 Mental Health Related Forums
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Welcome to the Mental Health Forum! This forum is for questions and support regarding mental health issues such as: Anger, ADD, Bipolar Disorder, Dementia, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Learning Disabilities, Memory, OCD, Panic, Personality Disorders, Phobias, PTSD, Schizophrenia, Stress, Transitions, Work Problems.
Roger L. Gould, M.D. Author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the U.C.L.A. Department of Psychiatry.
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| Rs2win18 11/2/2003 | . | I seem to suffer from gagging attacks, and sometimes start to dry heave and/or choke and cough. It's not usually accompinied by nausea but maybe once in awhile it can be, it's mostly just on it's on it's own. I usually worry about my breathing when I start to feel it coming and can feel myself very tense. It happens most when I feel pressured or nervous or when I have to go somewhere I'm worried about going. I have had Panic attacks with some OCD symptoms before but did very well with treatment. Now these seem to be more limited symptoms but very intense and I don't seem to be able to stop it. It doesn't feel like a panic attack, but more just something causes me to gag or dry heave. I was wondering are those symptoms of anxiety or should I seek another diagnosis, it doesn't seem to be listed in almost any book or information I've seen on Panic/Anxiety. Also is there something could cause this and if so, is there some type of treatment that could help or stop that gagging? It's very distressing and interfers with me doing things. Thanks in advance for the response. |
| Forum-M.D.-RG 11/2/2003 | Rs2win18 | It sounds very much like an anxiety equivalent rather than an organic physical problem, but you can never be sure, so you should consult an ear nose and throat specialist. If nothing is found, then consider a short bout of counseling rather than medications to deal with your social anxiety. |
| Rs2win18 11/4/2003 C2 | . | Thanks for your response and I'll try to look into it. I have had recent physcial exams and do seem to be in general good health. My main interest or concern was whether or not anxiety or an anxiety disorder could cause symptoms such as gagging, ocassional dry heaveing and/or choking and coughing because I hadn't seen anything about it in any literature. Also, if it does how could anxiety could cause such a symptom? |
| anamari 11/5/2003 C3 | . | Have you ever been bulimic? Specifically, have you ever had a period in your life when you self-induced vomiting on an occasional or daily basis? |
| Rs2win18 11/5/2003 C4 | . | No, never... why, is that typical in bulimics? I'm definitley not, I don't think I ever voluntarily made myself throw up in my life. I've never been a fan or throwing up and the thought of it makes me a bit sick, but it doesn't seem to me to be tied to anything like that, at least no that I'm aware of at all. Thanks for your comments/questions/advice. |
| mirano 1/16/2004 C5 | . | I have the same problem. My throat gets really dry and feels like it's closing, so sometimes I end up dry heaving. I don't believe it's from something I ate but more from anxiety or allergy disorders. I got a full physical and on paper have good health. my doctor says it's from my allergies but I am not convinced. I can see why he says allergies, because one of my nasals is always blocked and this causes my throat to get dry and I constantly have to clear my throat. But I don't know why it causes me to gag. After an episode I feel a little better, but worry that it is something serious. I am now considering surgery to correct my septum, may be the answer. I've learned to live with it, but it does make it difficult sometimes for social activities and daily living, I still don't know if it is either a psychological or physical ailment. |
| dan541 1/26/2004 C6 | . | I have the same problem. I've searched evrywhere for answers. I have the same triggering circumstances but also cold air sets it off. In my search for answers I was diagnosed with asthma. I haven't begun treatment yet, so I don't know if it will help. I also have been treated for anxiety. I have been on Xanax for years. I've noticed some rare side effects listed for Xanax that may be contributing to the problem(laryngeal spasms, difficulty swallowing, increased salivation, and specific muscular control problems which can directly effect esophageal motility). I'm weaning myself off of the Xanax to see if it may be contributing to the problem. Also, Xanax is not suppossed to be used by people with asthma. The asthma seems like a real possible source. My sister and my son both have the same gagging issue(although not as severe, and both have previously been diagnosed with asthma. It causes a sticky muccous in the back of the throat which is difficult if not impossible to clear. Cold air and increased heart rate both are triggers for asthma. This seems to correlate with the gagging triggers. Does it seem as though I'm on the right path here? It's a terrible problem. I also avoid doing alot of things because of it. |
