I had panic attack when I was younger and I felt a very tight throath. Just calm down and it would pass. It's just anxiety.

I have had the 'lump' for about a week now... I have recently changed my diet to a more vegetarianesque. I like most of you have worried myself into a frenzy about all kinds of terrible things. I have found in the last two days that these symptoms are 'normal' per se and often associated with certain forms of reflux.

Acidic (tomatoes and salad dressings) foods can decrease Calcium absorption. I have not cut them out, but have limited my salads to a side serving at dinner. I approached the problem by adjusting my salad-based diet to a more well balanced version. I have found a lot of relief from eating plain rice, carrots, apples, bananas, potatoes, and nuts for snacking almonds or peanuts. Actually celery and peanut butter is a strangely satisfying snack. I am working on the theory that some spasms and smooth muscle contractions may result from a deficiency/balance of sorts in Calcium and Potassium since I changed my diet a couple weeks ago. Although these foods have helped with the tightening, I am not sure whether my mind has simply relaxed and my anxiety has decreased.

I still find that when I am relaxed at home or in the 'groove' so to speak at work, I do not notice the 'lump'. When I obsess about it it becomes increasingly annoying.

I do notice it for a while after eating (constant if I obsess) but it does not seem to affect my sleeping.

I have not tried any over the counter fixes Rolaids, Tums, Pepto etc.

Just some random thoughts on my recent experiences...

I am so happy that i found this site! Anxiety is terrible and I wouldnt wish it on anyone! Every little pain i feel i always think it is cancer or this or that... Anyone who has this disease should really seek out forums like these because they really help anxiety sufferers. The worst thing about this disease is that it makes you feel completely alone! We don't have to be if we can stick together!

i had this problem for 4 years. for me it was acid reflux - induced by stress. i am on prevacid....i can eat now, if you can't get a prescription, try tumms to start, and start looking for ways to rduce your stress levels

About 4 weeks ago i had anxiety stress and it wasn't pleasant. the way i got over this was to go to my doctor and he gave me some tablets to take which relieved anxiety. i took these for around 3 weeks until last week when i attempted coming off them. this worked and the symptoms have not returned since. although i still get a tight throat from time to time and it has been getting worse since it started around 2 days ago. i hate it because it was in the evenings but this morning i have woken up with it and my anxiety started to return. anyone got any advice or relaxation techniques?

also as advice to those who suffer from anxiety. take up yoga or go to your doctor and ask him for something to cure the anxiety. also remember that everyone experiences this at least once in their lifetime and it usually happens to those in age group 15-25.

I too have suffered with this and have discovered that it can be linked to hyperventilation.

When one hyperventilates the throat seems to dry out and the palate arches and this seems to preface the arrival of globus hystericus.

I find that sipping a cool drink can help and never underestimate the power of positive self-talk and another tip is singing. Sing your favourite song and you'll feel your throat mucles move with each different note. This relaxes the throat and over time may strengthen the muscles. It may aloso help snoring and sleep apnoea.

i have it at the moment only for like 2 days ive only got about 8 hours sleep over the two days and its horrible when i dnt think about it its fine but when i do its horrible im too scared to sleep i get shaky and soo scared because i feel like i'm going to die, im exhausted but i cnt sleep because im scared my throat will completly close up while im sleeping, the doctor thinks bad indigestion is the problem and has caused my throat to spasm and tighten and when i burp i feel better but i think its anxiety aswell because i get so scared, how long will this last i'm so frustrated and im only 16 i just feel like breaking down xx

Yesterday when I was grocery shooping I felt this for the first time. Just out of no where, my throat felt like it was so tight. I felt like I was gonna chock to death right there, and not be able to yell for help.
That really scared me, I do suffer from anxiety..but I wasnt feeling anxious at all. What could of caused this?

Hi everyone, I feel good that I can finally express my views on this topic. I really felt I was the only person experiencing this. Although mine does not occour everyday. I started to notice this anxiety dissorder when I smoked marijuana. I had done so a lot when I was in highschool and had never experienced symptoms of anxiety. However I can't quite pinpoint when it started, but I do know its been the past 3 years now that When i smoke this pot I become very paranoid and anxious and these symptoms continue growing adversly. Until I feel my throat is closing....I feel like I am holding my breath, and i might be. It begins to get hard for me to continue conversation with others around me, and not just because i am feeling scrutinized by them...but also because when I do speak I have a very harsh sounding voice...I do drink a lot of liquids and I also find this helps...but the gassy feeling remains, and then I have a serious fear of farting in front of everyone...and this continues to make me nervous. It continues as a never ending cycle. Until I fall asleep, then when I awake I feel fine, but I cant help feeling that everyone noticed how I was acting. I dont smoke anymore because of the fear of it happening again. I just hate that my old passtime is now ruined...it totally used to relax me, make me more creative and comfortable. I've actually never heard of another person who has started smoking pot and gone from having good side effects...to then experiencing severe anxiety issues. Anyways I just wanted to vent a little to someone. I can grasp how it must be for those who experience these symptoms everyday around other people, but It only happens when I smoke pot...I wonder what that triggers in me...I noticed someone recomended sleepytime hot/warm tea...If this happens again too me then I will definatly give it a try. Hey maybe you people who already experience these symptoms should try smoking pot. I have also experienced mild muscle spasms in my arms feet and pain in my chest A very tense feeling throughout my whole body...however I did smoke pot a few months back, and this was when I was very fit. I was doing yoga everyday, and running and eating well....i had no adverse reaction to the marijuana at that time...but i have begun working a lot and have molded back into my old ways...i know pot would not make me feel better now.

I've been suffering from sore throats and most of the time just feeling that my throat is closing and i'm smothering for the past 4 yrs.I'd been told yrs ago it was just anxiety(i've always had panick attacks so the drs love to use that when they haven't a clue)and I've lived with this feeling all these yrs until the other day when I got a bit of info that's changed my life.I have severe GERD.They looked with a scope and found it.See,I never had heartburn I just always had a feeling of something stuck,cronic sore throats and a smothering feeling.I urge all of you to have an upper endoscopy and see for yourself or at the least buy a box of pepcid or something for acid reflux.It will suggest a 15 day regimen.This may be your answer.

Hi im Nathan and im only 15, i have had some breathing problems for the past 4 days. My Neck feels heavy and feels stiff and very tight, and my throat feels dry, my throat also feels lumpy and that there is something stuck in there. I went to the doctors and they said that my throat was perfect, but it still didint feel like. It made me even more scared because i thought that i may have something very wrong with me, and thinking that my throat was just going to close when i sleep and then die. At Night it always got worse and had alot of panic attacks. From the quantitys of water that i drunk because of the dry throat it sometimes made me feel sick and my saliva was quite thick and always spitting. My throat had a little tingle inside and cough quite rarely so i no that it wasent a cough. I always tried to put my mind of it and it kind of helped. Breathing through your nose makes the throat feel less dry, and no that you are still breathing well. I think it is down to stress, but im still not sure at my age i should be getting stress and worrying. So i advise to you that you relax and think of other things , even if you still feel like its hard to breath.

Hey I'm Greg. I just got this tight throat thing today. I canNOT go to sleep with it! I first thought I was going to throw up or something, but my stomach didn't hurt and was perfectly normal. I had a very hard time trying to lay down and breathe... my throat just closed up (at least that's what it felt like). It's very annoying! I just want to sleep! And I have no idea WHY I feel this way! I don't (think) I suffer from anxiety. I'm not a big worrier nor am I stressed about anything. This kind of just jumped on me today... and I hope it goes away soon. It sort of helps knowing that there's MANY who have/had experienced this before. I think I may try some relaxation stuff.

I am also glad I came across this forum. For the last couple of months, with no cold or other sickness, I have the symptoms that you all are voicing. (No joke intended). I do believe it is from acid reflux. Also, as many have mentioned, stress does not help!!!!!

I also tried muscle relaxers and they worked a little. I also have major tightness in the neck, head and shoulder areas and the clogging of the ears.....I was even diagnosed having TMJ!

I have done alot of research and you will think I'm nuts, but I tried it and it really works!!!!! Besides relaxation techniques, staying away from smoking, soda, chocolate, spicy foods, alcohol etc., I take a table spoon of raw, unfiltered or filtered APPLE CIDAR VINEGAR with the "mother" in a glass of water at least 2x a day. (It cuts down the acid!!!)

You can find it in health stores. I been using "Bragg" Organic Apple Cidar Vinegar. I know at this point you are wondering...what is the "mother"? I think it means on the bottom of the bottle there is a white film (sediment).
Don't use the supermarket brands they are not the same.

I found this info on a web site and decided to try it!!!!!

Try it.....it's safe and it won't hurt you if you are pregnant either.

Let me know your results.........

Good luck!

Hi guys. I am having these symptoms too. I have had chest pains and a constant need to cough (not a reflex cough, just a tickle in my chest/throat). I've had muscular pains in my back. I've had dizzy spells and an irregular heart beat. I've also had full-blown panic attacks when at work, in public places or in the car. Now, the latest one is this tightness in the throat you describe. I have seen 3 doctors and have been to A&E once (I'm in the UK by the way). I insisted the doctor send me for a chest x-ray the other day, even though everyone I have seen has told me that I have not got cancer of the lungs or throat. I am now convinced that this is nothing more than anxiety. The problem is that I recently stopped smoking cannabis daily, so you see how the viscious circle of physical symptoms and cancer fears fuel themselves in my head, even though medics have told me on numerous occasions that I am just suffering from anxiety. I suppose I deserve this more than you guys given what I used to do but the underlying message remains the same. We are all suffering from anxiety. It is a physical reaction to a mental state and altering your mental state is not just as simple as saying 'I'm OK, there's nothing wrong with me'.

