Constant need to swallow?

hi danigirl,

i am very new to anxiety as mine only started over a month ago...but i can relate to what you're describing on a smaller scale. Before i ever had any issues with panic attacks or anxiety i used to notice that if you focus on anything that your body would naturally just know to do - like breathing, blinking, and swallowing it suddenly starts to feel foreign. the reason for this is because you have these 2 nervous systems - one is your parasympathetic nervous system and one if your sympathetic system...your parasympathetic system controls the automatic things (like breathing blinking and swallowing) when you're constantly thinking about something that would usually come naturally you get stuck in your sympathetic nervous system which is the one that produces the "fight or flight" panicked feeling and you are much, much, much more aware of the fact that you need to swallow, breathe, blink etc.......

the thing is is that everyone swallows a lot during the day it's just that if you aren't thinking about it you aren't aware of it. anxiety throws you into your sympathetic nervous system where you are much more aware of every little thing going on in your body and around you.

it's easier said than done- but don't think about it. when you feel like you need to swallow, just swallow and think to yourself that it's a natural reflex that is supposed to happen, it's not something you need to be scared of.

Hear, hear, alwayslove!

Danigirl, I get stuck fixating on certain bodily aspects. For me, it's burping, because that relieves my globus sensation momentarily. So when my throat feels uncomfortable, I try to burp (silently!) to ease the tension. Perhaps swallowing has that same effect for you?

percycat

I have had issues with this problem on and off since I was 13. I thought I was the only one! It has kept me up at night and just annoyed me whenever I get it! Like if I could just forget about it, it would go away. It can last for days. I really thought I was the only one that had that problem. Hum.... I dont feel so stupid now. Thanks!

Hey danigirl

I am still in my youth and have recently developed this feeling. It keeps me up at night and after a while, all the saliva in my stomach makes me queasy. How do you deel with it? Its torture   I cannot go back to sleep for a while once it starts and some times it continues into the day.

But I found a way to stop it. Durring the day, it's not such a big problem. Just don't sit there and do nothing. Focus your attention on something else. But a night, when you feel you need to stay up and read or something, dont. Just go back to bed and day-dream. But get into it. really get into your dream and you will go to sleep and the feeling will go away. Jolt out of the dream and it will come back. Fast.

hope i was some help

-jenjen2000