fear of swallowing food?

hi

a few weeks ago I had trouble swallowing food at launch.

ever since I have a fear I would choke to death on my food.
I am afraid of eating large meals and avoid them.
I eat very slowly, taking very small bites and drink a lot of water every few swallows.
I eat very few types of food, ones that are I believe, after chewing - are in texture easier to swallow.
I have no problem with soups for example or bananas. I don’t eat a steak for example.
if something seems to be too much to swallow and feels like it’s a little stuck in my throat - I panic ! my heart beat increases dramatically, my whole body shakes, I breathe heavily, I feel like my throat is locking/narrowing , not letting the food down.

to my understanding, in case the food doesn’t go down, the worse that could happen is that I vomit - and it just goes out the way it went in.
even though I know I can eat anything just like anyone else and just like I did before that “hard to swallow” event happened - I can’t do it and panic, acting like I described above.

is this phagophobia ? what can be done to make me the way I was before that “hard to swallow” event ? can medication of any kind help ?

@stkitt:
got an appointment for a gastroscopy test tomorrow.
if not that test - what else should I do to find the problem? (none psychological speaking...)

@Mayflower7:
problem with cognitive behavioral therapists is that I haven't found anyone who actually have experience in treating Phagophobia



is there anybody else who had this and can please tell me how they overcame this?
thanks

gastroscopy test showed nothing.
now what?

i was feeling just like that i no what ur going threw i just went to a doctor about this try not thinking about choking and see how that help...