I need help with my Fear of Choking

DukeR · Post by **DukeR** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:48 am

So I dont know why I cannot beat this battle! It is so frustrating and I really struggling with it today. I ate a scoop of peanut butter for some protein this afternoon and right now, I am driving myself nuts because I am "What ifing" it gets stuck in my trachea or am I choking. I need some reassurance that this is not possible. Please help!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:11 am

Well, number one, Duke, you'd know because you wouldn't be breathing. But in Freedom from Fear by Dr. Howard Liebgold he states that it is virtually impossible to choke if you are not in an alcoholic stuper (or drug stupor). It's absolutely impossible for a human to choke under normal circumstances. The body knows what to do.

You can cure from this fear, Duke.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:30 am

I know intellectually this but for some reason I cannot believe it! I am going to see my therapist today but I just wish I would believe. I mean how stupid I am for thinking that 30 mins later that I can choke on peanut butter.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:53 am

No, not stupid, Beth. Guess who is scared? You're inner child. That little person in you is scared. You need to accept her UNCONDITIONALLY - scared and all. You let her know that you will not abandon her through this. She can heal and it takes time. You will be kind and gentle and supportive at ALL TIMES, and you will no longer judge the fear nor will you try to hurry the process along. It will take whatever time it takes to get over this. Expose yourself as much as possible to what scares you and then nuture yourself through the experience. You will heal.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:20 pm

my first panic attack happened after i swallowed a vitamin...the next day i was sittin in a movie theatre thinking "what if" it's still stuck in my throat..then all of a sudden my heart started racing and that was that..ur right in that you know its not stuck in your throat, but the thought is still there..i know how you feel tho and just to let you know...there is an actual name for the phobia of being scared of peanut butter being stuck in your throat..hope that makes you feel better

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:26 pm

Hi there, i can definetly relate, sometimes when i eat, i feel the process of swallowing STOPS!. im breathing but im like its gonna slowly slide down then im gonna choke, and someone is gonna have to do the hymlic....i have to close my eyes and say "swallow, u can swallow".. or another example is, if i try something i dont know, i think im gonna have an allergic reaction and my throat is gonna swell up and close, then thats it...but since my anxiet is still there, and still occurs. my throat tightens up, and then my head starts hurting, come to find out, im not alone, if u notice, on this forum, everyone has the same symptoms. so dont feel alone, just know, ur body likes to play tricks on us, especially ur mind. ur gonna be fine, and i know i will be too. when u figure out one symptom, another occurs. next time, take little bites (licks) with something to drink, maybe that will help. good luck

Bees4me · Post by **Bees4me** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:43 am

THank you all for your insight. It is so funny Angela that you said sometimes when you try something new, you fear being allergic to it. I am the same way! Our mind is very powerful and sure does like to play tricks on us