symptoms
Hi. I am new to the program. My father went through the program when I was in high school and I kind of thought I was anxious then but didn't want to address it. I have had many symptoms over the past 10 years. I have IBS, an irregular heartbeat, panic attacks, anxious feelings, etc. Most recently, though, I developed this thing where my throat tightens and stays that way for days on end. It is so uncomfortable it feels like my food doesn't go down as quickly. Then, of course, I panic and freak out and it gets even tighter. I went though a series of upper GI tests, including an endoscopy. All they could come up with is that my esophagus is narrow. The tightness does go away periodically. I decided to borrow my dad's program and so here I am. I am wondering if this tightness I'm experiencing is the same as the choking sensation mentioned in the first tape of the program, even if mine lasts longer than a panic attack. Has anyone else experienced this?
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Guest
It's anxiety, Gidge. That's all it is, nothing more. I used to have this all the time and I no longer have it at all. Even if your esophagus was narrow food can still go down safely. Take a look at how many years you have been eating and food has always gone down.
Learn to soothe yourself and tell yourself truth statements.
I can swallow my food fine. Look at all these years I have done this.
This is just anxiety. It is simply a sensation. It is not dangerous.
Use your breath to breathe into the sensations. Calm breath will help you to relax.
Learn to soothe yourself and tell yourself truth statements.
I can swallow my food fine. Look at all these years I have done this.
This is just anxiety. It is simply a sensation. It is not dangerous.
Use your breath to breathe into the sensations. Calm breath will help you to relax.
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Guest
Hi Gidge; welcome to the Program. I know you'll find success here. I think Boon is right, we have so much trouble relaxing and we have to learn to soothe ourselves. For me it was not being able to take a deep breath - I mean literally for probably the past 2 years my breathing was shallow, I was so tense, just waiting to break. The program has changed my life. I love to relax now and depend on it daily. The skills I've learned have changed my life. Stick with it and you'll start having victory over this.