Please help. I am desperate to solve this

[GoldfishParade]

I have had trouble swallowing as a result of intense anxiety for the past 2 years now. It's called phagophobia. It started out of nowhere and then became worse and worse. I struggle to eat pretty much anything as I'm convinced I'm going to choke or the food will get stuck. Even small mouthfuls.

My GP put me on a very lose dose of anyone anxiety med and helped me get an appointment with an eating disorder team on 1 October. The meds dont help because it is now no longer necessarily linked to anxiety but has become more like a straight phobia or intrusive thought.

I'm also not convinced the eating disorder team will be able to help (although obviously I will be going to my appointment) because they are used to dealing with anorexia and bulimia. My problem is in no way related to actual food, or wanting to control weight ot calories, or body image or control. It really is just about having developed a fear of choking or swallowing.

I am really tired of the impact this has had on my self esteem, my social life. I've gone from loving my food to dreading meal times although I continue to cook, because each mouthful is a battle.

I really dont know what to do, I feel like I can never get over this because how can I ever "forget" the idea that I could choke? I notice I am holding a lot of tension around my jaw generally. I have seen a psychotherapist three times now, she said she specialises in CBT and hypnotherapy but so far she has done nothing with me. Just asked me how I've been feeling, and we kind of filled my sessions with "chatting".

I dont necessarily want to chat, I've done talking therapy before, I dont have many "issues" any more, I'm pretty content in life, I'm not depressed. I just feel quite naturally "jumpy" or on edge a lot of the time for no apparent reason. I can see my mother was the same so maybe it can be biological?

I just want to learn to swallow unthinkingly and naturally again and this now seems impossible. I'm wondering if it's worth investigating hypnotherapy?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated it.

Hello. Just wanted to say I'm thinking of you. I know this might seem a bit strange but the book brain over binge offers thinking strategies talking about the higher/lower parts of the brain & where habits form/sit. I know you said it's nothing to do with the side food of things but the book may be helpful for the psychology side of things.

Good luck. The eating disorders team should have psychologists who should be able to help you.

My DH had problems with swallowing before his diagnosis of anxiety.
He lost so much weight that I thought he had something badly wrong with him.
He started eating foods that went down easily like well cooked white rice with the chicken in a white sauce out of a tin, and tinned peaches.
He was lucky in that he got a good antidepressant at the first go. You say that the meds don’t help but how do you know, have you had a discussion about maybe swapping to another antidepressant ?