I have had a choking phobia for going on 2 years now. I consider myself a healthy well balanced 42 year old. I have had two experiences where I sucsessfully saved two others from choking. My nephew at the beach choked on a doritos. My son on popcorn. These incidents were abt 5 years apart. I never feared choking myself. When my kids were young I had a constant fear of them choking. I would cut there food up into very small pieces, did not allow them to talk while they ate, and basically freaked them out abt this way to much. About two years ago my husband made me eggs benny for breakfast and I myself choked. Somehow I got through it, but it triggered something in my brain that has changed my world .This is a major issue in my life. In hindsite I can look back and see this has always been an issue for me..Sometimes more intense than others..Yes, not being able to socialize comfortably sucks. Pills are the last resort for me..Mediatation everyday helps me. I also went to a past life therapist which helped..Check out what Dr. Brian Weiss has to say abt phobias. It's worth a shot!

Welcome to Ofear Jill! shappy

I don't really have any tips or anything (sorry), just wanted to say hello

And...did you actually meet Brian Weiss, or was it another past life therapist? ssurprised
I've read a couple of his books, really interesting to say the least.

Anyway, I think we have a few other members with your fear, so have a look at some old threads and you might find some advice.

I saw a past life therapist in Providence, RI.. Going to see Brian Weiss in Boston this winter...Can't wait. Thanks

That's really cool
I've always wanted to visit one, doubt I'd be able to find one where I live though sconfused

I don't know if it's "too personal" or whatever, so don't answer if you don't feel up to it. But what kind of things did you find out when you went to the past life therapist? How did you find it helpful?
I'm just curious, as I said...don't answer if you don't feel like talking about it or whatever stongue

Hiya Jill and a very warm welcome to Ofear

I'm not familiar with past life therapists but maybe you could shed some light on how they helped you as it could be pretty interesting for others.

John

I have no problem talking about it...Where do you live? It was amazing! I am a true believer. I found out I lived in Greece and all about that life. One life in eygpt where I was a dancer. Certain people in my life now have always been with me. Most just play different roles. My daughter was my mother...so on..Interesting that I died not being able to breath.. Drowned once and was beheaded (ouch) Supposedly we carried these issues with us. Something like choking could trigger this..As with Brian Weiss..When you take someone back to the root of the problem..Symptoms should disappear. After my session I was great for awhile. The girl I saw was great, but Weiss is the best.

I developed a fear of eating and choking while eating in 1970 when my wife was in the hospital dying of a rare blood disease. Since that time, 39 years I have had to live with this fear. Most of the time I overcame this fear on my own. Slowly eating foods until I got my confidence back. However, it has never left me completely. It has affected my social life significantly.
Recently, a few days ago I actually got something caught in my throat and I panicked. I got up, coughed and was able to clear my throat. However, this triggered another anxiety attack and I have not been able to eat regularly for several days now. My throat stays dry and everything is hard to swallow. I have lost about 5 pounds in the last few days.
Does any one know of any treatment that really worked? I am so sick of living with this phobia and being frightened so much of the time. I wish someone had an answer. I am 64 years old now so obviously I have survived all of these years. But now I feel like I am back to square one again; definitely afraid of and avoiding eating. Can someone help?

I walk in your shoes...I know how you feel..It has become part of my life.. As with everything in life.. if you don't live it you don't understand it. My husband has been very understanding but, I think he is at the point of saying, " Enough..Get over it" I have been doing my homework on this. Could you tell me what triggered your fear. Is there any history of someone choking in front of you? Anything that you can think of at all?

My fear begin when my first wife was in the hospital and dying of Budd Chiari syndrome. A psychiatrist told me that I had transferred my anxiety about her condition onto myself. The morning it began my aunt was reading a paper and told me that someone had just died from choking to death. That fear transferred to me. I sought help but no one was able to help me. I have overcome this fear for most of the 40 years since, although it has never really left me. I was doing fine for the last 12 years but for some reason my fear came back with great magnitude because I was having some swallowing tests done to see if I was a candidate for a procedure for GERD. I was told that I was not a candidate because my mobility tests for my throat came back with not so good results. They said that I had a hard time swallowing and the surgery could make it worse. Hence the new fear. I dread eating and look forward to meals with great anxiety. I have lost about 8 pounds in the last two weeks. So I am concentrating on eating soft foods that I can wash down with liquids. I hate living with this anxiety. I know it is a ridiculous phobia because I have eaten pretty fine for so many years. Now I find that I have to begin all over again getting past my fear of eating. I think that I could live with any other phobia but not eating is life threatening and that is frightening. No one else seems to understand because everyone else takes eating as a normal and non threatening thing. I sure wish that I could find someone who could help me get past this phobia. It makes me feel weak as a person with little self-confidence.