(Quick History)
When I was around 12 years old I choked on some lasagna and it really freaked me out. After that I had a fear of choking. I stopped eating a lot of solid foods mainly starchy harder to swallow foods as well as tough meats. Here is where the problem starts. I guess to be safe as soon as I had thoroughly chewed my food I would take a sip of water or what have you and then swallow. Sometimes it took multiple sips to swallow one mouthful.
Flash forward 14 years and I am still doing it to this day. It is so tiring just to eat a simple meal because I have to think about each swallow. My stomach is always upset and I usually feel hungry and tired. I am always hacking to clear my throat and I gag and dry heave a lot.
Lately I have tried to eat properly without drinking to swallow but the only foods I can eat with no problems are fruits, salads, or anything with very soft texture. When I eat a hamburger for example I chew it up and then it just sits there in my mouth I am unable to swallow it like I have forgotten how. By sipping just a tiny bit I can then swallow the food.
Does this sound like it is psychological or possibly a physical problem (weakened muscles or something)?? I would really like to get help with this because I am becoming very depressed and it affects my social life because I avoid situations where I will have to eat around others.