conscious of swallowing

[chasingthecool]

i just keep thinking about swallowing.    something in my brain just tells me to notice my swallowing and it forces me to swallow.    it happens non stop thoughout the day at any random moment.....driving,  workingout,   watching tv   etc etc


how do i stop these thoughts


is it a form of ocd?

[chasingthecool]

anyone?

[MrMoleHill]

I have had this before, where I spontaneously become conscious of swallowing. It seemed I even needed to "think" to swallow my saliva, and if I didn't it would pool in my mouth. This was not related to the typical "lump in throat" feeling, common to anxiety.  I've had that before also, but this is different. I chalked it all up to anxiety, and eventually, it subsided.

Now, more recently, I've been getting a similar issue, but with a disturbing twist. Seemingly at random, I get the sensation that I've suddenly lost the ability to swallow, as if the muscles and nerves have "forgotten" what to do. The food seems to get stuck, and it feels like I really have to work to swallow. It's only then, that this particular sensation causes me to become overly conscious of the act of swallowing. I can swallow it down with a swig of whatever I'm drinking, and it's fine. Eventually this subsides too, but it is more perturbing than the other two experiences.

[chasingthecool]

it just disappeared after a while?   do I need to take a ssri

[JunoX]

Ah, yes, the ole forgetting how to swallow or non stop swallowing syndrome. Boy, I can I relate to this one. I'm actually kind of surprised to see this posted in the OCD forum since I always thought it was a symptom of pure HA. Now that I see it here, it reinforces my belief that OCD has always been my core problem and it has caused my anxiety, including my HA.

I have experienced this symptom many, many times. Mines has also recently become the forgetting how to swallow thing now. It toggles back and forth. Hate when it happens while eating but for me, since I know its totally not dangerous and completely a symptom of anxiety, it cracks me up when it happens, especially if I'm drinking something because I know I just might push it out my nose. You really need a sense of humor with this illness.

The more importance you give the obsessive thoughts, the more they will bother you. You have to ignore them, shut them out, tune them out, imagine a stop sign, snap a rubber band on your wrist, dip your hands in ice water, anything but dont listen. Not listening to them, is half the battle, literally. Remember, obsession leads to compulsion leads to obsession and on and on.

If natural remedies are not your preference, you can tweak your meds for better control.

[MrMoleHill]

I've never been able to take an SSRI.  I can't stand they way they make me feel - I'd rather have the anxiety.

Kind of like JunoX said, I attributed the swallowing issue to anxiety/HA and just bulldozed my way through it, and it eventually just goes back to normal. I try not to give it too much attention, otherwise it just gets worse. If I didn't know that it was a common anxiety and/or HA symptom, I'd probably freak out too.

Having a sense of humor about all this stuff is how I cope as well. At times it doesn't seem funny at all - it can be downright miserable. But, I try.

[marc]

I swallow a lot when I am nervous or when I get post nasal drip, which can be frequent.

[chasingthecool]

im going to my pyschiastrist to get some ssri's

[Crims0n]

Ive had this too.

Its definitelya pain you just gotta ride it out

[chasingthecool]

@crimson.  what you mean ride it out....did yours just go away

[Toofless-suh-suh-sorry...]

Erm... I always thought I was alone in this. Mine stems from extreme self-consciousness about this which stems from other stuff way back, but... yeah... I get stuck either way, I'm always too conscious of it, and feel caught out, either being noticed doing it or being noticed trying not to, so... yeah. The try not to focus is the best advice, and it doesn't just make it go away, no, but it helps reign it in a bit. I've always been so utterly embarrassed by it, but your being brave enough to say and others to reply, has helped me feel a bit better. I even feel self-conscious when others do it, and seem unself-conscious, you know? That's how out of control it can get. I've to hide it, without looking like I am, and... I fear being heard... hate eating or drinking in front of others... can't admit to it as an issue... It racks up.
And more with nerves, yes, definitely... and you're either doing it too much and fear being noticed, or dry up and it makes your throat click and you struggle to manage.
And, I've a stupid swallowing-things compulsion anyway, which makes it even more dire a thing in my head.
Try to relax, and don't stress about it... easier said than done, but you just have to keep at it as best you can, eh guys?
And humour, yes indeed, trying to take the sting out of it with humour helps lower the tension and reset your thoughts about it.
Cheers guys, all, and be well. *slinks away quietly, throat-locked and blushing*...