faq for phagophobia

Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About Swallowing Fears — Answered

Welcome to Sacred 2 Swallow. If you’ve landed here, you (or someone you care about) might be struggling with fear around eating, swallowing, or even just being near food. You might feel like your body has betrayed you, or that no one really “gets it.”

We do. And we’ve got answers.

Let’s break down the most common questions people ask when they're navigating fears about eating, swallowing, or choking — and help you understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what you can do.

Phagophobia how to pronounce

Phagophobia is pronounced: faj-uh-FOH-bee-uh.
The word comes from the Greek "phagein" (to eat) and "phobos" (fear), meaning a fear of swallowing or eating.

How to overcome phagophobia

Overcoming phagophobia typically involves a combination of psychological, physical, and lifestyle approaches. These may include:

• Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy or Human Givens psychotherapy to reduce anxiety and retrain your brain’s fear response.

• Gradual exposure to feared situations in a safe and supportive environment.

• Education about the swallowing process to reduce misunderstanding and fear.

• Breathing and relaxation techniques to reduce muscle tension, especially in the throat.

• Nutritional support if anxiety is affecting diet and energy levels.
  Progress is possible and common with the right tailored support.

How to treat phagophobia

Phagophobia is usually treated with Cognitive-bahavioural therapy, however that's not the only way. Over the past 15 years we have found using a holistic, individualized approach, is more suitable. Which may include:

• Therapy: Solution-focused therapy, CBT, Human Givens or hypnotherapy to address fear, trauma, or anxiety patterns.

• Medical evaluation: To rule out or address any physical causes of swallowing difficulty.

• Desensitization: Slowly and gently reintroducing foods or pills in a non-threatening way.

• Supportive tools: Visualization techniques, mindfulness, and body-based strategies to help regulate fear responses.
  Our trained therapists can guide you through a step-by-step plan based on your needs and goals.

How rare is phagophobia?

Phagophobia is not overly rare, but most likely underreported. Many people struggle in silence or are misdiagnosed with general anxiety or eating disorders. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a noticeable rise in people developing phagophobia due to fears of choking, illness, or difficulty swallowing. Although it's uncommon, it’s very real and you can get over it.

What causes phagophobia

Phagophobia can have a variety of causes, including:

• A past choking incident (your own or someone else's).

• Panic attacks while eating or swallowing create a strong fear association.

• Anxiety disorders, especially health anxiety or social anxiety.

• Negative experiences with food or swallowing, especially during childhood. Sometimes linked with a trauma such as death or a stay in the hospital.

• Witnessing or hearing about traumatic choking events (even on TV).
  Sometimes, the brain links swallowing with danger - even when there’s no current physical threat. This pattern can be reversed with the right help.

• Stress in one area of your life is impacting on eating. This could be a divorce, a death, exam stress, work stress, stage fright.

What does phagophobia mean

Phagophobia means a fear of swallowing, especially solid food, liquids, or pills. It's a psychological condition, not usually caused by a physical problem, and often stems from anxiety. People with phagophobia may worry about choking or feel that their throat is tight, even when medically everything is functioning normally. It can affect eating, hydration, social life, and mental well-being — but help is available.

What is pill phagophobia

Pill phagophobia is a form of phagophobia focused specifically on the fear of swallowing tablets or capsules. It may involve:

• A belief the pill will get stuck or cause choking.

• A fear of gagging, vomiting, or not being able to breathe.

• Physical tension in the throat or anxiety before trying to swallow.
  This is very common, even in people who can eat solid food without issue. It can often be overcome with techniques like pill swallowing training, confidence-building, and therapy to address the root fear.

What’s the Difference Between Phagophobia and Pseudodysphagia?

These two are often confused, and it’s easy to see why.

• Phagophobia is the fear of swallowing itself. It’s the mental and physical anxiety around the act of swallowing. Not necessarily because you think something bad will happen, but because it just feels scary or impossible.

