Hello I am new here and have had the same swallowing phobia that everyone here has mentioned. I first noticed it when I was 16 years old, I started dating then and it passed, then in times of stress it would come and go, if I would go out to eat I would notice it more and wait until I got home to eat as I didn't have a problem at home, but since I had a hysterectomy and divorced in 1999, I noticed I started having problems, it wasn't too bad but it became worse and worse to the point it's severe and I have lost so much weight everyone wants me to have a feeding tube. I am in a relationship with someone who is overbearing but otherwise warm hearted and kind, I seem to take on all of his problems and it pulls me down. He seems to be very demanding and although I had problems before we met,I noticed this phobia has worsened since we have been involved. Then again I ask myself if it may be hormonal as I don't take hormone replacement and have only one ovary left. I just don't know what to do. When I finanlly gained up to 110 ( I am 5'8") from 97 this time last year I was so happy, then after Feb. I have lost from 110 to 91 pounds. I used to be able to turn up a bottle of water something to drink and drink it all down with no problems and I could eat like a pig but now I have to shave ice and sip water, and then there is ensure which I have a diffcult time with too. If I try to eat solid food it takes me about 2 hours to eat it and that is IF I can even finish it. I throw away more food than I eat for sure. Everyone else around me eats normally and I want to be able to join in but can't. No one seems to understand and to tell you the truth I don't really know what is causing it but I am trying to understand myself.I am very frustrated and feel almost angry that everyone else can drink and eat but here I am in this state. If anyone has any advice or can relate to this please give me your opinion. PS. I stangled on a sip of water back in Nov of last year to the point I ALMOST passed out and thought I was going to die so instead of drinking water like I did before, I avoid it but my body craves and needs it. As a very young child I almost choked to death but it didn't affect me as far as being afraid of choking. This fear is getting worse and worse. Should I get the G

Hello, Thank you for taking the time to write. I have been seeing a hypnotist and I am starting to get better, I can now eat soup, rice pudding and stuff like that with almost no problem, where as before I could barely drink with out the huge fear of choking (daft I know)! I have tried eating foods that are more solid like pizza but I really can't do it still. The other night it took me (no joke) 1 and a half hours to eat a cheese sandwich. But at least I did it. So any way I am better than before but there is a long long way to go! The trouble aswell is that I feel silly because no one around me really understands how it feels. And the fact that I have been eating ok all my life and then suddenly this happens, its hard to cope with really. How long did you have the choking phobia? And how did you get over it??? Thank you

Greetings. I've had it all. Swallowing phobia, agoraphobia, panic attacks and I am now cured. I still suffer a little OCD but who among us doesn't? The swallowing phobia seemed to happen when there was a hormonal changeover at adolescence. My father used to joke that I was 'In Love' when I simply had a choking incident, and then feared swallowing after that. I had it again in college. It eventually went away. Panic attacks happened after my divorce and second marriage and lasted 7 years. I used Dr. Grace Weeke's books and tapes to get rid of that which was murder. My advice: drink a lot of nutritious soups, sipping on them a bit at a time. Nothing bad happened to me except I lost some weight, which I wish I could do now! Any other questions? I've been through it all so please just ask. - No More Panic

Hi Amy Yes as a matter of fact I did a few months prior to having the choking phobia full time I did have a couple of incidents where I actually choked on something. The books is available on the net, or can be ordered at any bookstore. It will really help you I think while you are waiting for the hypnotherapy to begin.

Hello again, I managed to booked myself in with what seems to be a good hypnotherapist but unfortunately its not for another two and a half weeks (shame).. Also the trouble with that is it takes about 8 sessions and I cant imagine how I can go on that far in the future, I feel as though I am going mad , I feel angry, jealous , and sad all at the same time, did you feel like this? My husband wolfs down food and I find that annoying. Also I have children who I am trying to hide this from which is hard. I know logically I am being silly and that people eat all the time with no trouble but logic doesnt come into it and the fear is in control. Although if I hadnt have had the previous choking episodes then I myself wouldnt have had this fear. I hope you dont mind me asking but did you ever choke to start off your fear of choking? Thanks again. ps I am very sorry to hear about your abusive partner.

Hello Crystal d, thanks for all your support. I managed to eat some custard yesterday and I had no trouble. I was amazed with myself, infact I felt so confident I even cooked myself a proper dinner for the first time in weeks but it was a disaster, the first couple of mouthfulls were easier (not easy) but then I all i could do was take baby mouthfulls and i chewed and chewed but i just couldnt swallow, but I didnt give up I kept going back to the dinner but with no luck. The book you mention sounds interesting though, where can you buy it? I am so gratefull to be talking to someone who understands how I feel because no one else i have spoken to does, so thankyou for putting your time in to write to me and i will look in to that book. Thank you.

