[alison777]

hi - i've been having panic attacks where one of the symptoms is the sensation that my throat is swelling. the er doctors have examined me twice when this has happened and don't see any sign of inflammation or allergic response. i had skin testing for major food allergies and nothing came up as positive. i've been doing an elimination diet to test for intolerances and am stuck now because i am so fearful of adding things back into my diet. how can i get past this? i really don't want to be afraid to eat, and i am.

[marst]

sometimes a nutritionist and the help of your physician and therapist can help. ive been through periods of time where ive been consumed with checking every ounce of my food for hairs or insects or anything foreign so i understand the panic, im probably not the biggest help because i too am trying to return to "healthy" or "normal" eating and everyday habits but professionals really help, and it might also be a chemical inbalance in which medications can help too. Hope you sort everything out!

-Mary

[(JD)]

Welcome allison...

actually, this sensation is pretty common in real panic attacks...

some ppl don't narrow it down to the throat, but most all have some feeling that they can't breathe or swallow ....<font color=purple>

in recent past How to Ground Yourself type posts have made it to this forum... try going back a few months of posts here and see if you can find one...

I think IMHO that this will be a good place to start... grounding yourself in the here and now as best you can when you begin to feel panicky.(

Breathing slowly and fully is good, important.<font color=green>

I have true breathing problems, real allergies (anaphylactic too) and panic attacks... and even I have trouble telling them apart sometimes!

let us know if you find the lists...

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

[Butterfly_Faerie]

Feeling like your throat is closing up, swelling , lump etc... is part of anxiety.. and alot of people fear that something will happen and you wont be able to breathe. The more you think about it the worse it feels.

When you go and eat something, try reminding yourself that you do not have allergies, you aren't allergic to foods because you have had tests done, and they came out fine.

Have you talked to anyone about this phobia?

I've been lately having food anxiety when it comes to uncooked foods.

So I know how you feel.. but I have to remind myself that nothing is going to happen to me, the chances of getting food poisioning is very slim, considering i've never had it in my life.

And as long as I remind myself of those thing, then my anxiety goes away. But it still comes up. I've brought this up with my psychiatrist and I write down what is bothering me, and then write down things that are true, or postive.. that I wont get sick, nothing is going to happen to me. It's anxiety, it will past.

Take care, the fact that you've had the tests done and gone to the doctor is good you eliminated that out..... you just have to keep reminding yourself of it.

Postive self talk.... that's where that will help you the most I think with this... nip it in the butt...

And if you feel this isn't helping you can always call your doctor and talk to someone to get it under control...CBT might work for this? Not sure.

Take care.

<font color=red>~</font color=red><font color=blue>S</font color=blue><font color=green>u</font color=green><font color=blue>n</font color=blue><font color=green>d</font color=green><font color=blue>a</font color=blue><font color=green>n</font color=green><font color=blue>c</font color=blue><font color=green>e</font color=green><font color=red>~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[SS8282]

Hi Alison,

It sounds very much like panic/anxiety attack, more than allergy reaction. Do your lips, chin, and/or face turn red, swell up, or have bumps (hives)? Does your throat get itchy and feel 'smooth', not just swollen? If yes, then most likely you have allergies. If no, than most likely panic attacks.

I have food allergies, and sometimes I get panic attacks, so I know the difference. One way to help you get past the fear of being allergic to food is to keep telling yourself you're not allergic. That's helped me.
Good luck.

[(JD)]

yeah there is a difference in how it happens... but whether it is allergy or stress that causes my bronchi to close... I still can't breathe! LOL

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

[alison777]

thanks for all your suggestions. i don't have any of the other typical allergy responses like itchy, redness, etc., so i think i can say that it's not really an allergic reaction. i am working out of this funk now - ended up having a massive panic attack where i had to go to the er i was so afraid, and while there i decided to give up the diet and ate something that they gave me, which i hadn't been eating, and was okay. the following day i had a work cookout with lobster, and i ate about 1/2 of it - my throat was feeling super tight afterwards because i was so scared to eat it, but then i was okay. i have been able to reintroduce everything else but corn and nuts. i don't know a good way to do it. the other thing i credit with my improvement is that i started on anti-depressants when i wrote my last message, and if i could chart how i feel since i started talking them, it's a constant increase (there is a light at the end of the tunnel afterall!). i'm seeing a therapist as well. still having panic attacks now and then, but very infrequently compared to before. they happen in the middle of the night only now - which is still disconcerting to wake up to one, but at least i have been able to get through them and go back to sleep.

any suggestions for avoiding night panic attacks? why would they happen at night?

also i wasn't able to find the grounding posts - can someone give me more specific words to look for? i just did a search on grounding . . . . thanks!

sorry - so long. just wanted to update on what i've been going through.