| boyzrtoys 1/29/2004 C7 | . | Well.. My mom was given Zoloft, but i dunno why b/c she's not like really depressed or anything. At times she could be but that is seldom. She never took them and she is ok. Me on the other hand could use some. Well i'm not really sure. What if i were to take the Zoloft? If i were to need it then i would feel better right? And if I felt funny then it means i dont need it? I am scared to go to the doctor and talk about myself b/c what if i get institutionalized? So i'd rather just test the drug. If you really aren't supposed to take it or if there is no chemical imbalance and you take zoloft.. would you feel a high? and if you did need it then would you feel normal? I know what normal feels like b/c that is when I Am the happiest. So, is it ok to take Zoloft to see if i were to really need it? Like to find out for sure if i suffer from depression? |
| Blue bossa 3/9/2004 C8 | . | I cannot explain in an email how happy I am to know that I am not the only one out there. I have just turned 16 years old and for a year now have suffered constant gagging attacks every time I do something social or am very nervous. A lot of times it even leads to vomitting due to a repeated gagging attack. It has greatly affected my life and the people around me. I now dont want to do anything I usually do to constant gagging. But I have a limited control on it. A peppermint sometimes stalls my gagging and calms me down. Also chewing gum or swishing listerine. I know its a mental problem because I think myself into it. If there is any cure for my gagging problem please let me know because it is ruining my life |
| luckypozzo 3/11/2004 C9 | . | Since I was 5 or 6 I remember everytime my family would go somewhere for vaction I would have these gagging attacks. Then when I was 14 I had to dropout of school because of these attacks started to happen almost daily. Now I am 23 and still have these attack. No doctor, I have seen about 30, had any good thing to say about it. They would say just dont eat and u wont throw up, needless to say that didnt work. The only thing that has ever worked is Vicodin. When i was hit by a car, the dr. put me on vicodin, and it was short of a miracle. When I was having an attack i would take a pill, and it would stop within seconds. I have started Zoloft, 3 days ago, I hope it works because I am thinking of stopping college because of this. |
| frogfucious 7/3/2004 C10 | . | Im relieved to see that im not the only one with this problem. The gagging feeling usually comes when I am about to do something stressful or something social. First I will feel the gaggingness in my throat and the more i think about it the worst it gets, a vicious cycle. When I give in to it and gag nothing comes out and I will feel better for a bit but then i begin to worry about it coming again and sure enough it does and then i gag, then I worry about gagging non-stop and get more nervous and gag some more. I've had this problem once every few years, lasting from a week to a month but this time its been going on for almost a year. It harsh effects all aspects of my life. Man it sucks... |
| frogfucious 7/3/2004 C11 | . | Im relieved to see that im not the only one with this problem. The gagging feeling usually comes when I am about to do something stressful or something social. First I will feel the gaggingness in my throat and the more i think about it the worst it gets, a vicious cycle. When I give in to it and gag nothing comes out and I will feel better for a bit but then i begin to worry about it coming again and sure enough it does and then i gag, then I worry about gagging non-stop and get more nervous and gag some more. I've had this problem once every few years, lasting from a week to a month but this time its been going on for almost a year. It harsh effects all aspects of my life. Man it sucks... |
| spidermonkey 7/15/2004 C12 | . | ive had the same problem for at least 8-9 years. i had the most problems at the dentist and sometimes in sports. i found that sucking on a tic tac or any candy made it go away but only for a short time. I have no idea why this happens and it doesnt have to do with what i eat or when i eat. My best guess is that its stress/anxiety. I also notice i can work myself into it like others have said. For me it doesnt happen all the time, but is random. When i gag it doesnt happen again and goes away, for instance if i run a long distance and gag i dont have the problem for the rest if the day. I plan on seeing a doctor about it soon, but if anyone finds anything else that helps let me know. |