Hey Amy First, I strongly urge you to get these books "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes, then is you can "Simple Effective Treatment of Agrophobia" by Claire Weekes. On page 54 of "Hope and Help For Your Nerves", I found my way of coping with this choking phobia. Here it is: Dr Weekes said she keep biscuits (crackers whatever) in her desk. She gives one to the patient and tells them to chew it. The patient says "I cant swallow that I will choke!' Dr Weekes says "I did not tell you to [b]swallow[/b] it I asked you to [b]chew[/b]it" When I thought about that paragraph, a light bulb, dim as it is, went off over my head! Wow, chew it, dont think about swallowing. So what I do is this. I read a newspaper, play a game on the computer, watch TV, [b]whatever[/b]it takes to [i]occupy my mind[/i]. I even use a walkman and play a sub-liminal tape while I am doing the above. Then I just chew whatever it is I am eating. I started out with soft foods, milkshakes, protein drinks whatever. After a while I moved to soup, baby food. Now I can eat alot of stuff. Occasionally I have a "set back" and will put away my food until I can calm down. But I always go back later and am able to eat. I [b]know[/b] how hard this is, believe me. I wish I could sit beside you and help you do this. I know your fustration and I know how it feels to be so **** hungry and unable to eat. But I also know you can do this, baby steps. One hour at a time. Try to keep relaxed and distracted. It can work. Sending more prayers, keep me posted please.

hi. Thank you for your reply... I also suffer from anxiety and other fears but none of those affected my life like this choking phobia is doing. I am hungry and the thought of having something to eat makes my mouth water but my fear overtakes any chance of me being able to eat. I even have trouble eating soup and I am so frustrated and angry with myself... how did you cope with this? And are you any better now? How did you start eating again the first time round? Thanks once again for your help...

Hi Amy I have a fear of choking. It first manifested itself when I was in my mid 20's.Like you, I went to a total lquid diet to survive, even eating baby food. I went to a hypnotherapist to try and sort this all out. At that time in the early 80's the key diagnosis was Anorexia, however I was NOT anorexic, I was afraid i would choke on anything I tried to eat. For [b]me[/b] my choking fear was a result of a bad, very abusive marriage that I was in at the time. I DID NOT accept this diagnosis and knew that there had to be something wrong with me physically or that I was crazy. After a few sessions of hypnotherapy, it came out and I finally accepted the truth. It took me a long time to work this out, years in fact. Now I am not saying that is what your problem is at all, I dont know your situation. Hypnotherapy might help you unlock your subconscious for the answer. Therapy could do that also, its up to you. All I wanted to do was let you know that I suffer from the choking phobia. Now you may ask why did I say still suffer from it? Well it did go away at first. Then I guess you could say I had a relapse, about 4 years ago I started having Panic Attacks and anxiety (i did not have them the 1st time just the fear of choking). And the phobia came back too. I just recently, as a matter of fact this past Monday the 25th, [b]finally[/b] after all these years now know WHY i have a phobia about choking. Since I am still trying to understand this latest revelation I cannot talk to you about it yet. However I urge you to begin as soon as you can to work on trying to find the reason you are dealing with this phobia. Either way I wish you all the best on your search and there is hope and there is recovery. Thank God you have someone in your life who understands and is willing to be by your side at this time. Sending you prayers

Hello. Can anyone help? About 4 or 5 months ago I choked on a burger at a BBQ. Although it scared me at the time I never though too much more about it. Then 2 months later it happened again. I was scared at the time and from that point on I stopped eating burgers. I guess I didnt realise its seriousness or long term effects at the time. However from that point on it was on my mind in the background whenever I ate. Then 3 weeks ago I choked (or thought I was going to choke) on a bar of choclate. And that seemed to be the final straw. From that second onwards I have had this complete fear of choking through swallowing. In other words I am so scared to swallow in case I choke! It sounds silly to most people - but I have seen others on this forum having similar problems. I have barely eaten a thing since and exist on build up vitamn drinks and sometimes only as little as 4 mouthfuls of food a day! I find it virtually impossible to eat and my whole body/mind freezes at the point of taking a bite. Of course because of this I find it very distressing to eat. The doctors dont have much help to offer other than anti-depressants, so now I am thinking of moving on to a hypnotherapist. Luckily I have a supportive husband who is willing to help in any way he can - but at the moment there seems to be absolutely no end in sight (and I am hungry!). I notice some people on these forums have a fear of vomiting causing them to choke - but my fear is definitely only a fear of choking from swallowing - and for this reason it makes it very hard (nigh impossible) to eat. If anyone has any ideas - I would love to know! Or perhaps someone who has got over this problem in the past might like to say how they did it! Thanks.