Panic/Anxiety Attacks: Support, Advice, Help, Treatment Options (painful, cold, blood)

[fuzzymystic]

Choking

Read this, it might help.

[irishmom]

There are many parts of the body that interact to produce swallowing (deglutition) oralmotor, nuerological, esophageal...so you could actually have a medical disorder (dysphagia) going on and not know it. I suggest you start by seeing a gastroenterologist, where they will take a look with barium to verify is there is a physical problem. After that if you or the physician feel it is an anxiety issue then I would seek treatment from a trained pychiatrist. I would suggest you look into one or both of those options rather than try to "fix" it on your own.

That said, here is the anatomy and physiology of swallowing so you can understand what happens in the body when you do.

Anatomy & Physiology of Swallowing
Swallowing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm sure if you google the technical terms for difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) or swallowing (deglutition) you will find much more. Good luck to you, I hope you feel better soon.

[citybythebay]

Originally Posted by Plainsong

I think this problem is to some extent anxiety related since I've had a lot of work and private problems just around the time this started. However, it also feels like this has become a separate problem that I need to deal with, preferrably as soon as possible.

Hello Plainsong,

I will say that choking is very much anxiety related. The emotional component of anxiety is fear. Then there are the physical symptoms which include feelings of choking. I know, because I experienced this very issue.

I would wake-up choking in the middle of the night and literally gasping for breath. This went on for weeks in my case. The only thing I know I could relate it to was the fear and overwhelming emotions I was feeling at that time in my life.

My parents were both dying. And I knew it was not a matter of if, but when. It's difficult enough to experience the loss of one parent, let alone both at the same time and the circumstances surrounding their death.

It was also the time my ex decided to break things off between us...that didn't help either.
It was an awful experience and one I will not soon forget.(funny, I look back at that break-up now and look at it as a blessing in disguise...I digress)

So combine the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety and the feelings of choking become that much more intense.
I did seek medical care along with cognitive therapy. It helped me tremendously.


I would seek medical care if this continues for you.

[Plainsong]

Thanks for all the replies! It helps to know that people want to help
I just wanted to add that I already am in counceling with a trained psychatrist and that I have gone to a doctor, so I've already saught medical care. Unfortunately there was little they could do to help me with this - got some light anxiety relieving meds but otherwise he didn't think drugs would be the answer for me.

I will go through the information you guys were so nice to link me to, but if there's anymore or anyone else with other info please post that too, I will go through anything that might help

[Air]

Originally Posted by Lisa_from_Debary

Being a single parent it isn't often I feel like I can afford to not be COMPLETE aware of what is going on.

Since I had my daughter, I quit doing yoga because I couldn't STAND to zone out and relax, I felt I was being negligent. I haven't been able to restart since. So I just want to tell you that someone else knows what you're feeling.

Another thing, and I don' t have the quote, after my mother's heart attack, I started feeling like I was having heart attacks, too. I had never had any pain in my chest in my life. After my father's cancer (it went to his stomach) I started having burning after eating. I'm not saying it was psychosomatic, it was very REAL. I think it was some kind of bonding with them, feeling what they felt.

I once had a major panic attack subsequent to an asthma attack, and I think I started having one today. Now that I know the symptoms, I say to myself, Oh, it's a panic attack, and it subsides, because I remember how that major panic attack just dissipated later that day. I feel happy to recognise a panic attack and realise I'm not having the OTHER kind.

Take care, you seem like such a nice person. Good luck for you and your children.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

Originally Posted by Air

Since I had my daughter, I quit doing yoga because I couldn't STAND to zone out and relax, I felt I was being negligent. I haven't been able to restart since. So I just want to tell you that someone else knows what you're feeling.

Another thing, and I don' t have the quote, after my mother's heart attack, I started feeling like I was having heart attacks, too. I had never had any pain in my chest in my life. After my father's cancer (it went to his stomach) I started having burning after eating. I'm not saying it was psychosomatic, it was very REAL. I think it was some kind of bonding with them, feeling what they felt.

I once had a major panic attack subsequent to an asthma attack, and I think I started having one today. Now that I know the symptoms, I say to myself, Oh, it's a panic attack, and it subsides, because I remember how that major panic attack just dissipated later that day. I feel happy to recognise a panic attack and realise I'm not having the OTHER kind.

Take care, you seem like such a nice person. Good luck for you and your children.

Thank you for your kind words...I hope if anyone ever feels like they need someone to talk to that you know I am more then willing to chat...I am certainly not a licensed therapist but sometimes it helps to talk to people who have been through something like you have.

I have had a very stressful day, no panic attacks but I felt on the edge all day. It seems like I can only take SO much running about and dealing with the realities of life before I have to take a break away from the noise and people. I am thinking I need a stronger dose of the Paxil.

My daughter leaves in the morning to fly to Denver from Orlando on her own...I am hoping I don't have a full blown attack at the airport when she gets on the plane.

I rarely drink but I have some wine I might have to try out tomorrow night in order to be able to get too sleep.

[vpcats]

I was on a airplane one time and this woman, sitting behind me, started hyperventilating and grabbing my arm (aisle seats). The flight attendant came over and made her breathe in and out of the paper bag and everything was pretty much fine afterwards, but the paper bag stayed handy.

Sometimes when I feel a "rush" and feel like my heart is going faster than usual, I'll do the paper bag thing also and it helps.

[Air]

You know, to be honest, this forum (not this section however) has been giving me a lot of anxiety attacks, and I'll have to say goodbye. Good luck to you all

[Suzet2262]

Hi all. I have been dealing with a panic disorder for almost 20 years now off and on. The last 6 years it has been extreme. I have seen all kinds of doctors, taken different meds, I am still on a anti-anxiety and anti-depressant. Nothing has really helped. Right now, I am in a bad cycle, I am not sleeping, my mind races all night long. I feel my heart racing all the time. I feel really scared of I dont know what, but the feeling never leaves me. I am scared that I wont be able to keep fighting this forever. I feel so hopelss right now. I dont even live a life. I forgot what it is to smile and just be calm. I stay home 90% of the time. Cant go to the movies, dinner, the mall, it is so hard for me to be in a car. I havent been on the freeway in like 8 months. We are planning a move to New England this coming year for which I am very excited about. Maybe a calmer place might help. I dont know. People take for granted how lucky they are to just go to the movies. The thought of that makes me hyperventilate, and cry, and just feel soo scared. For people that dont have this disorder, I know it is hard to understand. But your life is just sad, scared, hopeless, all the time. It sounds silly to be afraid to drive, eat out or go shopping, but the fear is there all the time. Why? I dont know but like I said, I just feel like I am at my breaking point, this isnt a life anymore. Is there anyone that has had panic attacks to the severity that I do, and has gotten better? Please tell me there is some hope out there.

[DeLaSalle]

Sorry Sweetie...

Don't give up hope!
You will get better...