Fear of swallowing (phagophobia)

A fear of swallowing can make meals, tablets and even sips of water feel stressful. It is closely linked to a fear of choking, and it can be helped.

What it feels like

• Tensing your throat before eating or drinking
• Sticking to soft foods or small mouthfuls
• Avoiding meals out or eating with others

Please note: If you have pain, real difficulty swallowing or unexplained weight loss, please see your GP first so any physical cause can be ruled out.

Common questions

Is a fear of swallowing the same as a fear of choking?

They are closely related. Some people fear choking, while others fear the act of swallowing itself, even when food goes down normally. Either way, the anxiety can be eased once your body learns it is safe.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices