Hi. i'm not a doctor, but I'm a third year med student so I may be able to offer some remedial contribution. I have had anxiety issues in the past and I know exactly what you mean by the sensation of a foreign body being present in the throat; it is a very real symptom of anxiety and is a recognised psychiatric entity. The syndrome has been given the rather insensitive name "globus hystericus". Remember, the fact that "its in your head" does not in any way diminish the reality and seriousness of your suffering. On the contrary.

I do not believe that the fact that your reaction to this sensation satisfies the requirement for self-injury per se because, as you say, your aim is not to induce harm. Nonetheless, it is certainly concerning. I imagine your doctor performed a examination on your throat and his concerns about injury are warranted. It is clear that the underlying cause (globus hystericus) must be adressed; the condition requires psychiatric and/or psychological intervention. I would talk to my primary care physician about management or referral. Best of luck!

thanks so much for your response.
can this 'globus hystericus' ever be dangerous?
even though its anxiety, and "all in my head" can it harm me to a point where i cant breathe anymore?

thats my biggest fear.

By definition, globus hystericus is never dangerous and will not cause respiratory difficulties. However, globus hystericus is only one possible diagnosis associated with the sensation of a foreign body in the thoat. Although I am sure your doctor was able to exclude other potential diagnoses, e.g actual foreign body impaction, space occupying lesion (e.g. abscess), tracheal stenosis (associated with various rare systemic diseases such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis) and neurological diseases, these diseases entail a very real risk of respiratory distress. However, given your history of anxiety, combined with your absense of other symptoms such as fever, and most importantly the fact that you doctor has examined you, make any such diagnoses unlikely. So, although I can safely say that globus hystericus, by definition, is a psychiatric concern and does not entail risk for organic disease, I am hesitant to say that you definitely will never have respiratory distress, because other diseases remain remote possibilties.

Hope this helps!

If your not doing it to hurt yourself then I don't think it's self injury.