I have been under extreme health anxiety lately. Beacuase of this for several days I felt nauseous in the morning. Then I started gagging and heaving in the morning. Then it started anytime that I ate. Then I got to where anytime I thought about gagging my throat would tighten up and I would do it.
It is without a doubt anxiety related b/c if I don't think about it - it doesn't happen. My psychologist agreed it was anxiety.
My question is....Can anybody relate to this?
Crazy gagging "symptom"
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Guest
I've been there. Because we tighten any muscle we can muster when we are anxious (throat being one of them) it causes tons of odd symptoms. I still get this one every now and then...my throat will start to tighten and then starts the gagging. The best thing I found it just to get busy or do my breathing exercises when I first notice it coming on. I tend to make fun a lot of my symptoms and that helps too. I find humor helps me a lot with everything....helps me to not give it any power which in turn makes it go away.
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Guest
I can't tell you how much better I feel after reading your post. I've struggled with anxiety since I was at least 5 (I'm 34 now). You'd think that I would have experienced all of the symptoms by now. It's like a bacteria - once you get a handle on it it morphs into something else. I'd love to hear if anyone else has had this gagging issue. I even did it at my desk at work a few times. My office manager walked in on me gagging the other day. I felt like a freak! And....I always get it in my head that something will "never go away" once it starts even though it is brand new to me.
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Guest
Suzie,
I too have suffered from an overactive gag reflex. Before I started this program, it was everytime I ate. I was losing weight, losing hair, and feeling downright miserable. Every time I tried to swallow my gag reflex kicked in. I met a man on here who gave me some great advice (Boon). He told me to stare that SOB ego of mine in the face and tell it that I am going to swallow and I will be fine. There will be no gagging. Guess what, no more gagging. I've even put on a few pounds which is good because I was looking ill. Anyway, do the breathing, then confront the thoughts that are creating the throat tightening, and tell them to get the heck out of your head!! It works. I haven't gagged in over 2 weeks. Good luck hope this helps.
Julie
I too have suffered from an overactive gag reflex. Before I started this program, it was everytime I ate. I was losing weight, losing hair, and feeling downright miserable. Every time I tried to swallow my gag reflex kicked in. I met a man on here who gave me some great advice (Boon). He told me to stare that SOB ego of mine in the face and tell it that I am going to swallow and I will be fine. There will be no gagging. Guess what, no more gagging. I've even put on a few pounds which is good because I was looking ill. Anyway, do the breathing, then confront the thoughts that are creating the throat tightening, and tell them to get the heck out of your head!! It works. I haven't gagged in over 2 weeks. Good luck hope this helps.
Julie
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Guest
Hi there Susie. I'm glad my post helped. I've been having anxiety issues for about as long as you...I'll be 30 in June and it never ceases to amaze me all the different symptoms I've had. You are correct, once you get a handle on one, another seems to manifest. It's all part of the process of getting better...and you'll get there 
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Guest
I have "suffered" for years with this gagging thing. At times it has been worse than others. And at the worst times, it feels as if my esophagus is trying to turn inside out through my throat. It is not throwing up, it is gagging. Nothing comes up. It has nothing to do with food for me (except maybe it is more prevalent when I am into sugar). As a matter of fact, if I nibble on peanuts or almonds, it helps keep it at bay for the time being. During the early 90's when it was really at its worst, peanuts and raisins were my constant companions.
It has brought me to my knees, left me shaking and red faced. It has a lot of energy behind it. It has happened while I'm driving to the point where I have to pull over because it takes me over!
And the thing about it is, I don't panic around it as much as I used to. But I do fear the fear of it. I especially fear *when* it will happen. So my fear isn't around the gagging as much as who it will be in front of, or where I will be when I have it. I can gag all day in the privacy of my own room. But I fear having it outside the house. The fact that you had it at work and someone saw it is exactly what scares me the most.
So I still have it, I still have fear around it, and I have just learned to live with it as it is for now. It has evolved, but not gone away.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist, which is one of my fears. And the mere fact that he will be working in my mouth, and that I'll have to keep my mouth open, is enough to start bring up my fear and the possibility of gagging.
It has brought me to my knees, left me shaking and red faced. It has a lot of energy behind it. It has happened while I'm driving to the point where I have to pull over because it takes me over!
And the thing about it is, I don't panic around it as much as I used to. But I do fear the fear of it. I especially fear *when* it will happen. So my fear isn't around the gagging as much as who it will be in front of, or where I will be when I have it. I can gag all day in the privacy of my own room. But I fear having it outside the house. The fact that you had it at work and someone saw it is exactly what scares me the most.
So I still have it, I still have fear around it, and I have just learned to live with it as it is for now. It has evolved, but not gone away.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist, which is one of my fears. And the mere fact that he will be working in my mouth, and that I'll have to keep my mouth open, is enough to start bring up my fear and the possibility of gagging.
Shaky Susie,
As for the dentist appointment (which I worried about -- with a background sort of worry -- for about a month) I did amazingly well. As I usually do, I had gagging before my appointment, but as is often the case, it was a relief, because it does seem to relieve the energy behind the fear. I actually gave myself the space to do that when I sat in a parking lot away from others and let it happen. While at the dentist, while actually in the chair, the gagging was not with me. I had some fear, but no gagging. When I felt my body tense up, I brought myself back to the present moment, not into the future where my fear lies. While the dentist was actually working in my mouth, I was able to just accept and allow it. In a way, it seemed I was in another place, but I wasn't. I was fully aware of what was going on, and yet, was able to just let it be. When they would stop and get the next step ready, I began to feel the fear come up again. Its as if any change in the momentum would throw me off a bit.
Here's two things that helped. I did this thing called EFT that a good friend helped me with before hand. Also I had an audio of Eckhart Tolle & Oprahs 2nd class (A New Earth) on my mp3 player. It helped me to concentrate on something else, something really appropriate for me and the situation.
One other thing. In the past, I've gotten the nitrous oxide (NO) gas but this time didn't use it and ultimately didn't need it.
As for the dentist appointment (which I worried about -- with a background sort of worry -- for about a month) I did amazingly well. As I usually do, I had gagging before my appointment, but as is often the case, it was a relief, because it does seem to relieve the energy behind the fear. I actually gave myself the space to do that when I sat in a parking lot away from others and let it happen. While at the dentist, while actually in the chair, the gagging was not with me. I had some fear, but no gagging. When I felt my body tense up, I brought myself back to the present moment, not into the future where my fear lies. While the dentist was actually working in my mouth, I was able to just accept and allow it. In a way, it seemed I was in another place, but I wasn't. I was fully aware of what was going on, and yet, was able to just let it be. When they would stop and get the next step ready, I began to feel the fear come up again. Its as if any change in the momentum would throw me off a bit.
Here's two things that helped. I did this thing called EFT that a good friend helped me with before hand. Also I had an audio of Eckhart Tolle & Oprahs 2nd class (A New Earth) on my mp3 player. It helped me to concentrate on something else, something really appropriate for me and the situation.
One other thing. In the past, I've gotten the nitrous oxide (NO) gas but this time didn't use it and ultimately didn't need it.
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Guest