This is going to sound really silly but....

[kristarenee]

Ever since a seizure last December. I have this serious fear of swallowing, if I don't think about it, I'm fine, but the second I think about it I completely stop eating. And I mean I think about it every time I eat. I feel like I'm gonna choke or something. And I think it's because during that seizure I stopped breathing and was choking. And had nobody told me that I wouldn't be scared. But I didnt even know what had happened I woke up in the hospital and friends and family around me and ER doctor yelling at me and you guys know how it is, your memory is cloudy and you're trying to sort things out. Does anyone else feel like this? Or is this something that will go away once I get my anxiety under control do you think?

 

[Nakamova]

It's normal to have some residual anxiety from the seizures. In most cases, it goes away over time. But if the seizure is particularly confusing and traumatic the nightmare can be a little harder to shake off.

You might find it helpful to talk to a therapist about ways to break the negative associations that have developed around eating or swallowing. It can help to consciously associate positive, non-threatening ideas with whatever triggers the anxiety. So for example, whenever you are eating or thinking about eating you might imagine...puppies. Or Ryan Gosling. Or your favorite color. Something that makes you laugh and relax rather than tense up.

I hope you can get some relief soon.

 

[kristarenee]

Thank you so much for that advice I really appreciate it. Talking to a therapist would probably be really helpful and thinking of other things would help a lot as well. I never thought about that. Definitely will try it! Thank you!