Is It Normal?

[SharkyorBones]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to ask about this something im not sure is anxiety or not.

For the past two weeks whenever I talk about something that might make me feel a little anxious or even something I feel nothing about but is related to emotions ive felt this tightening in my throat. It reminds me of the lump you get when you're trying to fight back tears but its incredibly persistent. Even when I don't feel like crying. I have it right now and im going to see my doctor tomorrow about a constant headache ive had since a particularly stressful situation yesterday so ill ask about it then but I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced anything like it?

Thanks.

 

[Ms.Chrysalis]

Didn't want to hog the board as a new member (I guess I was excited to find this place), but wanted to respond because I experience something similar.

If your doctor rules out something medical (not seasonal allergies, developing cold/sinus infection etc.) and you suspect it could be emotion-related, without knowing your trauma, it's hard to say the cause and I don't want to overly identify.

I don't know if it's "normal" or not, but I noticed mine when initially entering therapy - I literally lost my voice, like laryngitis, when I tried to even step close to telling the story, it felt like something was stuck. So I wrote what I wanted to say just to get it out at first then pushed it out, even if I whispered it.

In my case, I was initially threatened not to tell anyone what happened, and then didn't for fear of not being believed or judged - so literally my own fear created a physical block from using my voice to tell, even when I wanted to - especially with emotion attached to it, rather than just telling it in a detached way, as if it happened to somebody else.

This thing resurfaced again just recently, and I'm quite sure it was because I felt judged. In that case, I ended up being glad it was there, because in hindsight, I'm not sure it was a safe person to tell. So I think the key to mine is making sure I feel safe before I even try.

Does this sound similar or not even close?

 

[Go Hungry]

I've had that sort of thing before. Physical reactions to hard emotions happen a lot, actually. In my case my eyes start watering at times when I'm scared or suppressing emotions. There's also the lump in the throat sometimes as well. I think it's a form of crying that I do. So no, it's not that abnormal at all. The headaches too happen sometimes. For me it's when I've had a rough bout of arguing with my Others. I remember that coming up in therapy years back, and now that I'm getting treatment again, it's started up as well. Tylenol does work, however...

 

[FindingMyself88]

I know I get that feeling right before I have a panic attack, or in very hard therapy sessions. I would bring it up to your doctor if I was you, just to rule out anything physical...

 

[Jane.l]

Yes it's a stress thing- horrible feeling - especially as that restrictive feeling in the throat is very triggering for me - but as the others have said worth having it checked out too but when I first had it many years ago I was told it was a common reaction to stress .?

 

[Deleted member 27845]

I know it's strange but, even happiness can, and does, trigger my anxiety. So all in all... I believe what you are experiencing is natural for someone who does experience anxiety to begin with.

 

[Friday]

I'm glad you're seeing a doctor to rule out medical causes!

That said... Yeah. Absolutely. My physical panic attacks tend to be predominantly cardiac & muscular. But I'll also choke up, or my voice will also sometimes go Joey Lauren Adams raspy even if I don't feel choked up (and for days/weeks... I have to remember to smile while on the phone so they don think I'm a 90yo 4 pack a day smoker. No one takes either seriously.). Cold lightning through my abdomen. Sweats. Ringing in my ears. Hearing loss. Vision darkening, or swirling stars. Etc. I've gotten so used to them that most of the time I can be walking around not mentally/emotionally disturbed while my body does its thing. In the beginning it was really surreal (and now we shall go shopping!), but in time I've learned to ignore it. Like staying limber while you're in a wrist lock.

Most panic attack symptoms are also symptoms of other serious medical issues. I'd gotten so used to my panic attack symptoms that my appendix burst before I went in, because I thought I was just having another panic attack. Whoops. Nope.

So at this point I do get everything checked out at my annual physical, and then specialists every few years... Just to make sure I'm not overlooking something medically serious as being all in my head. Case in point: I have a cardiology appt in a couple weeks.