• Pseudodysphagia, on the other hand, is the fear of choking. People with pseudodysphagia often believe that food or drink might get stuck, block their airway, or lead to suffocation. Even if they’ve never actually choked before, the fear can become overwhelming.

Both can feel very similar, and they may lead you to avoid eating, take tiny bites, rely on soft foods, or panic when food is in your mouth. But understanding which one is at play can help guide treatment more effectively.

What About Dysphagia? Isn’t That the Same Thing?

No — dysphagia is a medical term, not a phobia.

Dysphagia refers to an actual physical difficulty with swallowing, often caused by a structural issue (like a narrowed esophagus), neurological condition, or damage from illness or injury. This needs to be assessed by a doctor or specialist using diagnostic tools like a barium swallow or endoscopy.

But here’s where it gets tricky: many people who have phagophobia or pseudodysphagia feel like they have dysphagia, even though tests show everything is physically fine. This disconnect between the body and brain is exactly why therapeutic support can be life-changing.

What Triggers These Fears in the First Place?

Often, the fear starts with a moment of panic, discomfort, or trauma, like:

• Choking (even slightly, or even witnessing someone else choke)

• Vomiting or gagging during a meal

• Reflux or heartburn, making swallowing feel painful or risky

• Panic attacks that create tightness in the throat

• Dental procedures, intubation, or tonsil surgery

• High-stress events, where food was present, and the body went into survival mode

The brain is incredibly good at learning what to avoid, and if it connects food or swallowing with fear, pain, or danger, it hits the alarm bell every time you try to eat.

Why Do I Gag So Easily Now?

Gagging is a protective reflex. But when you're anxious, your gag reflex can become overactive. It’s not just physical — it’s a mind-body response.

Some people begin gagging just thinking about food, feeling pressure to swallow, or when their anxiety is high. It becomes a learned association: food = fear = gagging. The good news is, the gag reflex can be retrained, and it often settles down once your nervous system starts to feel safe again.

Could This Be Caused by Reflux or Gastric Issues?

Yes - sometimes the line between medical and psychological is blurry. Which is why it is essential to get a medical opinion first. We at Scared2swallow are complimentary practitioners which means we only work with clients who have been told that their issues are psychological. We do not prescribe medication, diagnose or treat gastric problems.

Conditions like acid reflux (GERD), LPR (silent reflux), or gastritis can irritate the throat and make swallowing feel uncomfortable. This discomfort can kick off a fear response that lingers long after the medical issue is treated. In some cases, people develop swallowing anxiety after months of undiagnosed reflux, believing the discomfort means danger.

It's important to rule out or treat physical contributors, but once they're under control, any leftover fear often needs separate, focused support.

How closely related is phagophobia and ARFID?

They’re different, but they can look very similar on the surface — and sometimes they overlap.

Phagophobia is a fear of swallowing, often triggered by a specific event like choking, gagging, or seeing someone else in distress. It's anxiety-driven and usually focused on the act of swallowing itself, even when there’s no physical problem.

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a broader eating disorder where someone avoids food due to fear of choking, vomiting, sensory issues, or a general lack of interest in eating. Phagophobia can be one of the causes within ARFID, especially when the avoidance is specifically due to fear of swallowing or choking.

So, phagophobia can exist on its own or as part of an ARFID diagnosis. The difference is:

• Phagophobia is usually focused on the moment of swallowing.

• ARFID is about a pattern of avoidance that affects nutrition, weight, or emotional well-being.

Either way, both are valid, both can be helped by therapy, and neither is something you need to feel ashamed of. With the right help, it’s possible to rebuild your relationship with food and feel safe again.

I have difficulty swallowing food - what could it be?

There could be any number of reasons that you are finding it difficult to swallow food. Your first port of call should be your GP, so that physical problems can be ruled out. All kinds of health issues can affect swallowing from dementia to Parkinsons disease, which is why proper diagnosis is vital.