Why do we get a lump in our throat?

The feeling of having a lump in the throat that threatens to choke us is very common.

Anguish is one of the worst sensations that can occur. It causes all kinds of symptoms, and can be, in turn, caused by any everyday problem, even if we do not really know what it is.

Sometimes we live under stress without realizing it, so much so that we reach the point of not even being able to swallow saliva, which makes us wonder why we are stressed. makes us wonder why we get a lump in our throat..

This sensation, called hysterical bolus, is common if you suffer from an anxiety disorder, although sometimes it is difficult to relate this symptom to a psychological problem and it is confused with a medical condition. Let's see more in depth how this sensation can occur and what to do to combat it.

Why do we get a lump in the throat? Causes and symptoms

The sensation of having a lump in the throat is called hysterical bolus or pharyngeal balloon and is one of the main symptoms of the manifestation of an anxiety disorder. It consists of the throat muscles contracting, even though there is no organic factor or cause for it, making it difficult to speak, swallow food or even swallow saliva.

The reason for the appearance of this sensation is that, when one is with anxiety, the organism prepares itself for a possible danger or threat.. In order to achieve the ability to flee or attack in the most efficient way, some physiological processes are inhibited, especially those related to the digestive system, being swallowing and digestion the most affected.

Therefore, not only does the sensation of choking occur, but also the mouth dries up because the production of saliva, used in the digestion process, is paralyzed.

Many people who have high levels of stress may experience a sensation similar to choking or a blockage in the throat, even though there is no physical object or cause for it. Thus, despite the sensation, which is very unpleasant, there is no real threat to the person, there is no real threat for the person to choke.. In fact, if you try to drink water and try to remain calm, you will most likely be able to swallow it.

However, even if it is a sensation, it does not mean that it cannot get worse. If the sufferer begins to truly believe that he or she is going to drown, the hysterical bolus will persist, as well as contributing to the person's desperate behavior to get it out of his or her system.

Even if you have had this sensation before and you know, objectively speaking, that you will get over it in a few minutes, it does the sensation of drowning eventually produces some emotional reaction in the person, such as crying or loss of calmness.such as crying or loss of calmness.

Many people can suffer from pharyngeal balloon due to multiple causes but, if the sensation persists over time, it is very necessary to turn to a professional. Not only to avoid or try to reduce its appearance, but also to understand the anxiety problem that causes it.

Characteristics of this annoying sensation

As we have already mentioned, hysterical bolus basically manifests itself in the form of very annoying choking, popularly compared as if a lump were blocking the throat. However, the following two characteristics are worth mentioning.

1. It appears in unexpected situations

Unlike panic attacks, the lump in the throat is a situation that can occur without a previous signal indicating that it is going to happen. The hysterical bolus appears when everything is going well, without warning.

This sensation appears because of all the anxiety that one has been suffering, which, unconsciously, is progressively orchestrating and orchestrating the anxiety, progressively orchestrates and triggers a series of physiological responses, one of which is choking.one of them being drowning.

Because it occurs unobtrusively and in a high-stress situation, it is more difficult to identify the cause that generates this sensation.

2. It makes it difficult to speak fluently

Although the choking sensation is indeed just that, a sensation, it causes tension in the throat, which makes it difficult to speak comfortably. makes it difficult to speak comfortably.

It is exactly the same as if there is a rope around the neck or someone is choking the person and therefore normal speech is not possible. Sometimes the affected person may stammer or speak in a way that is difficult to understand.

What can be done?

On more than one occasion, especially when one does not know what to do or has not experienced this sensation before, the person responds in a very alarming manner, the person responds in a very alarmed manner. This contributes to the worsening of the choking sensation, making the person even more nervous, entering into a loop that only encourages the negative sensation to increase.

Thus, when faced with the remarkable sensation of not being able to breathe properly, one ends up going to the emergency room, where, after the appropriate tests, it is found that there is no object obstructing the throat. It may happen that some type of drug is prescribed to calm the sensation of discomfort, without considering that it is really a symptom caused by a psychological problem.

The fact of not knowing or ignoring this sign and, therefore, not delving into the possible anxiety disorder that must be behind it, is very detrimental to the person's well-being.. Not delving into what it is that causes the person to suffer from anxiety can cause their symptoms to become chronic. Anxiety, anguish, stress and crying are warnings that something is wrong in our lives, and they should be paid attention to. Ignoring these warning signs will not make you disconnect or magically make the problem behind them disappear.

The lump in the throat, as a symptom of anxiety that it is, may be a sign that you need to go urgently to a professional to treat the problem that causes it, which is certainly not an infection in the pharynx or an obstruction in the neck. Taking medication that only 'covers up' the symptom instead of working on the cause, the only thing that will happen is that you will suffer this unpleasant sensation again in the future and, to make matters worse, you may develop some kind of addiction to the drugs that you take to treat this discomfort.

The hysterical bolus may be the first of many psychosomatic symptoms caused by anxiety. Others may follow, perhaps much worse, such as chest pain, which can be mistaken for a heart attack, depersonalization, facial paralysis, Gastrointestinal pains, tics...

The lump in the throat is a symptom that, although simple, is disabling, especially due to the fact that it it can appear at any time, without warning.. It occurs suddenly, as if it were a summer storm. Since it is not possible to prevent it by one's own means, the best option is to seek specialized help.