Originally Posted by
Jakobo
I became extremely relieved when I read this thread, now I know I'm not the only sufferer of this horrible affliction. I am a 16 year old that live in the US, and I can still with great dread remember the first day it manifested itself within me. I woke up one morning when I was 9 years old I was flying to Corfu ( an island outside the Greece coast) three hours later with my family. I recall feeling a lump in my throat that just wouldn't go away, then hopelessness washed over me as a realised it would stay there forever. It was compulsory for me to constantly swallow something wasn't there, that after a while gave me headache.
It has ruined many aspects of my childhood. My social life has been the greatest loss. I used to be a happy boy that didn't hesitate to share things with other people or speak with them. Now with that lump in my throat, I hesitate to speak to people since I find it embarrassing that my voice suddenly cuts of when I swallow. I have isolated myself and become a quiet and depressed person who awaits the future with great fear: Will I ever meet a girlfriend who can stand my strangeness? Will I ever be able to work and communicate with people or will I continue down a road of self-isolation? Will I feel comfortable in social situations?
Worst is in classrooms, where I am afraid that the teacher will ask me questions and I won't be able to respond for an embarrassing period time.
I get nervous weeks before an oral presentation at school, since I always have to pause my reading to swallow.
During some periods of my life though, I have been able to subdue the violent problem, these times have been when I have felt confident or happy. I try to cherish the times, but as soon as I'm reminded of the swallowing , I am entrapped again.
PLEASE HELP ME, By giving me advice on how to handle it, it is destroying my life!! :weep: