Aa
is this an eating disorder or anxiety?
I am 21 and have been having this problem since I was about 10. I panic about eating at every meal because every time I take a bit, my throat would clamp up and I would not be able to swallow my food. I went to the doctors and they gave me medicine, but I was too young to remember what it was, but I think they said it was me being too worked up about it and thinking about eating too much or something...I have gotten better and I know it was a mental thing for me but I still wont eat anything without a drink or I will get nervous. And I would rather drink then eat any day. So I guess Im still struggling with it. Do you think it will ever go away without the help of meds?
There is a type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is aimed at people who suffer from anxiety issues. The therapist will re-train your thoughts so that you become more calmer about the whole swallowing process, she may do gentle exposure work with you like asking you (only when your ready) to take a small bite of a banana for example with only a small amount of water so you get use to the sensation and eventaully after weeks or months, get you to swallow without water and to take larger bites. She may also teach you distraction techniques to focus your mind on other issues while eating.... and also most importantly get to the root cause of where this all started and combat your fears of this inital event.
Alot of children do develop a fear of swallowing if they have had a choking incident, but not only that the people around you may of reacted with panic and total chaos only furthering your fear in that situation. So leading to a phobia of swallowing food. It can be untaught and you dont have to live with this situation, there is help for you out there.
Good-luck
Alot of children do develop a fear of swallowing if they have had a choking incident, but not only that the people around you may of reacted with panic and total chaos only furthering your fear in that situation. So leading to a phobia of swallowing food. It can be untaught and you dont have to live with this situation, there is help for you out there.
Good-luck
Brenndy, excellent post with great information!
There is a common misconception that the only type of "eating disorders" are anorexia and bulemia, which is not true. There are other disorders that involve eating and the mechanics of eating (chewing, swallowing, etc).
OP---it would be wise (if you haven't already) to see a few specialists (like GI, ENT, etc) to rule out a possible medical reason for your symptoms before you proceed with treating this as a psychological manifestation of symptoms in a less common eating disorder.
Please keep us informed...and best of luck!!!
There is a common misconception that the only type of "eating disorders" are anorexia and bulemia, which is not true. There are other disorders that involve eating and the mechanics of eating (chewing, swallowing, etc).
OP---it would be wise (if you haven't already) to see a few specialists (like GI, ENT, etc) to rule out a possible medical reason for your symptoms before you proceed with treating this as a psychological manifestation of symptoms in a less common eating disorder.
Please keep us informed...and best of luck!!!
Hi Junka,
I cracked the MH vault. Listed below are URL/link from Archives of similar discussion with regard to your situation. Additionally, is an interesting article on food phobias. I hope by reading over these, you will be able to make an informed decision regarding your care and treatment plan.
It is my sincere hope that this additional information is of aid to you. http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Abdominal-pain-Fear-and-anxiety-after-eating/show/234947
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Anxiety-Attacks--prescriptions-and-stomach/show/717573
ABOUT EATING PHOBIAS - Copyright ©2002-2010, Anxiety Care
1. Food aversion
With food aversion, the phobic response when faced with the food in question may be a feeling of revulsion rather than intense anxiety, although some aversion phobics may experience fear. A fear response would usually be associated with some religious or family ‘taboo’, and might also be linked to past reactions (such as seeing somebody vomit, or perhaps vomiting themselves after eating this food).
Food aversion can grow very strong, and can last for life. One person who reported his story to Anxiety Care had, as a child, lived for a time in a house where mutton was ‘boiled up’ on a regular basis. The unpleasant odor, experienced often enough to nauseate but not often enough for him to grow immune to it, led him to reject all such meat in later life.
Most adults with food aversion focus on meat or greasy foods. Food aversion is a good, life protecting response for any animal - one ‘poisoning’ reaction able to put them off completely. Many animals, and also human children, are wary of foods which taste bitter or are unfamiliar, and it is not surprising that adult people can have the same ability.
If the problem has grown from simply being a ‘fad’ to a level that reduces the quality of life, a desensitization program can break the phobia down.
This would be a series of steps, starting with what one can do and working up to what one wanted to be able to do, using as many intermediate steps as necessary.
It should be borne in mind that steps might need to include smell, taste and watching others eat this object; and that the different types of steps might need to be approved (or be graded) separately if there are particular difficulties in one area. For example, the case above concerning mutton might involve very careful steps when the nauseating smell was dealt with.
