Fear Of Choking And Swallowing Food

**Posts:** 2 · by **Reinfection** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:06 am

Hi all

i suffer from chronic anxiety and panic attacks.
Back in september 2016 my father choked on a piece of steak and died which traumatised me. ever since then i've only been able to eat certain food and no meat at all at times when i feel like i can eat it. Recently after the second of august 2017 i havn't been able to eat anything apart from a little bit of custard, soup that's really smooth and sometimes a little bit of chocolate moose.
I take valium daily (4-6 a day. Have been suffering anxiety since i was 15 yrs old) and they barely help anymore i am also on mirtazapine 45 mg for over 12 months(to help with anxiety) . Over the past week my fear has gotten to the point that i am not able to eat anything at all and i am having high difficulty taking my medication with water. when taking my medication i have to basically choke myself to get it down. i also choke on water as well. I dont know what to do.
I've just started to see a psychologist and i don't think she is going to help me.
I have researched most medications for this but there are none for this phobia i have.The only thing i have seen that may help me is medicinal cannabis(I live in tasmania australia.) but its not legal till the first of september and i am unsure whether i will be put on it and whether i will live till then due to this fear.
I would love to hear any suggestions you could give me on what i can do or what i can take as i feel like im at a dead end.

Ben

**Posts:** 12131 · by **Richard@DecisionSkills** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:40 pm

You don't need pills or drugs to learn to swallow food.

You can cut up your food into small pieces, as small as a pill if you like. Eat and ask, what happened? The answer will be nothing. Nothing bad will ave happened. You will have eaten a tiny bite of XYZ.

Same for drinking a liquid. You can take a sip. Ask what bad happened. The answer will be nothing. You will have sipped liquid.

**Posts:** 105 · by **whybotherwhynot** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 1:59 pm

FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.

You fear because you let the FEAR creeps in to your mind.

For someone who has physical problems regarding choking and swallowing food, s/he can do the following:

1. With food: cut them in very tiny pieces or blend them, eat in a small amount at a time and swallow slowly

2. With medications: press them in to powder and mix them with apple sauce or yogurt and do as above

3. With liquid such as water or juice: sip a small amount at a time with a straw or mix it up with Thicken Up powder, which can be bought in any health food store or in the pharmacy section at Walmart, Costco, etc...

For someone who has psychological problems, s/he has to think of some way to help her/himself or does need help from a psychologist.

First, I guarantee that you will live pass September 1, 2017. Second, if someone fears too much and does not believe in himself or someone else can help him to overcome his fear, what's the point to live?

**Posts:** 2958 · by **quietvoice** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 4:34 pm

Forget the fear. Turn it into a spiritual quest. This PDF will be heresy for many or most, but it's another point of view regarding eating, or not-eating.

**Posts:** 1554 · by **laureat** » Fri Aug 25, 2017 11:11 pm

I reinforce Richards proposition to not use any drugs for this kind of purpose based on the logical reasoning that drugs do not teach how to eat

i also reinforce the proposition to start with the grinded food : the reasoning- a gradual success based on a famous quotes: face your fears, succeess = confidence

Something to remind: some things you simply do without any complication, there was some days i was paying attention to my posture, and my focus on the body was only making it worse: more tense, more complication, so if you pay too much attention on how you eating it may complicate something try not to focus on that but simply do it

It is only when someone is too excited and try to eat extreme large food really fast: that i may remind to relax a little but thats all about it you dont pay attention how you eating

**Posts:** 2 · by **ocdsucks** » Sun Apr 08, 2018 1:32 pm

Choking on a solid food object can obstruct your airway but when it comes to liquids you will still be able to breath even if you don't cough it up successfully.

There is a product called Soylent, which is powdered food that you mix with water. It has everything your body needs to live. You just mix the powder in water to a consistency that is suitable for you. You can order it online and it comes out to about $1 per meal. I know you have trouble even with swallowing water but at least this is easier to swallow than food. Soylent is a meal replacement powdered drink mix.

Fear Of Choking And Swallowing Food

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Main Menu

Panic Attacks and Anxiety Resources

Recent posts

Active topics

Contact Us