| Sean Powers 7/22/2004 C13 | . | well it's great to hear other people have this too..though I don't wish this on anyone. i just started doing this about a month ago. After an intense year of college where I had to wait for 3 months to know if I was accepted into a prestigeous program I started having these "gagging" attacks. Not so much the dry spot on the throat though I've had that on occassion, this is all out gagging. It is almost like clock work, when I brush my teeth I can't touch my tongue, after that when I'm just chilling around the hosue i'm fine. But the minute I have to go do something, as in go to work, walk the dog, etc. I start "gagging". by gagging i mean throwing up without actually puking. I have to lock my jaw and they usually go away after I just let a gag take place. No puking but as close to throwing up as you can get without throwing up. I have no history of anxiety, or eating disorders. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to get the answer that I already know. It has to be an anxiety type attack. Nothing else makes sense. No matter what I eat, what I do it happens until I 'settle down". I've never been as stressed as I was this year (never been one to make a deal of it either) but it was a hard year, and the minute the waiting period started I started having these gag attacks. Gotta be anxiety, but if I find something out i'll let you know. |
| C4matted 7/31/2004 C14 | . | Yeah well I think I can relate to everyone typing on here. I first started having panic attacks when I was about 18 years old. It got really bad where I couldnt even be in a car with someone else driving! I couldnt really do anything social so I learned todo things that required only one person so I could do it by myself. My Anxiety was only getting worse. I saw a shrink for a little while but it didnt seem to help. Im almost sure this is a mental issue cause I used to think in my head when going to dinner or doing social things that If I was alone would I still feel the same? When Im sitting at a dinner table with 10 people and im feeling sick and nervous I picture in my head taking the same food and bringing it to a place where no one else is and I would be able to eat and feel alittle better. Anyways as I got alittle older I started dry heaving and gagging when I get nervous or Anxiety. Now it has become an everyday thing. Everytime I get up to go to work before I eat breakfast I may gagg 5-10 times! Im really trying to figure it whether it has something todo with food?? Im really weird about food and alot of times I cannot eat around people cause I have fear of getting sick! Strange to say the least but it anyone has any suggestions I would be ready to listen in a heart Beat! Thanks |
| Mr ED 8/4/2004 C15 | . | Hi I am ALWAYS stressed, due to my rubbish job, and I feel this is a big part of the reason that I gag every morning when I brush my tongue with my toothbrush. I do drink quite a lot too, so my mouth does feel quite furry some mornings. But stress is also a part of it, I reckon. |
| click 8/31/2004 C16 | . | I was doing some research on gagging and read comments from July. There is a website on gagging that talks about stimulation of an acupuncture point in the ear. It was used on several dental patients who couldn't have dental work done because of severe gagging reflex. After the stimulation, 100% of them could have the procedures without gagging. I am an EFT practitioner and it uses acupuncture points for tapping points. So, you could conceiveably just finger tap on these points. |
| Jeff_Kramer 9/28/2004 C17 | . | You fine folks are not alone! And I am now happy to know that I am not alone!! I am 40 years old. I have suffered from the gagging attacks for over 30 years now. As far back as 2nd grade I can remember having the gagging attacks. I knew something was terribly wrong, and hard candy always soothed the attacks. I would literally go to school with pockets full of lemon drops to help me through the day. As I got older, the gagging attacks became so common and severe at school that I worked myself into an ulcer by the 7th grade. In high school, the attacks were more severe. As many of you have already explained, they would happen when I got nervous or excited about something (getting ready to go out, hurrying to get somewhere...) But the more attacks I had, the more fearful I was, and I would worry about having more attacks. Soon, I could just worry about having an attack before a certain event, and sure enough, I would have one. The cycle was vicious. It became so severe that I was afraid to even leave the house! By the time I was 16, I was a total wreck. I knew that the gagging attacks were an acute form of a panic attack and I was worrying so much about them that it was ruining my life. My family doctor had me go to several psychologists to get over my fears and my new phobia of going out in public. They were perplexed as to why I would have these attacks way back as a child at 7 yrs. old. What does a 7 yr. old have to be nervous about or have "panic attacks"? I realized then that it must be some kind of chemical imbalance which causes them to start, but it was my never ending fear of having them again that brought on the vicious cycle of having them 50 times a day by just worrying about having them! My family doctor decided to put me on Xanax. I will tell each and every one of you...XANAX SAVED MY LIFE!! Almost immediately I began to calm down and not have the constant fear and worrying about my attacks. I was able to manage them better and gradually lessen the frequency of my attacks. I still have the gagging attacks to this day, but only on occasions of extreme nervousness or excitedness, or social settings. I replaced the lemon drops with Life Savers candy. For 20 years now, I have been on Xanax and Life Savers. I ALWAYS have Life savers in my pocket at all times. If I have an attack, it calms me down immediately although temporarily. But mostly they are a back-up. Just knowing they are there...just in case, is a tremendous relief. For my entire life I have never seen or heard of anyone else in the world who has what I have until I found this web page today! The Xanax works overall. I still have the gagging attacks but they are few and far between. I know that they are caused by anxiety because of the situations which bring them on. Also, if I forget to take a dose or am late in taking a dose, I get fidgety and I have mild attacks...mainly clearing my throat and coughing frequently, until I pop a Life saver in my mouth and all is well again. I'm sorry to be so long-winded, but this is the first forum I've ever seen on this subject which has affected me for nearly my entire life. I have accepted the fact that I will always carry Life Savers in my pocket for the rest of my life, and may very well be on Xanax for the rest of my life. But it is 1000 times better than my life without them. Your gagging is not an eating disorder, or a physical disorder. It is your body's reaction to anxiety. Ask your doctor to try Xanax to help get you over the hump. It will not make them go away completely, but it will help you better manage the attacks and let you lead a freer life. I feel like an expert on this condition since I have had it all my life. If anyone has more questions about this, feel free to email me at jeffkramer@woh.rr.com. I know the feeling of how helpless you may feel and wonder if anyone else has this. The answer is yes! |
| Jeff_Kramer 9/28/2004 C18 | . | You fine folks are not alone! And I am now happy to know that I am not alone!! I am 40 years old. I have suffered from the gagging attacks for over 30 years now. As far back as 2nd grade I can remember having the gagging attacks. I knew something was terribly wrong, and hard candy always soothed the attacks. I would literally go to school with pockets full of lemon drops to help me through the day. As I got older, the gagging attacks became so common and severe at school that I worked myself into an ulcer by the 7th grade. In high school, the attacks were more severe. As many of you have already explained, they would happen when I got nervous or excited about something (getting ready to go out, hurrying to get somewhere...) But the more attacks I had, the more fearful I was, and I would worry about having more attacks. Soon, I could just worry about having an attack before a certain event, and sure enough, I would have one. The cycle was vicious. It became so severe that I was afraid to even leave the house! By the time I was 16, I was a total wreck. I knew that the gagging attacks were an acute form of a panic attack and I was worrying so much about them that it was ruining my life. My family doctor had me go to several psychologists to get over my fears and my new phobia of going out in public. They were perplexed as to why I would have these attacks way back as a child at 7 yrs. old. What does a 7 yr. old have to be nervous about or have "panic attacks"? I realized then that it must be some kind of chemical imbalance which causes them to start, but it was my never ending fear of having them again that brought on the vicious cycle of having them 50 times a day by just worrying about having them! My family doctor decided to put me on Xanax. I will tell each and every one of you...XANAX SAVED MY LIFE!! Almost immediately I began to calm down and not have the constant fear and worrying about my attacks. I was able to manage them better and gradually lessen the frequency of my attacks. I still have the gagging attacks to this day, but only on occasions of extreme nervousness or excitedness, or social settings. I replaced the lemon drops with Life Savers candy. For 20 years now, I have been on Xanax and Life Savers. I ALWAYS have Life savers in my pocket at all times. If I have an attack, it calms me down immediately although temporarily. But mostly they are a back-up. Just knowing they are there...just in case, is a tremendous relief. For my entire life I have never seen or heard of anyone else in the world who has what I have until I found this web page today! The Xanax works overall. I still have the gagging attacks but they are few and far between. I know that they are caused by anxiety because of the situations which bring them on. Also, if I forget to take a dose or am late in taking a dose, I get fidgety and I have mild attacks...mainly clearing my throat and coughing frequently, until I pop a Life saver in my mouth and all is well again. I'm sorry to be so long-winded, but this is the first forum I've ever seen on this subject which has affected me for nearly my entire life. I have accepted the fact that I will always carry Life Savers in my pocket for the rest of my life, and may very well be on Xanax for the rest of my life. But it is 1000 times better than my life without them. Your gagging is not an eating disorder, or a physical disorder. It is your body's reaction to anxiety. Ask your doctor to try Xanax to help get you over the hump. It will not make them go away completely, but it will help you better manage the attacks and let you lead a freer life. I feel like an expert on this condition since I have had it all my life. If anyone has more questions about this, feel free to email me at jeffkramer@woh.rr.com. I know the feeling of how helpless you may feel and wonder if anyone else has this. The answer is yes! |
| Jeff_Kramer 9/28/2004 C19 | . | You fine folks are not alone! And I am now happy to know that I am not alone!! I am 40 years old. I have suffered from the gagging attacks for over 30 years now. As far back as 2nd grade I can remember having the gagging attacks. I knew something was terribly wrong, and hard candy always soothed the attacks. I would literally go to school with pockets full of lemon drops to help me through the day. As I got older, the gagging attacks became so common and severe at school that I worked myself into an ulcer by the 7th grade. In high school, the attacks were more severe. As many of you have already explained, they would happen when I got nervous or excited about something (getting ready to go out, hurrying to get somewhere...) But the more attacks I had, the more fearful I was, and I would worry about having more attacks. Soon, I could just worry about having an attack before a certain event, and sure enough, I would have one. The cycle was vicious. It became so severe that I was afraid to even leave the house! By the time I was 16, I was a total wreck. I knew that the gagging attacks were an acute form of a panic attack and I was worrying so much about them that it was ruining my life. My family doctor had me go to several psychologists to get over my fears and my new phobia of going out in public. They were perplexed as to why I would have these attacks way back as a child at 7 yrs. old. What does a 7 yr. old have to be nervous about or have "panic attacks"? I realized then that it must be some kind of chemical imbalance which causes them to start, but it was my never ending fear of having them again that brought on the vicious cycle of having them 50 times a day by just worrying about having them! My family doctor decided to put me on Xanax. I will tell each and every one of you...XANAX SAVED MY LIFE!! Almost immediately I began to calm down and not have the constant fear and worrying about my attacks. I was able to manage them better and gradually lessen the frequency of my attacks. I still have the gagging attacks to this day, but only on occasions of extreme nervousness or excitedness, or social settings. I replaced the lemon drops with Life Savers candy. For 20 years now, I have been on Xanax and Life Savers. I ALWAYS have Life savers in my pocket at all times. If I have an attack, it calms me down immediately although temporarily. But mostly they are a back-up. Just knowing they are there...just in case, is a tremendous relief. For my entire life I have never seen or heard of anyone else in the world who has what I have until I found this web page today! The Xanax works overall. I still have the gagging attacks but they are few and far between. I know that they are caused by anxiety because of the situations which bring them on. Also, if I forget to take a dose or am late in taking a dose, I get fidgety and I have mild attacks...mainly clearing my throat and coughing frequently, until I pop a Life saver in my mouth and all is well again. I'm sorry to be so long-winded, but this is the first forum I've ever seen on this subject which has affected me for nearly my entire life. I have accepted the fact that I will always carry Life Savers in my pocket for the rest of my life, and may very well be on Xanax for the rest of my life. But it is 1000 times better than my life without them. Your gagging is not an eating disorder, or a physical disorder. It is your body's reaction to anxiety. Ask your doctor to try Xanax to help get you over the hump. It will not make them go away completely, but it will help you better manage the attacks and let you lead a freer life. I feel like an expert on this condition since I have had it all my life. If anyone has more questions about this, feel free to email me at jeffkramer@woh.rr.com. I know the feeling of how helpless you may feel and wonder if anyone else has this. The answer is yes! | [Thread closed to new comments] |
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For emergency, please see your doctor or call 911.
