Anxiety & Eating...Along With Other Things

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I have to say, I've never thought I'd suffer from this....anxiety, that is. Truth is, I have minor cerebral palsy, and also a mother who never accepted it...long story short, I think my mother is making me stressed about my situation, until now... it's even worse.

I am very able-bodied with the only exception that I tend to have poor balance every now and then. i'm self-sufficient and do everything and anything.

By "until now," I mean that for four years now I've been choking on my food. I went for a swallowing test, which came out normal. The thing that was suggested is that, me being that my CP make my nerves "over-react," that my choking has been due to feeling stressed. It has come to a point where I have cut from my diet anything "tough" to chew in fear of choking.

My mother sees that as such a dramatic occurrance, that she is always on top of me when I eat, saying thing like, will you ever eat like a normal person again?? Instead of showing some compassion for me, she stabs me like a knife with her worRAB.

It really has come to a point where I am scared to eat anything tough alone. I was talking to my uncle about this and he thinks something like Celexa would help a great deal. I think, when I am alone, I feel anxious. And by alone I mean by myself for days (as in when my parents go vacation.) The slightest noise makes me jump, brings upon dizziness, sometimes, and i just feel very on edge. I am not alone completely, I have my brothers me at night after work. I am currently off from work.

Also, knowing I have so many chores around the house also makes me nervous, and I worry about getting them done. My mother stays home so she usually does everything, but when she is away I have to do everything.

But right now, its eating. How can I overcome this feeling? Does it ever go away? Th e fear of choking, that is. Before this choking fear, I had absolutely no fear of eating alone, or being alone in my house. Now it's like, what ever I eat alone, it must be liquid form. I'm so upset. I want to over come..even small bites of things like bread has me nervous when I get that feeling of it being "stuck." I feel like i will die from a heart attack...and speaking of anxiety, my aunt, who's 39, she felt a sense of uneasiness with her body, thinking she had MS after feelling various of its symptoms. After multiple tests, she was told it was all in her head!! I couldn't believe it! Am I in that boat as well? Is it just all in my head and me being too nervous or tense, the choking?
 
I can totally relate. Don't let other people get you down. Many just don't understand what we are going through. I went through having issues with swallowing for a while. I was afraid to eat because I felt I was going to choke on my food and I would have to focus on my chewing and then swallow as soon as I could because I was afraid it would get caught in my throat. I've been having a bit of issues which I still think are related to my thyroid. I no longer have the problem with the chewing and swallowing. It looks like you have had an evaluation of your throat to show there are no problems. Have you spoken to a counselor/therapist/psychiatrist? I would suggest that as the next best thing if you can. They would be able to work well with your situation. I have to find one myself. I have a lot of issues when it comes to anxiety and my health. I still think there is something wrong with me. Its hard to let it go. Its the anxiety minRABet. It controls us and we have to take control of it. I pray for your well being and I hope you are able to find the help you need. You are not the only one struggling with this issue thats for sure. So dont feel alone. There are so many others who are going through the same thing or have gone through the same thing as you. I was told to distract myself when I eat. Instead of thinking about eating, just make it really casual and watch tv or focus on something else while you are eating. Its easier said than done, but it may work. I hope the best for you.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the kind worRAB. Honestly, I really do think it is mostly psychological, and the fact that it has altered my life this way is not healthy.

I thought about seeking the help of a psychologist, however, I did it only once before about 10 years ago when I was 21, and primarily because I felt very anxious in public when it came to things like picking up/hold a full glass of anything. Due to Cerebral palsy or my anxiety, I would shake or have a second long tick and spill it. He basically told me everyone spills things and get over it. So I'm assuming I will be told that everyone chokes, so get over it!

There are times, where even drinking water, I feel like I am swallowing a rock. Have you felt that? This is what really is making me think it's my nerves. Sometimes I swallow minutes after eating, feel a block, frantically gulp down water and it goes. Would this be nerves?

I really want to eat normal again. I really thought it could also be acid reflux, however I do not have heartburn, though people with ac. reflux choke on fooRAB too. The barium swallow test was the only thing I did, and with that, it would have shown if I had a problem with swallowing. But I have also read that the tongue can often weaken? I'm 32, I really don't think it would at this age, right? Well, I have some self help, anxiety books I've bought, and just read them for help I guess.
 
I have had the hard rock feeling or weird lump in the throat. At first I thought it was nerves, then I thought it was acid reflux so now I am on Nexium for that and then I thought it might be related to my sinuses because they are so clogged up and I have dry mouth so it may be because of that. I dont really know but whatever it was, I think the anxiety made it worse. It felt like my food got stuck in my chest and then with a sip of water it would go down. The doctor told me it was because my muscles were so tensed up, it would make it harder to swallow. Also, its a mind over matter thing. The more you think about doing it, the harder it is to do. I would think about eating and then get nervous and then put food in my mouth, get more nervous and swallow and felt sick but had to continue to feed myself. I also think a dairy allergy may have made me nauseous to the point where I couldnt even think of eating. I have no idea. All I know is, its horrible!



I would also check to see if you have any food allergies because they can cause anxiety too.

Let me know how it goes. It will take time but I know you will find help. Never lose hope =)
 
I too have the feeling of the food getting stuck! Not in the throat, but after it leaves the throat, right in the chest area. Then I drink water and it goes down. Is this anxiety?? I am extremely anxious and I drink coffee, lattes with 3 shots in it twice a day. (mostly decaf) I keep thinking there is something seriously wrong, and causes more anxiety. How are you two feeling now?
 
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