2. Inability to swallow
The kind of eating phobia which is due to a fear of choking, is linked with extreme sensitivity of the ‘gag reflex’ and a gross exaggeration of the ‘tight throat’, or ‘lump in the throat’ response that some people have to anxiety. It can be present in agoraphobics or in those suffering from extreme general anxiety. People with this problem may feel incapable of swallowing any solids, and may exist on some variation of mush or baby food, or even liquids alone.
Someone with a fear of eating that has reached a phobic level - that is a tightening throat when faced with food has become a chronic habit - must understand that this phobia is maintained by avoidance of the phobic situation. Every time he or she manages to avoid what is feared and experiences that "Oh, thank goodness" relief of sidestepping the anxiety symptoms once again, that instant drop in tension is ensuring that the same method will be used next time and the person will remain phobic.
Whatever additional support is obtained with overcoming the phobia, it must be accepted that there is nothing out there in the way of special treatments or medications that will simply take it away. To be free of the phobia, the person affected will have to be willing to experience certain levels of anxiety while putting him or herself into the phobic situation.
This does not have to mean leaping into the worst situation imaginable, and hanging on until all anxiety passes, because current research suggests that a huge amount of fear is of no more value than a small amount when this ‘facing it’ technique is used to break down a phobia. The alternative is to find ways of gradually becoming used to the anxiety by devising a desensitization program that fits each person’s particular needs.
This simply means fitting as many steps as needed between what can be done and what this person wants to be able to do, and working through them. A first step can be holding something in the mouth for a little longer than it can be managed at the moment. From there, a more solid content or food could be introduced, with the goal of swallowing dry toast, perhaps, as the signal for victory.
Steps need to be progressive. Staying with one too long is not, ‘getting used to it’ but avoiding the next step. If the problem relates to an increased sensitivity to gagging, this means that the protective ‘gag’ reflex of the oropharynx that everyone experiences when a finger is placed in the mouth near the soft palate, has spread to include other ‘foreign objects’. People in this situation may not be able to brush their teeth or even allow their neck to be touched, as well as finding solid food impossible to swallow.
This too can be reduced by a desensitization program. For example, ordinary clothing buttons could be used. First, the person learns to tolerate one in their mouth, then two etc. They might also practice cleaning their teeth for gradually increasing periods. If the gagging is made worse, as in many cases, by the sufferer’s tendency to swallow tensely with pursed lips, clenched teeth and the tongue thrust forward against them, they can learn, or be taught, to swallow with teeth slightly apart and the tongue relaxed on the floor of the mouth. A therapist (or a friend) could help by gently stroking the front of the person’s tongue until they habituate to it (i.e. till the body accepts it), which might take half an hour or so; then work further back on the tongue, and so on. As people begin to understand what triggers the gagging, this can also help to decrease the problem to normal proportions.
Whatever the steps, the food phobic must do enough at each one to raise anxiety. He or she is trying to become used to experiencing the physical symptoms at a manageable level, where they are in control.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I cracked the MH vault. Listed below are URL/link from Archives of similar discussion with regard to your situation. Additionally, is an interesting article on food phobias. I hope by reading over these, you will be able to make an informed decision regarding your care and treatment plan.
It is my sincere hope that this additional information is of aid to you. http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Abdominal-pain-Fear-and-anxiety-after-eating/show/234947
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Anxiety-Attacks--prescriptions-and-stomach/show/717573
ABOUT EATING PHOBIAS - Copyright ©2002-2010, Anxiety Care
1. Food aversion
With food aversion, the phobic response when faced with the food in question may be a feeling of revulsion rather than intense anxiety, although some aversion phobics may experience fear. A fear response would usually be associated with some religious or family ‘taboo’, and might also be linked to past reactions (such as seeing somebody vomit, or perhaps vomiting themselves after eating this food).
Food aversion can grow very strong, and can last for life. One person who reported his story to Anxiety Care had, as a child, lived for a time in a house where mutton was ‘boiled up’ on a regular basis. The unpleasant odor, experienced often enough to nauseate but not often enough for him to grow immune to it, led him to reject all such meat in later life.
Most adults with food aversion focus on meat or greasy foods. Food aversion is a good, life protecting response for any animal - one ‘poisoning’ reaction able to put them off completely. Many animals, and also human children, are wary of foods which taste bitter or are unfamiliar, and it is not surprising that adult people can have the same ability.
If the problem has grown from simply being a ‘fad’ to a level that reduces the quality of life, a desensitization program can break the phobia down.
This would be a series of steps, starting with what one can do and working up to what one wanted to be able to do, using as many intermediate steps as necessary.
It should be borne in mind that steps might need to include smell, taste and watching others eat this object; and that the different types of steps might need to be approved (or be graded) separately if there are particular difficulties in one area. For example, the case above concerning mutton might involve very careful steps when the nauseating smell was dealt with.
2. Inability to swallow
The kind of eating phobia which is due to a fear of choking, is linked with extreme sensitivity of the ‘gag reflex’ and a gross exaggeration of the ‘tight throat’, or ‘lump in the throat’ response that some people have to anxiety. It can be present in agoraphobics or in those suffering from extreme general anxiety. People with this problem may feel incapable of swallowing any solids, and may exist on some variation of mush or baby food, or even liquids alone.
Someone with a fear of eating that has reached a phobic level - that is a tightening throat when faced with food has become a chronic habit - must understand that this phobia is maintained by avoidance of the phobic situation. Every time he or she manages to avoid what is feared and experiences that "Oh, thank goodness" relief of sidestepping the anxiety symptoms once again, that instant drop in tension is ensuring that the same method will be used next time and the person will remain phobic.
Whatever additional support is obtained with overcoming the phobia, it must be accepted that there is nothing out there in the way of special treatments or medications that will simply take it away. To be free of the phobia, the person affected will have to be willing to experience certain levels of anxiety while putting him or herself into the phobic situation.
This does not have to mean leaping into the worst situation imaginable, and hanging on until all anxiety passes, because current research suggests that a huge amount of fear is of no more value than a small amount when this ‘facing it’ technique is used to break down a phobia. The alternative is to find ways of gradually becoming used to the anxiety by devising a desensitization program that fits each person’s particular needs.
This simply means fitting as many steps as needed between what can be done and what this person wants to be able to do, and working through them. A first step can be holding something in the mouth for a little longer than it can be managed at the moment. From there, a more solid content or food could be introduced, with the goal of swallowing dry toast, perhaps, as the signal for victory.
Steps need to be progressive. Staying with one too long is not, ‘getting used to it’ but avoiding the next step. If the problem relates to an increased sensitivity to gagging, this means that the protective ‘gag’ reflex of the oropharynx that everyone experiences when a finger is placed in the mouth near the soft palate, has spread to include other ‘foreign objects’. People in this situation may not be able to brush their teeth or even allow their neck to be touched, as well as finding solid food impossible to swallow.
This too can be reduced by a desensitization program. For example, ordinary clothing buttons could be used. First, the person learns to tolerate one in their mouth, then two etc. They might also practice cleaning their teeth for gradually increasing periods. If the gagging is made worse, as in many cases, by the sufferer’s tendency to swallow tensely with pursed lips, clenched teeth and the tongue thrust forward against them, they can learn, or be taught, to swallow with teeth slightly apart and the tongue relaxed on the floor of the mouth. A therapist (or a friend) could help by gently stroking the front of the person’s tongue until they habituate to it (i.e. till the body accepts it), which might take half an hour or so; then work further back on the tongue, and so on. As people begin to understand what triggers the gagging, this can also help to decrease the problem to normal proportions.
Whatever the steps, the food phobic must do enough at each one to raise anxiety. He or she is trying to become used to experiencing the physical symptoms at a manageable level, where they are in control.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To state that this is NOT an eating disorder is equivalent to giving this poster a diagnosis, which you are totally unqualified to do.
There are a number of eating disorders besides anorexia and bulimia and Brenndy had already suggested the OP consult with her PCP to discuss these issues and possible referral to specialists.
There are a number of eating disorders besides anorexia and bulimia and Brenndy had already suggested the OP consult with her PCP to discuss these issues and possible referral to specialists.
This is not an eating disorder, it sounds more like anxiety. With an eating disorder you deprive yourself of food, for various reasons, with body image being #1. This doesn't appear to be your problem. But if you have always had this, you need to see a specialist to make sure everything in your throat is okay. Always rule out all other causes before assuming it's anxiety. If it is anxiety, I feel therapy would truly benefit you. You may have a fear of choking and this can be addressed thru therapy allowing you to get on with your life. GERD (acid reflux) can make you feel like your choking when you eat, and this could have been your problem all along. But get a professional opinion and go from there. We're always here if you have other questions. Good luck and take care.
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