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taf
18-09-05, 16:39
Anyone had swallowing fears, difficulties in association with panic attacks? This a new symptom for me. I have had dx panic attacks since age 16, but found a real wonderful therapy which stopped, not just curbed but stopped completely, the uncomfortable attacks for many many years...a yoga/breathing exercise method. My attacks were signaled by breathing related issues which lead to fears of going to large crowded places such as malls...I can pretty well recognize now...and while I still have a distain for malls, can and have tolerate now for years. Of late, I had this really scary thing for me arise....At a restaurant this last summer, I suddenly felt as if I could not swallow!! (even saliva) and it scared me to death. Since, I have developed quite an aversion to eating out in public, and don't even wish to go with my family back to same restaurant. Even had full blown unable to swallow fear in car on way back home from there, and scared to tell my family (embarassed, more like it, I think)
CAN THIS BE a symptom of panic? Anyone else experience it?
I just read that globus hyster. can even be seen very commonly in ladies approaching the change of life...interesting. Perhaps hormonal/physical changes can bring about new panic symptoms for some who are a bit sensitive to such things?
I teach middle school (called junior high school in the states). Maybe this is it LOL LOL.
Best...and seriously...looking for any insight, similar experiences, what has helped you, etc....best, Taf/USA

alexis
18-09-05, 16:42
Hi Taf and welcome, I think you will find you are not alone in this area, someone will be along soon and show you the links, maybe Meg or Nic,Then you will probably be reassured, so glad you sound to be doing ok otherwise, Love Alexis,xx

Meg
18-09-05, 16:49
See if you can relate to any of these, Taf.

MORE HORRID SYMPTOMS!!!! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1957)
Swallowing / throat problems / Being strangled! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4476)
What has suddenly changed, feel awful! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3518)
Really frightend of Swallowing, (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3576)
A strange one, anyone else experienced similar?? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3741)
throat !!! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3857)
Strange Lump in Throat (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3929)
Throat, improvements, questions (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4008)
Problems with eating and Swallowing, (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4175)
update on throat problems (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4270)
Swallowing fear (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4341)
Horrible Throat Feelings! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4396)
Finally admitted what the problem is! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4725)
Another scared one (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4770)
Strange symptom that comes with anxiety (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4771)
Swallowing / throat problems / Being strangled! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4476)


Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

jill
18-09-05, 17:25
Hi Taf

WELCOME TO THE SITE,
There are lots of nice people here who will help and
support you.

TAKE CARE

LOVE JILLXXX


When you fear something,
learn as much about it as you can.
Knowledge conquers fear.

taf
18-09-05, 17:39
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! From the bottom of my heart and throat!!! LOL
Wow...this is a common symptom. I also just learned from a colleague that IBS and GERD, both of which I have had since childhood, and are exacerbated by stressors, have extreme periods of swallowing difficulty due to smooth muscle type spasms, etc. Both very harmless but annoying.....I suspected it was just a panic attack with a different mask on when it has happened, but the human mind is quite clever...when it does not get your attention with one symptom, I believe the symptom in my case actually morphs...til I am elicited to join in on a full blown panic attack...LOL
Anyway, in thoughtfully analyzing this situation after your kind words and MUCH NEEDED REASSURANCE that this whole swallowing thing is part of the anxiety beast, I am coming up with the following common denominators: 1. My mum died 2 years ago. I am prolly stiffling the grief and pain, and it is now manifesting as "I can't swallow, I am drowing even in my own saliva" as I try to unconsciously "swallow" and push down the grief to be stoic for my own kiddies...devastated about losing their grammy. 2. Just started a new job career-left reg. ed to teach severe and profound special ed...Love it, but perhaps I am being perfectionistic and hard on self...a down fall of my annoyingly perfectionistic personality type..LOL
Well, again, THANKS. Hope you don't mind if I keep in touch. This support has really helped me.
xxo and hugs to all, Taf/USA

lotus
18-09-05, 18:15
Hey Taf,

I get the same thing. When I had my very first panic attack /age 11/, I was at home, drinking orange juice. Suddenly, something strange happened - the juice was in my mouth, and I couldn't swallow it. My throat didn't feel tight, it was just that for some reason, my swallowing reflex didn't want to work. I freaked out. I still get that sometimes when I'm anxious, it's one of my main symptoms. I feel like my swollowing reflex is not working, and I need to swallow consciously, I tend to overswallow, sometimes to the point where my throat hurts, my mouth gets all dry, I feel like I'm going to choke, etc. I also have a fear of drinking/eating in front of people and in public places. Very uncomfortable, but it's definitely anxiety related.