Let me try and help those of you who've been suffering with it for months/years. If this was cancer, your symptoms would be chronic by now. You would be coughing up blood.You would be in serious pain. You would be losing weight and you would NOT have been told by a doctor that you have nothing to worry about. In my case, the chest pains and cough actually seem to be subsiding (after only a week or so) and now the throat tightness starts. None of this adds up to cancer. I get the results of my x-ray in 10 days but I already know what they're going to show...nothing. I doubt it will make all this go away, I think it will take longer. But everytime you feel physically uncomfortable, find a piece of writing, whether it's this post, another post, a website about anxiety that calms your fears...whatever...and just read it. We are all perfectly healthy people and there are millions like us out there. It's the down side of modern life I'm afraid. We get stressed, either consciously or not but we do. Good luck.

wow. first of hello and thank you for all of you posing your concerns on the internet, it seems communication and self diagnosis are more profitable than visiting the doctors in todays times! Also, Thank you in advance to ANYONE who responds to my post personally or publicly.

I have suffered with what I call tight throat, and I describe it as: "it feels like the feeling Right before your about to throw up and your throat tightens up"
is this how others feel or would describe it as well??? I dont describe it as a lump like most of you, but like most of you i do have the feeling someone is strangling my throat right near the throat chakra...

I have had this for 3 years and longer, I have had stress in the past, working 80 hours a week on the clock for about 3 years, a terrible relatinship, homelessness, but the last year has been wonderful and feel i dont have stress anymore, is it possible the stress from 3 years ago or so is effecting me now???? I have seen a specialist, MD, and ND, we are still expoloring options, I am currently starting CAL-MAG supplements from my naturopath to help calm nerves and muscles with calcuim naturally. I Hope this helps, i will let you all know.

When i have this severly, it comes and goes in random cycles, meaning I guess it must be stress and not an allergy form. When i have this severly, it literally Dehabilitates me, if you all know what i mean??

I become extremely fatigued all a sudden and dont wish to talk (i'm very talkitive) and i just feel as though about to throw up but never actually have, i have gagged a few times, and just feel "naucious" except in the throat and chest, not in stomach. Is this what you all feel as welL??

I am 25 and about to be married in the spring and am naturally afriad my life will end sooner than I hope becuase of how dehabilitating this feeling can be. My family does not support me the way i need with this aweful feelings becuase they believe i am being overdramatic, they do not know how i/we feel.

If you would like to speak with me to educate me or just work on reliving the symptoms as friends by reducing the anxiety of being alone with it, that would be more than welcome, my personal email address is: [removed] please note, people tend to leave out the "i" after the word frank, so be sure to spell it iluvfrankisinatra hope to hear from someone soon


much love and light,
tiffy

I had trouble swallowing last night off and on for around 1 1/2 hrs. I was at a concert. It feels like I lose the rythym of swallowing and can't breath for a bit during the episodes. My chest and stomach are affected with some pain. I took Ativan which seemed to help around a 45 minutes after taking it. But, I still had a few episodes, until I got home and went to bed. I guess I fell asleep and it didn't happen anymore. But, there have been times where these symptoms occur while sleeping which causes me to jump out of my sleep.

I've currently had problems with a tight throat/difficulty breathing (mostly getting enough air in) for the past four years. It started out after an injury to my chest - costochondritis which eventually got me into physical therapy for 6 months (inflamed cartilage between sternum and ribs making it hurt breathing). Since then, I've continually had problems feeling like my throat is tight and I'm not getting enough breath in. I've been to a pulminologist, gastoenterologist, ent, cardiologist and now am starting the cycle again. For awhile, I was on prevacid and zantac 2 times a day for 1 1/2 - 2 years per my ent telling me it was LPR (a type of acid reflux), but I still had the same symptoms - then telling me I should see a pulminologist...now having me start over again. I can state that I have had classic panic attack symptoms come and go over time, but this tight throat thing can last for days on end. Is this all anxiety???? My doc is currently having me go to the pulminologist again, see a GI doc at the end of the month, and wants me to do a stress test to check my heart. I feel like I'm doing this all for nothing cause I'm sure nothing will come out! Any thoughts? Trying to do relaxed breathing at this point only makes me more aware of my breathing making it worse right now. The other thing, sometimes my chest gets sore still from my previous costo which I'm sure doesn't make my anxieties any better!

I'm a student with a full-time job on top of it. I've been feeling like I'm shallow of breath, like my heart is beating wrong and spasming right as I am about to fall asleep in varying degrees for about a year now, though, recently it is much worse because of a more difficult job I've taken on. The tight throat is now becoming a problem. I barely get any sleep as it is and I can barely make it through days without drifting to sleep in class, etc. I think it has to be anxiety and stress, but I've never had my heart or anything thoroughly checked. I need to get some suggestions. I'm only 21 and I can't live like this as I only get about a six-hour window to sleep anyway.

Any ideas?

I know that folks question whether stress really can produce such prominent symptoms.. and YES, it can. Our bodies do not like stress. Our bodies like to be in balance. There are lots of good things to do for ourselves, like the breathing, making sure that we eat right, and sleep enough. If we do not get the nutrients we need every single day, that is a factor. Research ways of how to get your body in balance and healthier overall.. and you will like the results that you get. Our bodies should be our #1 priority so that we can enjoy the rest of our lives and feel great!

Vicki