My anxiety symptoms also make me gag. It is often the first sign that my anxiety is about to kick off again. The first time it happened I felt so out of control with it. As soon as my feet hit the floor it would happen. Sometimes just thinking about getting out of bed would make it happen. I gradually learned that deep breathing and distracting myself by writing in journal helped. If I was able not to gag, then I did not feel so nauseous. I have also tried Bowen therapy for the gagging which I feel my have helped a little.

Hi Nell thanks for your reply. ..its so awful...the moment l wake l gag every morning and been this way for months. Did your gagging eventually subside? I will look into bowen therapy

Hi Jill....yes fortunately it did subside. Takes about 6 weeks for me each time it happens. I find that I have to eat very moist things because my mouth also gets dry. I make myself eat even if it is only a few grapes, it does make you feel better. I also use a vitamin B herbal supplement.

Hope you can get on top of it.

Hi Nell ...l am so longing for the day it stops.l try not to let it control me but its hard. I will definitely try the grapes something has to help and also the supplements l appreciate your advice...some days l feel like its never going to end.

Also l have a constant weird taste and smell in my nose...hard to describe but kind of like menthol but lm told it comes from anxiety. Sometimes it makes my nausea worse as lm told this smell doesnt exist...has anyone else experienced this...it can drive you nuts as its always there.

Hi Mitchy How are you going

I also just try to breathe and tell myself that I am OK and I am safe and it is just the cortisol. It helps me

Hi everyone,

Since returning back to work 4 days a week (with my son in daycare) I have begun waking up with my heart pounding, followed by a 'wave' of gagging. This can pass over a period of about 10 minutes and will usually happen any time before I arrive at work - mornings are a real rush too. Over the last few weeks it has now escalated to any time during the day. Arriving at social gatherings, before going to the shops etc. In the beginning I thought it was the mum guilt thing causing the anxiety but now the 'waves' can occur when he is with me for the day . I have booked an appointment with my GP. Smells can also be a trigger!

After reading a few posts, clearly I am not alone in this... Has anyone been through something similiar and come out the side?

Hi Isurte

Ive had gagging for the lastfew months mostly in the mornings but lately it can happen in the afternoon to. The smell thing is awful and lve had it for a while.Im.on anti depressants now and see a phycologist to help me work thru it. ...l know its a horrible feeling and lm hoping one day it will stop....l no longer work becsuse if it....l hope you feel better soon

You definitely are not alone...thats what l found on this wonderful forum.

Hi Jill just wondering if you have had any improvement at all? I find I was preemption the gag which also made me gag so I used to also try and say to myself that I would not be gagging today, but being able to forgive myself for doing it by saying well I will just try again.

Hi Nell lm ok...no gagging last few days but my tummy is still in knots.l try not to focus on it if l can help it...l to lm trying your strategy and tell myself the same thing. Today lm feeling bit more anxious and out of breath. I see my gp on thursday as to whether l continue on meds as they have only made a slight difference after 6 weeks. How are you doing?

No gagging - good news! You need to realize that just like anybody people with anxiety will have good days and bad days so be kind to yourself if you are having a bad day. Hopefully no gagging means you can try to eat a little bit. That also has to be a good thing. I think we expect too mu h from our medication, you need to let it even your body out so good luck.

I'm not too bad thanks for asking. This is probably the best day I have had in a month despite a fairly monumental setback so here's hoping that everything is slowly getting back to normal. I had lost 5 kilos in 3 weeks, but managed a biscuit 2 days ago and a small chocolate today so hopefully my appetite is coming back.

Hi Nell good to hear you are doing better and hopefully back on track...yes l think l am expecting more from my medication at this point its been 7 weeks and only taken a slight edge off...going to gp in the morning to see if lm possible on wrong medication. Gagging is a bit better but still struggle with tummy upsets or a feeling of fullness at the moment but barely eat much...l to manage a couple of biscuits with my tea.l get down lately wondering if lm going to feel my old self again...its been a while but l push myself to do things....can be draining. Stay in touch and love to hear how you are doing

Hi NELL I know it is hard to make yourself eat, but not eating is also probably contributing to your nausea. Even if you only manage a piece of toast or fruit for breakfast maybe tuna and crackers for lunch and even just vegetables for dinner, it will help. I also gave days when I feel I won't beat this, but having had it before I know there will be a time when I feel better. Even though beating it would be the ideal situation, being able to live with it is also a solution - and you are. You are getting through each day so keep reminding yourself of that. Hope you can get your medication sorted. If you can get a vitamin B supplement, this may also help with the eating.

You can do this!

Nell

Thank you Nell for all your advice...lm really trying. ..yesterday l had a panic attack out of the blue which really upset me.my meds got changed but havent started them yet. Im trying to stay positive and will get the vitamin B...l also was suggested tsking magnesium. ...will keepnyou posted.

Hi Jill the vitamin B that I take also has magnesium in it. So if you can get it that might help.

Thank you Nell l will get some today.Also my gp put ne on another antidepressant as the previous one didnt do much at all. Im back to the drawing board and a bit anxious about the side effects again...hopefully l can hang in there. Hope your well

Hi Jill how have you been going? Did you try the vitamin B complex or some bowen therapy?

Hope you are well.

Nell

Hi Nell how are you doing? Yes l did its been over a week now so l guess its takes time to feel a difference ..lm doing ok...day by day...l havent tried bowen therapy yet but l definitely will look into it soon. Thank you for staying in touch l appreciate it. Hope you are well.

Hi there,

Several years ago I was constantly nauseated and sometimes would just retch. I had so many tests done but no physical cause could be found. I just would like to inform those currently having similar experience that the nausea stopped after 7 to 8 months. I was put on antidepressants since the physical symptoms were really getting me depressed. I don’t know how much the medication helped, but with the passing of time I did get better. Please don’t lose hope. If I can get better, you can too.

Regards,

MsAnxious.

Thank you Msanxious for your advice. Im currently on no medication as the last one didnt help much. Over the last 2cweeks the retching has eased off a bit which is a relief as lve had it for about 5 months now and lm glad to hear it does stop. The physical symptoms do get me down but at least lve finally had better ones...did the meds help your nausea and retching...lm glad to hear lm not alone in this symptom.

Also did you ever get a smell which apparently doesn't exist. ..lve been told its the anxiety

Hi Nell just checkig in to see how you are

Hi

I was diagnosed with severe anxiety about 6 weeks ago and my primary symptom is gagging. I've always had a hypersensitive gag reflex where brushing teeth or eating certain foods in the mornings triggered it. I had a presentation at university at the end of last year and i ate a food in the morning that triggered my gag reflex and the gagging at that point crossed over to anxiety gagging due to the upcoming presentation. It was the worst feeling, I couldn't control it and really struggled mentally. I got through the presentation and had no issues with the gag reflex after that until i started uni again this year. The memory of the traumatic event brought back the gagging out of no where and i nearly had a breakdown questioning what i would i be able to handle in life if i couldn't control the gagging in public. I was so close to giving up on everything in life but got myself to uni on the first day back. Its been the most difficult period of my life by far. I was waking up gagging every morning, having to take bathroom breaks during uni classes to gag, and i was hardly talking at all cause the sensation feels like being choked. I lost around 3-4kg cause it was affecting my eating, went to doctors and psychologist and concluded the gagging my physical anxiety symptom. i have been prescribed anxiety meds but choose not to take them cause i need to be alert for the high demands of uni. I have gotten a lot better, where i wake up most mornings and dont gag anymore. However when i think about it, it makes me want to gag and can happen even when i am not anxious. I find that i just need to find ways to keep my mind off of it. Living life has been hell with this symptom, but i fight everyday to not let it limit me in life and am so thankful that i didn't give up on my plans. Its been around 9 weeks in total of living with this symptom, I feel that university is triggering my anxiety and subsequently the gagging, so i feel when i move past these anxious environments, my mind can start to recover and the gagging eventually stop.

Sending strength to everyone out there with a mental illness, we are not alone!

Hi there l can totally relate to the gagging it was so debilitating every morning. ..thankfully mine got better as well. I only just managed to go back to work after almost 3 months.Thank you for sharing your story and hope you continue getting better...

Hi there

Just as l was starting to feel like l was getting back on track and feeling better today l felt rather anxious again and a bit queasy. ..l returned to work 2 weeks ago and it went well. ...just wondering is this normal...feel quite trembly...l guess its just a setback.

Hi Jill G

I am a latecomer to your post. You are very proactive with you health and good on you! I have had diagnosed anxiety for a while now and even though I am in recovery it is an awful set of symptoms to have. I understand what you are going through even though I dont have the gagging

Feeling 'trembly' is a part of anxiety. It is very common and only a symptom of our adrenaline working overtime

Can I ask how often you see your GP (or counselor) for support and reassurance?

I still see my doc every month for a 'tune up' especially when I start to have the trembles....Having frequent visits with our GP can make a huge difference to how we feel

You are spot on....it is only a temporary setback....Just a part of the roller coaster ride of anxiety...

Great to have you as part of the Beyond Blue forum family too Jill :-)

my kind thoughts

Paul

Hi Paul

Thank you for your reply and your help. I see my physcologist once a month and see her next on the 3rd of June.

Yes the trembling definitely feels like an adrenaline rush and it can come and go or stay all day.

Im trying to just not let it control me to much if possible.

Im hoping in time it gets even better.

Thank you Paul and beyond blue for all your support.

Jill

Hi there...lm just checking in to see how you are doing and if your physical sympton of gagging is even better now....like you said l still feel it at times even when lm not anxious