hi gocats - i really felt i had to reply since this is something i can strongly relate to. i'm just gonna give my 2cents based on my own experience bt i hope its helpful ...
several years ago i began to expereince difficulty swallowing, along with frequently getting freaked out to the point of panic attack due to the feeling that something had become stuck in my throat. i went thru months and months of stress and anxiety whenever i would eat, or when i was supposed to eat, and worst of all to eat in a social situation. it became so severe that i did see my doctor. fortunately he was a great guy and very compassionate. he recognized immediately thank this problem was anxiety driven. he treated me with xanax and counseledme with facts that really helped me deal with it.
i should definitely add that, #1. i have struggled with varying levels of anxiety since i was a young teenager, and #2 i'd been a pot smoker on the regular for many years. i have over come this problem with time and anxiety meds and alot of self dialog but it took quite a while... looking back i feel pretty convinced that the yrs of smokin pot was a factor in my increasing anxiety level.
i want to say that getting hooked on xanax is not the solution or the goal, that didnt happen to me. i used it as a tool. after a while when i felt the fear iwould just remind myself that it was right there if i needed it and that became enough to get me thru, at least 9 times out of 10. bcuz after a while it becomes fear of the fear...you may not be there yet idk...
i'm not saying its all in your head - NOT saying that at all. but sometimes esp. for us anxiety prone ppl, something gets in your head and no matter how rational you try to make it, it becomes out of your control- anxiety takes over and runs with it.
im sorry! i didnt intend to write a novel here i just have been there and ive had it grow from what you're describing into full blown turning gray-body-trembling-heart pounding-shirt soaking sweat-crying-dizzy-go to the hospital panic like id never had before. and the worst part was that no one understood, no one had experience with it, no one knew whether it was in my head or not and that was so scary.
my advice is to see your doc again and if he/she doesnt seem to get it or blows u off, try to get an appt w a psychotherapist/counselor someone like that- just dont wait until it gets to a point where its affecting your life every day and night, like i did.
again i apologize for the lengthy post but id feel great if i could help just one person with something like this. feeling alone in it can compund the problem greatly. good luck gocats and i sincerely hope this is helpful!
