chagar and welcome!

I am sorry to read of your bad cruise experience and subsequent panic issues...but so glad that you found, and joined us here!

I am sure that you both be able to receive and give helpful advice and support here, with people who care and understand!

It sounds like you are getting some great help as well for your steps to recovery!

Keep up the good work, and post often.:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 7/24/2014 6:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I also suffer from this frustrating thing, 2 years ago at a restaurant I choked and I ran to the bathroom and had to pull a piece of rappini out of my mouth/throat it was very scary and since then I have had times of this feeling when eating that I cant swallow. I suffer from anxiety and after a year and a bit of EMDR I can say I no longer have panic attacks although I still have anxious times, with this choking thing the best thing is to just keep chewing your swallowing reflex will happen if you just keep chewing, having a glass of anything liquid is always handy as well. I have times where I don't even worry about it but during stressful situations it comes back. I find comfort in eating in my place or others places without a lot of people I don't know or being on the phone while eating, I don't know if this helps anyone and I know this thread was started in 2011 but if anyone has any helpful tips or advice they have learned please share thanks again everyone!
Posted 7/24/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am having this exact symptom today too. I have been in the middle of a bad bout of anxiety for the past 2 weeks and now I have no appetite and can't seem to swallow food very easily. I can only swallow it with water. I just started Celexa today, so of course I am panicking as to weather this is a side effect or just a symptom of my anxiety. I have had it before, so I'm pretty sure it is just the anxiety. I usually love to eat.
Posted 10/2/2014 9:27 AM (GMT 0)
Im glad I found this I started having problems swollowing 2 months ago ive had anxiety since I was 12 im 21 now, i used to love to eat I never stopped untill I had my first panic attack were it felt like my throat was closing up ive never chocked on food but it seems im panicing about food getting stuck down my throat now all im eating is soup somdays not eating at all its worrying as ive lost alot of weight already :( I didnt look on the internet till now because I was scared incase it came up with loads of different things to worry me even more but at least I know im not the only one I canciled my doctors appointment thinking he was going to laugh at me .. but now I know he wont
I hope everyone whos got this problem gets through this :)
Posted 10/2/2014 9:39 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry I know this is someones post but I was just wondering if anyone had any tips to calm anxiety my mum got me some camomile tea apparently that can calm it down a bit (obviously not cure it lol) its just I dont fancey going on pills the doctor might give me (if I have to then I will) thanks :)
✚ New Topic locked
12