swallowing problems and panic attacks

Hello!
I have suffered panic attacks from age 16. Of late, I had a scary experience whereby I could not swallow....I really feel it is panic related. Anyone have difficulty swallowing, and trying to swallow during attack just makes worse..more anxious, etc?
Tnkx,
Taf/

Yes, I've had attacks where I feel a lump in my throat and my mouth gets really dry. A good deep breathing exercise helps that feeling. If you are still having probs leave me a message. Take care. :D

I've had it many times over the last eight years suffering panic disorder. It's called globus hystericus, and can feel very frightening, but the good news is despite the slightly silly sounding name it is entirely caused by stress and entirely harmless. It usually goes within a few hours, but can last for a couple of days or be recurrant. The more you learn to relax though and realise it's harmless, uncomfortable but harmless, then the less often it will happen.

its nothing to worry about- i used to feel as if my throat was closing up and my mouth was dry. in fact being a suffer from anxiety this was the first problem i delt with successfully. from a biology point of view all it is , is that during anxeity , the body will stop producing enymes that make saliva as you probably know, eating is the last thing our ancestors would be doing when faced with that lion. its just a bummer a few thousand years later our bodies still feel that urge to have to do it. it is difficult to overide nature i know. but please dont let it bother you.

I find that when im on the bus i get a dry mouth and find it hard to swallow during panic then one day my nicece handed me a sweet(one of those horrid tangy fizzy ones)and it made my mouth water that much it felt really nice and there was that much saliva i had to swallow just an idea

It's a horrible sensation isn't it>?

When I have an attack I can't swallow and sometimes I think that I may swallow my tongue!!!

Yak!

I've had it many times over the last eight years suffering panic disorder. It's called globus hystericus, and can feel very frightening, but the good news is despite the slightly silly sounding name it is entirely caused by stress and entirely harmless. It usually goes within a few hours, but can last for a couple of days or be recurrant. The more you learn to relax though and realise it's harmless, uncomfortable but harmless, then the less often it will happen.

Hi, I'm new here. Just want to say that I think you and others gave good advice and reassurance to Old_Anonymous_Members. IMO the swallowing difficulty is nothing more than just another symptom of anxiety.

Ironically, the more we try to fight the fears, the more power we give them! Yes, it's possible to "accept" them, as unpleasant as they are. Thoughts and feelings have no real power. By "accept" I mean: Take a deep breath, or a few, and KNOW you don't have to be afraid of them. Let them flow through and float away.

I also recommend some GOOD professional help.

I just recently started having panic attacks and yes, the other night I had trouble swallowg. It was like I could not find the muscles to do it, you know? I also start having obessive thoughts about not being able to breath correctly and find myself holding my breath. It sucks and it's weird.

yes yes yes !!!!!

this is my main anxiety problem thats been effecting me these past few weeks getting worse n worse --- its horrible :mad:

i remember first being so afraid of eating i refused to and eveyone thought i were anorexic

Little Lisa,
I know that the breathing, or lack of ability, makes everything much worse because you HAVE to breath to live and you want to avoid hyperventilating..the next time you experience these breathing symptons, rub vix vapor rub under your nose so you breath in without thinking, and wait...I promise you this will calm your inability to breath, or make it much more pleasant (that was a bad choice of word), but I think you know what I mean. Hope it:D works for you...i too am one of those people.

I'm new on here and to panic attacks; but I've had two in 7 days and both of these started with a feeling that I couldn't swallow. I tried to take a drink etc and felt that was chocking me, the more I tried to swallow the worse I began to feel. Both times I was driving on routes that I know very well. Both times within a couple of minutes I have been unable to move my hands, and then this has crept into my arms, jaw, face etc.

Its a horrendous experience and very very frightening.

Globus Hystericus is probably the most complained about symptom in anxiety conditions. It is a sensation, nothing more. The tightening of these muscles has never harmed anyone. You can't stop breathing or swallowing from this symptom that is for certain.

It is a symptom of an anxiety disorder and by removing the underlying anxiety, you will eradicate this forever.

Similarly, the sensation of smothering is purely that, just a SENSATION. If you really couldn't breathe, you wouldn't be standing there right now!

Stop focusing on these symptoms, anxiety is by definition a somatic condition and all of these symptoms are created psycho-somatically.

Trust me, after helping 65,000 folks, I can assure you that these are not harmful or permanent!

Charles

I've had it many times over the last eight years suffering panic disorder. It's called globus hystericus, and can feel very frightening, but the good news is despite the slightly silly sounding name it is entirely caused by stress and entirely harmless. It usually goes within a few hours, but can last for a couple of days or be recurrant. The more you learn to relax though and realise it's harmless, uncomfortable but harmless, then the less often it will happen.
I have just returned from the gp's surgery and he thinks it is globus hystericus that i have, its not all the time but seems to be worse when im dropping off to sleep, i feel unable to swallow and get very anxious, usually end up awake for most of the night as after it happens i associate it with going to sleep and unless im so tired that i drop off immediately i cant lay there and try to get off to sleep. vicious circle...one thing i have been trying and it seems to help is having a squirt of nasal spray before i go to bed, maybe it may help someone else with same problem. will also try the deep breathing when it happens, try to stay calm. good health to everyone.

Hi there I have the same problem as you but the way I have solved it, its to carry a bottle of drink. Have you solved yours by eating and carrying sweets with you at all times?

Hi fisherman

Many people who smoke aren't actually addicted to nicotine or anything, they just rely on a habit that they have formed. Do you think your problem could be the same?

Chris

Hi yes I too ahve had the cant swallow bit,in fact it was one of the first signs i had..the vick thing works very well for me so does sniffing Tiger Balm or similar.Aromatherapy and meditation amd gentle music have been my saviors at the bad times:)as have my dearest friends and work colleagues once I opened up to them.
best wishes:)

I just recently started having panic attacks and yes, the other night I had trouble swallowg. It was like I could not find the muscles to do it, you know? I also start having obessive thoughts about not being able to breath correctly and find myself holding my breath. It sucks and it's weird.
Hi everyone, I'm new to the site.

Yes, I have a hard time swallowing. One of you described it perfectly. It's like the muscles won't work and I have to play with whatever's in my mouth before the instict to swallow happens. Wondering what to do and if anyone else suffers with this. I eat so slowly it's embarressing.

[QUOTE=Richard1979]I've had it many times over the last eight years suffering panic disorder. It's called globus hystericus, and can feel very frightening, but the good news is despite the slightly silly sounding name it is entirely caused by stress and entirely harmless. It usually goes within a few hours, but can last for a couple of days or be recurrant. The more you learn to relax though and realise it's harmless, uncomfortable but harmless, then the less often it will happen.[/Q

hi im new here but not new to panic attacks unfortunately i started to suffer with these about 14 yrs ago and then they dissapperared only to return a couple of weeks ago ! im now 44 and still struggle with it all, but this time round im getting the swallowing problem which i never had before its horrendous wake up every morning with this like compulsive swallowing thing struggle to eat incase i choke on the food or something !! sound a bit odd but is nice to read that its part of the panic dosorder as i was beginning to think i had something else wrong so hopefully it will help me over come them

yes yes yes !!!!!

this is my main anxiety problem thats been effecting me these past few weeks getting worse n worse --- its horrible :mad:

i remember first being so afraid of eating i refused to and eveyone thought i were anorexic

no the feeling i cannot eat at all to scared of choking but am now losing to much weight how did u manage to over come this problem its driving my family and me mad :o

thank god, you describe exactly what i have been suffering since april!! i sent a thread on this sit and had 2 responses and no-one seemed to understand this terrifying thing that i am going through, i have to say that now my life has improved but i am unable to sit with my husband or anyone while i am eating, i am nervous when i eat and experience exactly what you say i feel that i loose the instinct to swallow and it is so so frightening, i too play with my food in my mouth till i can swallow, i live on pepsi max to help me swallow, it is the most frightening thing i have ever experienced and it is having a huge impact on my life but it is mainly when i am in stressful situations, but having said that when i am on my way home from work or when i get up i know i have to eat i immediatley become anxious, during a meal i find that i prefer to stand at my kitchen window, but i am very aware that my body jerks with fear and nerves while i attempt to swallow and i know that i look rediculous!! hang in there you are NOT alone, hope you feel better soon, if you want to talk-i'm here for you and know exactly what you are going through XX

