How can I stop gagging??

Hi Jacob,

Gagging and dry heaving aren't the most common symptoms that I've seen over the past 18 years, but I do see people on occasion who have them.   Some of my gaggers started off with a lot of heavy sighing and/or excessive yawning, which are forms of overbreathing that can lead to hyperventilation.  As they would get more anxious, the yawning would turn to gagging.

First, you need to get as much knowledge as you can about what a panic attack is from a physiological perspective, so you can understand why your body is reacting the way it is.

Start by reading Dr. Walcutt's excellent SharePost on Knowledge is Power: What is Happening in my Body?  Follow that by my SharePost, Understanding the Vicious Cycle of Panic.   With a good understanding of how panic works, you can start to learn abdominal breathing and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR).   Then you can move on to trying to figure out what is triggering your anxiety in the first place (Triggers I & Triggers II).

I'm not suggesting that these posts will solve your problem, it's just to get you started down the right path.  You may want to get some Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  You can find a therapist at the ADAA website or the Psychology Today website.

Best Wishes,

Jennifer L. Fee, Psy.D., Psychologist

The Stress Masters

I must say that I know exactly how you feel. I get the feeling as if I am putting a finger down my throat as if triggering my gag reflex.  It always triggered when I get nervous or excited about something, mostly when Im know that im going to be in social situations.  And once I think about it there is no getting it out of my mind. It have controlled many aspects of my life and has ruinded my life. I cannot eat in restaurants at all unless i get a carry out order,  I dropped out of college cause of this.  The last few years though I have found that  Paxil has helped me. But with no health insurance it is very difficult to live with this anxiety.

I also have the same exact problem, i was diagnosed with generalized and social axiety. I have had it for as long as i can remember, when i was little i would gag when i had to go to the doctors, or even to get my haircut, and the dentist, forget about it.

I am now 24 and its very annoying, and just hard to deal with, i can't hang out with my friends for fear of gagging infront of them. i stil have a little bit of trouble going to get my haircut. There are soo many things i want to do, but i don't just out of fear.

My girlfriend is graduating from college next weekend, and i am already having attacks about it. I feel bad because i don't want to go(becauase of the anxiety). But i really want to see her graduate.

When i was about 16, i was put on paxil, which kinda worked, but did not get rid of it.

Now i have discovered Liquid passion flower, which sorta works as well,i haven't taken as directed(3 times a day), but i take it before i go somewhere i know i'm gonna have an attack, like a concert. And it will work for about half the concert, then all of a sudden out of no where ill just start gagging.

This is something i wouldn't wish  on my worst enemy. It is destroying my life, and it feels like all i can do is just sit there and let it destroy it.

I feel as though i am running out of ideas on how to correct this problem(if possible).