Fear of choking

[FreddyP]

Hi I'm hoping some can help I've recently had to come off AD I've been on for 27 years and I have been changed to sertraline which I've been taking for just over a week for severe anxiety the thing is it's obviously had a bad impact on my mental health but the biggest issue seems to be I've developed a fear of choking (always had this slightly) to the point where I'm getting distressed before I eat or take medication, I've resorted to soft foods and soups but am terrified this will get worse or is it that my fears are heightened until the new meds kick in? Any advice would be much appreciated I'm getting desperate and I feel gp is dismissing me 😪

@Phoenix76 again in hysterics at this 😂 thing is I'm normally really greedy and have the biggest appetite ever until the changeover in my medication which has I pray 🙏 temporarily heightened by anxiety and brought on this bloody weird fixation to the point I'm aware of the food going down and just waiting for it to get stuck! I know it's irrational but the mind can be so strong and I'm like you I'm envious of people enjoying there food, I then made the situation even worse by convincing myself I'd end up having to be tube fed adding fuel to the 🔥 the joys of suffering with anxiety, thank you though you've helped massively with your advice, in fact I've had more help on these sites than I have from my gp

That’s great progress OP.
My daughter didn’t manage to take some tablets a few weeks ago. Now she’s convinced she can’t. We are going back to Calpol if she needs it.
I suffer with anxiety and it makes my throat feel sort of tight. So I can understand the feeling. CBT and meds have really helped get it under control though.
Wish you well.

@Wolfiefan thank you, anxiety is awful isn't it, bless her I hope she's OK

Thanks @FreddyP I’m sure she will be. Anxiety is awful. But at least she has a parent who understands it.

What a great description @Phoenix76, it's reassuring to know how well our body is designed to protect us from this kind of thing!

It also reminded me that if you spend a bit of extra time chewing your food then you can also tell yourself you are doing yourself a favour from a digestion perspective and helping yourself break the food down to enable you to get the nutrients you need from your food!

@rainbowninja it is isn't it and that's a good idea as well for me to use as I'm chewing endlessly lol while I reintroduce solid food, feeling quite proud tonight managed a pasty swimming in gravy to an age but hey ho, thanks again for all your help you've all been a godsend at a very distressing time x