Throat driving me mad

[lucas7547]

At last I have found somewhere. Over the last 6 years or so my life has become genuinely worse as my health anxiety becomes almost unbearable. I'm a tv producer, have great mates, partner, and slowly I have become distant from everyone as I become more worried about enjoying myself as I always feel there is something seriously wrong with my body. My doctor has suggested I see someone who deals with stress management but i still don't think this will help.

Not a day passes in my life without panicking that I am dying of something or other.

On Saturday night I smoked alot at a wedding. The next day my throat around the adam's apple really hurt, since then the throat has continued to hurt. I don;t have too much difficulty swallowing but it does feel like there are hands round my neck constantly and it feels as if the muscles in my neck are enlarged. I am rubbing the neck area frequently which can't help. There is also flem in the throat as well.

It's been four days now and I have tried to be calm but have started the whole irrational wheel turning - "i have cancer of the larynx", "i will need to have my throat ripped out and speak through one of those voice box machines". Literally my partner and friends are sick of me and really want me to do something, I just feel so alone at the moment and understand what they are saying and yet at the same time am thinking "i know this time there is something wrong, my throat shouldn't feel like this".

Any advice would be welcome.

[boy]

I don't smoke so I can't tell you if I've ever had a similar experience. I suppose you should go to the doctor and have it checked out (easier said than done I know!) and hopefully if all is fine then try as much as you can to trust him or her.

Then like me, you might want to see a psychiatrist. Just to see what they say and if they are any help.

[eeyorelover]

hi Lucas -
It took me awhile to realize that this too was a symptom of my panic. I am a smoker too and I convinced myself that I had cancer at one point. I have since read alot on it and when you have anxiety the muscles in your neck can tense up and cause these symptoms. I did go to the doc and got the all clear and the only way that I convinced myself that it was the panic was the fact that if I kept myself busy and didn't dwell on it - it didn't bother me.
There is some info on the home page of this site under symptoms that is about throat tightening.
I know that it is a scary feeling and that it is hard to accept that this isn't anything that a miracle pill can cure (at least it was for me). But as you realize that it is a symptoms and stop dwelling on it so much, it does start to come less frequently.
I hope this helps and that you are feeling better soon

Sandy
(eeyorelover)

If the world didn't suck... we'd all fall off

[Meg]

Lucas,

Good that you freely admit to having health anxiety. As you are a visual person, you are probably seeing the images of your larynx with a tumour wrapped round it , followed by how you'll need surgery etc which is making you much worse now about this issue.

This throat scenario caused by excessice smoking , which will have inflamed your throat temporaily will now be being kept alive by your imagination and perceived continued sensations which may now be real due to your anxiety.

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/symptoms.htm
http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/healthanxiety.htm

First Steps to overcoming Panic and Anxiety

You are not alone with throat issues:

MORE HORRID SYMPTOMS!!!!
Swallowing / throat problems / Being strangled!
What has suddenly changed, feel awful!
Really frightend of Swallowing,
A strange one, anyone else experienced similar??
throat !!!
Strange Lump in Throat
Throat, improvements, questions
Problems with eating and Swallowing,
update on throat problems
Swallowing fear
Horrible Throat Feelings!
Finally admitted what the problem is!
Another scared one
Strange symptom that comes with anxiety
Swallowing / throat problems / Being strangled!
swallowing difficulties associated with panic?
Globus Hystericus??? (not so hysterical)





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 ?

[lucas7547]

Thank you so much for your words and advice. I am reading through the links and trying to take everything on board. There is now alot of acid at the bottom of my throat and my voice is hoarse which makes me panic more but I am going to make a concerted effort today and see how i cope over the weekend. I really am suffering with the 'what if it's real this time' - i smoke and drink alot when i go out, why wouldn't it be real?
But thank you, it is so nice to have someone respond, my partner and friends are really tired of me bless them.

[Meg]

Acid - try short term gaviscon/ aloe vera juice

Rasping voice - Good luck with your concerted effort trial of not smoking as much and see if it's linked.

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 ?

[christian]

Smoking is an especially bad idea for an anxious person.
Smoke irritates the tissues of the throat and makes the blood vessels constrict. Also if you're smoking, your brain is not getting all the oxygen you need, thus starting the chain reaction which leads to the release of
anxiety and panic inducing chemicals in the bloodstream. Instead of all this try breathing the air around you as would a good cigar... without the hand gestures.

As an experiment, try rubbing your forehead as much as you would your neck and see if it does not become sore and inflamed.