Omg! I'm having the same problem... I feel like I'm holding my breath and my breathing studders sometimes.... I also have horriable trouble swallowing I feel so much better now that I know that I am not alone.... I wouldnt wish these types of feelings on anyone! but Know i don't feel so alone:) stay well !

hi,



ive been suffering from depression and anxeity problems, after a course of anti-pepressants i over my deppression, but now ive been suffering from bad anxeity attacks. i kept thinking and beliving that i had lots of diferent serious illnesses. a new one every few days. those seem to have stopped after visting my gp having tests to prove that there is nothing wrong with me. im a 20 year old student i should be thinking thoughts like this as it effecting my studies and social life.



my main concern at the moment is my problem swallowing food, pills. i havent been able to eat solid food for about 6 weeks now ive been to my gp again and she has given me caloire supplment drink which i can swallow but now the swallowing is more servere as i cant swallow my anti-deppressant pills. i was suppose to see the phyciatrist for a while now but stil havent heard anything(NHS IS SHIT). i have gotten use to not eatin solid food now but get filled with dreadful thoughts throughout the day knowing i have to swallow my pills in the evening. the pills wont go down my throught closes and cant do it, in the ven i manage to swallow something i have severe panic attacks and now im too scared to try. the fear is of my choking on it or it gets stuck in my wind pipe and cant breathe. i dont know what to do anymore and am scared that my deppression may return.





sorry and hope its not to long to read, thanks



Rossco

Hi Rossco

If it's any consolation, anti-depressant pills aren't big enough to block your throat. I occasionally get one stuck in my throat but it has never stopped me breathing, it just tastes horrible and I have to wash it down with water.

Chris

hi,



ive been suffering from depression and anxeity problems, after a course of anti-pepressants i over my deppression, but now ive been suffering from bad anxeity attacks. i kept thinking and beliving that i had lots of diferent serious illnesses. a new one every few days. those seem to have stopped after visting my gp having tests to prove that there is nothing wrong with me. im a 20 year old student i should be thinking thoughts like this as it effecting my studies and social life.



my main concern at the moment is my problem swallowing food, pills. i havent been able to eat solid food for about 6 weeks now ive been to my gp again and she has given me caloire supplment drink which i can swallow but now the swallowing is more servere as i cant swallow my anti-deppressant pills. i was suppose to see the phyciatrist for a while now but stil havent heard anything(NHS IS SHIT). i have gotten use to not eatin solid food now but get filled with dreadful thoughts throughout the day knowing i have to swallow my pills in the evening. the pills wont go down my throught closes and cant do it, in the ven i manage to swallow something i have severe panic attacks and now im too scared to try. the fear is of my choking on it or it gets stuck in my wind pipe and cant breathe. i dont know what to do anymore and am scared that my deppression may return.





sorry and hope its not to long to read, thanks



Rossco
Hello
I feel for you just writting this my swallowing is getting tight it is vary scarey i've been to the docter so many time I cant count it's horriable! i've even at times thought my heart was failing Ask your docter If you can crush your pill up and put it in your drink For about a week i've been doing some excercises what I've been doing is I spend an hour or so swallowing over and over again just a thought :) Your not alone! stay strong ! :)

yea cheers for replying, yea jus get anxious every time i have to take em, thinking the worst possible outcome of everything u know that one, thats kool now tho the doc gave me disolovable ones now. jus gota get myself eating food again.

Your Not Alone ! Stay Strong It Will Get Better Ask Your Gp If You Can Cut Your Pill To Make It Smaller If Your Worried! If You Need To Talk I'm Always Here To Talk About This! :)

hiya, yea went 2 c the phyc 2day he said i got an anxity disorder, which is ok as ive been thinking much worse still in fear of loosing my mind but guess its jus the anxity