Choking Phobia Help is available, especially if your doctor says “There’s Nothing Wrong With You”… But You Still Can’t Swallow
You’ve done the rounds.
You’ve seen the ENT, the gastroenterologist, maybe even had an endoscopy, barium swallow, or allergy testing. You’ve ruled out reflux, strictures, and Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EOE).
And then comes the verdict:
“There’s nothing wrong with you! It’s in your head.”
On paper, this might sound reassuring — you’re healthy, right? But if you still can’t swallow without fear, if every meal feels like an obstacle course, it can feel like the most invalidating thing you’ve ever heard.
Phagophobia: The Invisible Wall of Swallowing and Choking Anxiety
Phagophobia — also called choking phobia or swallowing phobia — is a very real, lived experience. Your body can swallow, but your brain isn’t convinced. It treats every mouthful like a threat, triggering fear, muscle tension, and avoidance.
Over time, eating becomes stressful, exhausting, and even isolating. This is not about being “silly” or “overreacting.” It’s about your nervous system remembering a scare — sometimes a genuine choking incident, sometimes an unexpected swallowing difficulty — and then deciding to stay on high alert.
My First Glimpse Into the Struggle
Many years ago, while training as a dietitian, I observed something I’ve never forgotten: a videofluoroscopy session.
The speech and language pathologist (SLP) was trying to work out why a patient couldn’t eat safely.
In the waiting area, I met people whose bodies told the story before they spoke — gaunt faces, frail frames, eyes dulled by hunger and fatigue. They looked beaten down by the daily battle with food.
When I watched the X-ray in real time — the intricate ballet of muscles as someone swallowed contrast fluid — it struck me how fragile and precious this “simple” act is. Swallowing looks effortless when it works… but when it doesn’t, it touches every part of life.
When ‘Nothing’s Wrong’ Still Feels Wrong
The medical “all clear” matters. It means your throat, oesophagus, and digestive tract are working physically. But it also means your next step is different: the work shifts from the body to the mind.
And that’s where hypnotherapy for choking phobia can be life-changing.
Why Hypnotherapy Helps With Choking Phobia and Swallowing Anxiety
Hypnotherapy helps by:
- Rewiring the fear response so your body no longer reacts to swallowing as if it’s dangerous.
- Rebuilding trust between mind and body, step by step.
- Easing muscle tension that makes swallowing harder when you’re anxious.
- Restoring confidence so you can enjoy food again without that constant “what if” thought.
This isn’t about forgetting what happened. It’s about retraining your brain to file the experience away as finished, so it stops hijacking every bite.
Helping Clients Break Free from Swallowing and Choking Phobia
Helping someone take their first relaxed bite in weeks, months, or even years is indescribable. I’ve seen clients go from soup-only diets to happily sharing pizza with friends. I’ve watched colour come back into their lives — not just from nutrition, but from the joy of social eating, spontaneity, and freedom.
If you’ve been told “there’s nothing wrong with you” but you know you still can’t eat the way you want, you’re not broken. You just need a different approach — one that speaks to both your mind and body.
For more information book a chat here with me.
