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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Phagophobia - fear of swallowing?

6 replies

FloatingObject · 03/09/2019 16:03

Just wondering if anyone has had experience of this. Last year something quite traumatic happened to me and as a consequence I developed this fear of swallowing food 😣
It's awful. It's basically the feeling that I'm going to choke on my food, even small mouthfuls. I lost some weight and just about managed to keep it stable after that, but it's really weighing on me. I can just about swallow now but it's really impacting on my life. Weirdly when I told my gran about it she said she had experienced a similar problem a few decades ago. Wondering if its more common than I think?

OP posts:
NoSauce · 03/09/2019 16:06

I’m sorry to hear this OP. I’ve never heard of this before. You might get more replies in General Health.

Have you spoke to your GP about it?

Kitty1184 · 03/09/2019 16:27

Op, I have this after having to receive the Heimlich maneuver several years ago.

For a couple of years afterwards I was petrified any time I ate anything. Hypnotherapy ended up really helping me.

I still get it occasionally but nothing like I used to.

FloatingObject · 03/09/2019 18:02

Thank you so much Kitty, maybe I should give hypnotherapy a try. I tried self hypnosis but that only gave me very subtle results. I'm so glad know I'm not alone. Did you find the results came fast?

OP posts:
Outsomnia · 03/09/2019 18:15

Sounds like anxiety to me. Go to your doctor and explain it to her/him. There are therapies out there that can help.

Wish you the best. I had it when I had four bereavements in 7 months. OMG. I couldn't swallow. It was total anxiety. A bit better now, but still not great, it is our reaction to trauma I think.

Luscinia · 03/09/2019 18:17

CBT helped me. I had it for several years after choking on something.

Sparklesocks · 03/09/2019 18:33

I’m sorry OP that sounds very difficult.
I found CBT very useful for a phobia I have, it gave me coping strategies and we did a bit of exposure therapy so it lost some of its unknown-ness if that makes sense. Could you possibly have a chat with your GP, or is there a self referral service in your area?

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