(05-22-2012 03:26 PM)Labyrinth Wrote:  hello fellow sufferers. i have lived with this horrible disease for about 12 years now. it has dramatically altered my quality of life. i dont go to restaurants, i cannot enjoy fine foods, i can only eat once a day (as soon as i wake up). i am taking Xanax XR coupled with Klonopin and it helps just enough to where i dont go on a fear of choking on my own saliva, take me to the ER frenzy.
i have heard about CBT but am skeptical. i have a history of depression and anxiety obviously. if anyone can inform me as to where to begin or exactly the type of specialist to see, i would really like to get my life back on track. its sad that i have lived this long suffering but if i could free myself from this demon then i could be happy.

I must mention that I also posted this on another thread, hope that is ok. But Oh how I can relate. And this is the first time I have actually heard of others with this phobia. I know that one usually think that one is alone with its problem, but I am sorry to say that I was kind of relifed when I read this. I am not alone....

I was two years old when I almost choked on a chicken bone and I grew up trying to hide difficult pieces of food that I could not swallow.
And several times I have had candy, food, bread and even water/salavia stuck.

I also cannot swallow pills or tablets, I have to crush them.

But nine years ago my Dr. gave me Xanax to relax me, and that did work. But the curse of these pills (that’s I crush also) is that my life revolves around the medication. Do I have enough, will this box last me for my next DR appointment etc. And is a terrible circle…… panic attack because of fear of empty Xanax bottle, and of course the addiction to these pills.

But still they make me feel normal not high, I can eat. Whiteout fear. So I am very afraid of starting this journey of stop taking the pills. It will be hard and the fear of my phobia is still there, so I am kinda in-between…..
But maybe with help from a chat group like this I can manage

Thanks for reading and listening. I am a 36 year old woman.

Stopping perscription meds can be very hard but its certainly a goal.....nothing to be feared and if anything, its an award for how far you have come. It shows that you no longer need them

I understand you being scared and anxious, lets take it step by step, day by day and see how we progress. Can we do that?

I've had this fear since childhood. I remember my mom telling me once that when I was smaller, I swallowed a candy. I don't believe I choked although, it must have played on my mind since then.
Growing up, I would feel like I had something stuck in my throat, (sort of like a lump like sensation). And I would go to the doctors and have x-ray's done only to be told there was nothing there. Beacuse of those fears in my life, I would have problems eating and lost weight in the process. Now, I'm not huge in the least. I'm 23 right now and only weigh 104lbs. I cannot afford to not eat! I would mostly eat soft foods, (mashed potatoes, soups, and milk shakes, etc...). I dealt with a lot of anxiety throughout my childhood and to this day, still do. Right now, I'm experiencing this fear of choking quite severely and I'm frustrated and angry at myself because, for at least 7 years it has not affected me. I feel like I'm losong it and I can't talk to anybody, beacuse thay'll think I'm crazy. I feel totally out of control and it's interfereing with my life and taking over my mind. I'm going to see a councellor soon, once I can book an appointment. I really want to get over this and not be afraid. I live with no one who know the heimlich and I don't have first aid training myself. I'm so afraid that if I were choking, no one would be around to help me in time and I'd die. And then there is the fear that if it were something (such as plastic) stuck in my throat, and I couldn't breath, no one would be around to perform a tracheotomy. That procedure in general scares me just to think about. I live is so much fear and it's taking over my life right now. I was doing fine and now. I love to eat. i don't want to be afraid all the time.

Hi jaf2.

Welcome to oFear!

In terms of possible treatments for fear of choking, of the top of my head, I would of thought something like graded exposure would be quite a suitable option.

Although you're reluctant, judging from what you've wrote, I think it's imperative for you to talk to someone about this. The sooner you book that appointment with a counsellor (if you haven't done so already), the better.