How do you overcome Phagophobia?
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How do you overcome Phagophobia?
What can you do to overcome phagophobia? Phobias respond well to treatments, including CBT and exposure therapy, so seeking professional help is the best way to overcome this fear. Relaxation techniques, taking small bites, and eating soft foods can also be helpful.
Is Phagophobia curable?
Phagophobia is a rare disorder and the literature is sparse. There is no specific treatment described for this life threatening condition.
What causes Phagophobia?
The exact causes of Phagophobia are not known, but the condition is typically caused by a singular or series of traumatic events that involved eating; incidents such as choking, abuse or regurgitation. Underlying physical or mental health conditions can also factor into someone’s fear of swallowing.
How does swallowing cure anxiety?
Swallowing issues caused by anxiety may be treated with anti-anxiety medications. Achalasia can sometimes be treated with an injection of botulinum toxin (Botox) to relax the sphincter muscles. Other medications, such as nitrates and calcium channel blockers, may also help to relax the LES.
Can dysphagia be caused by anxiety?
Some cases of dysphagia are due to structural abnormalities or disease, and some are considered functional, where there is no apparent physical cause. Psychiatric reasons for dysphagia include anxiety disorders, phobias, somatic symptom disorder, and more.
How do you fix swallowing problems?
Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew food thoroughly and eat more slowly. If you have difficulty swallowing liquids, there are products you can buy to thicken liquids. Trying foods with different textures to see if some cause you more trouble.
How can I improve my swallowing function?
As example, you may be asked to:
- Inhale and hold your breath very tightly.
- Pretend to gargle while holding your tongue back as far as possible.
- Pretend to yawn while holding your tongue back as far as possible.
- Do a dry swallow, squeezing all of your swallowing muscles as tightly as you can.
Is Phagophobia an eating disorder?
Phagophobia often results in weight loss due to food restriction so is often mistakenly thought of as an eating disorder. The Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies it as a specific phobia within the category of anxiety disorders.
How can I relax my throat from anxiety?
Stretching the neck
- Tilt the head forward and hold for 10 seconds. Raise it back to the center.
- Roll the head to one side and hold for 10 seconds. Bring it back to the center and repeat on the opposite side.
- Shrug the shoulders so that they almost touch the ears. Hold for a few seconds, then relax. Repeat this 5 times.
What kind of doctor should I see for difficulty swallowing?
If swallowing is difficult on a regular basis, you should see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist. People normally swallow hundreds of times a day to eat solids, drink liquids, and swallow the normal saliva and mucus that the body produces.
Can swallowing problems be cured?
Treating dysphagia Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with treatment, but a cure isn’t always possible. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques. changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.
Why do I struggle to swallow?
Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as: a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the …
What causes weak swallowing muscles?
Certain disorders — such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease — can cause dysphagia. Neurological damage. Sudden neurological damage, such as from a stroke or brain or spinal cord injury, can affect the ability to swallow. Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (Zenker’s diverticulum).
Why am I so afraid of choking?
It has been proposed that choking phobia occurs most commonly secondary to a conditioning experience of being choked by food. In the index case, swallowing food became conditioned with the fear of being choked after a choking incident leading to an avoidance or restriction of foods, panic attacks and weight loss.