seh1980
18-09-05, 19:13
Welcome aboard Taf!! :D

"If life were simple, word would have got around"

taf
18-09-05, 19:14
Thanks! That 100% describes my symptom to a T....I just suddenly felt like I could not swallow...and not to sound gross...thought the saliva was just going to overflow! Not a lump in my throat at all...just felt like suddenly, I felt my swallowing became uncoordinated, and I could not do so. This set off a viscious fear cycle, so I thought I would embarass myself in public and actually drool... Jeepers...not pleasant...so in turn became a full blown panic attack.
Good thing you shared your experiences with me....You have ALL HELPED ME A LOT. I feel better just knowing that this can come on with anxiety.
My hubby panicked a bit...said, You should go to ER, get scans, etc. Since I had it in different form of breathing/respiratory/sweaty palms/feeling of impending doom/ wayyyyy unpleasant racing heart beat kind of panic attacks years ago, I just had a deep down feeling that this new symptom is/was somehow connected to my panic attack history...so just knowing you all have been there has helped so much. I mentioned my hypothesis to hubby in that if it was physiological/structural/neurological, that there would be other symptoms, through the night symptoms, constant symptoms, not associated with life changes such as death of mom, career change, child leaving grade school primary and always near me (poor kiddolllLOL LOL) and now at separate across town high school....I may then go the awful doctor route (immediate upper GI's blah blah blah)..
GOOD NEWS TO REPORT:
My son just came in here with...ok throat suffers can relate...BEEF JERKY and said "Try this mom...it is really good" Well, folks, those of you wtih the swallowing thing can relate surely...this beef jerky looked like a hard mountainous stone...."I can't swallow this....and on top of it, I might embarass myself in front of my own kiddie and drool and choke right here....BUT>>>>>>>>>>>>>I somehow swallowed it and such with EASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone said above in their tagline that knowledge is power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen. Can you believe I actually swallowed it...This is a small step, but a huge step for me....I know because of my respiratory experiences with panic that this might wax and wane, but just knowing that others have the oral/swallowing symptoms will give me a HUGE tool in my fighting arsenal to control these panic attacks....like a computer being reprogrammed which occasionally gets "bugs and viruses", but still runs quite fine upon reprogramming.
Hugs to all and a big huge thanks!!!!!!!!!! Keep in touch as I will.....Bless you for this most important support group!!!!!!!!! Taf

alexis
18-09-05, 21:16
Hi taf, well done, I think once you realise you are not alone it helps tremendously. please do sstay in touch it is great for us all to support each other, love Alexis,xx

clickaway
19-09-05, 14:25
Hi Taf and welcome aboard.

So glad this site is give you some comfort.

Keep coming on here!

Ray

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
~Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers

Cinders4
19-09-05, 14:39
Hey !!!!! welcome aboard, you'll get as much help as you need here xx

lin
23-09-05, 11:18
hi Taf

Welcome to the forum.... I have a swallowing problem but mine is constant swallowing it started march this year it was really bad it made me cry every day. I still have it, don't think it will go away but i manage to cope with it it is part of anxiety.

Does any1 have the same problem as me?

linda xx

mjh74
23-09-05, 18:34
Hi Lin,

I have 3 horrible variations of it. I either constantly swallow, CAN'T swallow or feel like I'm gagging. It can be totally different each day but usually lasts the day whichever one I get. Truely horrible.....


Mark

buffed123
27-10-09, 21:36
Hi im 34 and been having panic attacks since i was 5 up untill i was 19 i was doing fine but then things got rapidly worse it seems that the things that i enjoy give me an attact in the from of not being able to swallow it just feels like the throat mechanics wont work does anybody else feel like this and can anyboy give me advice because i want my life back

Thanks

Lee

valley
28-10-09, 03:15
Hi Taf,
I also have experienced this symptom exactly as you mentioned. I used to refer to it as my swallows got "stuck" as I was swallowing. Like, I just forgot how to swallow. Quite scary. It was the symptom that led me to realize I had anxiety. Once I calmed down and tried to take my mind off of it, it went away. I still get it every once in a while, but now I know it's just anxiety and will go away. I thought I was a total freak the first time I noticed it - I thought surely I was crazy and was afraid to tell people. That was before the internet was widely used. Thankfully I happened upon a Claire Weekes book that discussed this and realized it was anxiety.
Welcome to the board, you will find lots of support from many great people here. :)