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Hypnotherapy for Choking Phobia can Improve Your Quality of Life
Choking or Swallowing phobia also known as phagophobia, is more than just a fear — it can drastically disrupt daily life. Whether the anxiety began after a traumatic choking incident or emerged gradually without a clear trigger, it can lead to food avoidance, weight loss, and social withdrawal. I offer specialist support grounded in hypnotherapy to help individuals of all ages move beyond this debilitating fear.
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Life with choking phobia
- Avoidance of solid food, pills, or even liquids
- Eating only in very specific circumstances (e.g., alone, with water nearby)
- Extremely slow eating or chewing excessively
- Panic or anxiety at mealtimes
- Gagging or coughing, even without obstruction
- Worry about breathing or swallowing safely
- Declining nutritional status, weight loss, or growth issues in children
Why Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy helps individuals
- Rewire the brain’s response to swallowing and food
- Let go of traumatic or anxious associations
- Increase relaxation and reduce anticipatory fear
- Regain trust in your body and its ability to eat safely
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What to Expect from Hypnotherapy for Choking Phobia
Relief from the ongoing anxiety around eating and swallowing- Reconnection with natural hunger and fullness cues
- Confidence to eat a broader range of foods without fear
- Calm, regulated body responses during meals
- Reduced safety behaviours (e.g., excessive chewing, avoiding eating with others)
- Greater social participation in food-based events
- Improved nutritional intake for growth, energy, and wellbeing
- A renewed sense of joy, autonomy, and trust in your body
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FAQ
Yes. Hypnotherapy helps reduce the subconscious fear and physical tension associated with swallowing. It’s especially effective when traditional therapies haven’t addressed the emotional roots of the phobia.
Studies have shown that hypnotherapy can be successful in treating specific phobias, including phagophobia, particularly when anxiety and trauma are involved.
For example:
- Anandarajah, S., & Matic, K. (2018). Hypnotherapy in the treatment of a case of phagophobia: A case report. BMJ Case Reports, doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-225422.
- Bryant, R. A. (2012). Hypnosis and anxiety: Early interventions. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 60(2), 123–133.
Phagophobia is specifically a fear of swallowing or choking, often triggered by a traumatic event or a gradual build-up of anxiety. While ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) can sometimes include a fear of choking, not all phagophobia cases meet the criteria for ARFID.
Absolutely. I support children, teens, and adults. Many adults have lived with this fear for years and find hypnotherapy a relief when nothing else has worked. A case study published in BMJ Case Reports (Anandarajah & Matic, 2018) showed a woman who had lived with phagophobia for 10 years before successfully responding to hypnotherapy. This is not unusual — many adults don’t realise there’s targeted support available, especially one that addresses both the mind and body.
No formal diagnosis is needed. However, I may suggest you check in with your GP to rule out medical causes like reflux (GERD) or EoE, especially if you’re experiencing pain or physical symptoms.
Every case is different, but adults often benefit from 3 to 4 focused hypnotherapy sessions, especially if there are no underlying medical concerns or trauma that needs deeper processing.
For children and teens, I offer structured programmes that include parent coaching, as progress often depends on how the home environment supports safety and exposure. These typically involve six sessions with both direct work and guided support for parents. Some families may need fewer or additional sessions depending on the severity and history of the phobia.
