Pseudo Dysphagia
The fear of choking can start at a young age, but can affect you for the rest of your life.
What is pseudodysphagia and why is it different to dysphagia?
Pseudodysphagia is the fear of swallowing or choking — even when your throat muscles work perfectly fine. It’s psychological, not physical. Dysphagia, on the other hand, is a medical condition where the body physically struggles to move food or liquids from mouth to stomach. If tests show everything is functioning but the fear remains, it’s likely pseudodysphagia — and that means, with the right emotional and mental health support it can be overcome.
Stuck in the throat?
Pseudo dysphagia, is the sensation of something being stuck in the throat, and can be as equally unsettling as phagophobia. Though there is no physical obstruction, the constant feeling of discomfort can create persistent anxiety, making it difficult for sufferers to get on with their day-to-day activities. This chronic stress often leads to irritability, poor sleep, and a general sense of unease that can spill over into other aspects of their lives.
Subconscious response
The swallowing mechanism is a subconscious response, and the fear centre of the brain considers it to be a threat to life.
Harnessing Hypnosis and Visualization to Rewire the Brain
The brain is not a fixed structure—it's a dynamic, adaptable organ capable of change throughout life. This ability, known as neuroplasticity, allows the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. Hypnosis and visualization are powerful tools that can actively support this process, helping us shift the way we think, feel, and perceive the world.
Hypnosis is a focused, relaxed state of attention that bypasses the critical, analytical mind and engages the subconscious, where habits, beliefs, and automatic responses live. When combined with visualization—mentally rehearsing images, scenarios, or desired outcomes—we begin to forge new mental pathways. The brain responds to imagined experiences in similar ways to real ones, firing neurons and reinforcing connections as if the event were truly happening.
For example, visualizing calm swallowing or confident speech while under hypnosis can gradually override fear-based patterns stored in the brain. This repetition creates familiarity and safety, gradually replacing anxiety with ease. It's not just “thinking positively”—it’s training the brain to accept new possibilities.
Studies show that mental rehearsal through hypnosis and imagery can lead to measurable changes in perception, emotional response, and even physical symptoms. It helps people move from reactive, fear-based processing to a more balanced, solution-focused state.
In essence, hypnosis and visualization give us a way to “rewire” our brain's responses, helping us experience life less through the lens of past fear and more through the possibilities of present and future growth.
Also see our Case Studies for examples.
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disclaimer
Therapies available include hypnotherapy, mindfulness and meditation, which are effective; however, results may vary, and success is not guaranteed. Full client commitment is important, and the client will want to make changes.
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Scared2swallow is not a crisis service, if you are experiencing life threatening condition please contact your emergency services.