The human body is something extraordinary, of enormous complexity. Just as extraordinary and complex are his functions, his conditions and, often, the ailments that befall him. Tummy pain, fever or headache are situations that we are all used to and that do not usually worry us much. However, this concern does skyrocket when we experience rarer conditions that we have never noticed. Why do I feel like I’m going to swallow my tongue ? Why do I feel like my tongue is slipping behind me?
In the following FastlyHealarticle we will give you the answer to this question, we will explain the causes, the consequences and the way to end it.
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Feeling of swallowing your tongue: causes
Do you wonder why I feel like I’m going to swallow my tongue ? The answer is simple: anxiety . This psychological disorder, which we will talk about later, goes beyond the limits of the psyche and manifests itself in our body through different ailments, including what we find of different sensations and discomforts in the language.
In addition, I know the sensation that you swallow your tongue, you can also notice sensations such as:
- Feel the bigger tongue.
- Feeling that the tongue swells.
- Note numb tongue.
- Sensation of having something stuck in the throat .
- a lump in your throat while eating.
It must be clear that this is only a sensation, that it is not really happening to you and that you are not going to swallow your throat. To clarify this and more aspects of how to treat it, keep reading the following sections.
Can the tongue be swallowed?
First of all it is essential that you know that it is impossible for you to swallow your tongue , that will not happen. It’s physically impossible for that to happen, so that shouldn’t be a cause for concern. You only get a feeling, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to swallow your tongue. The reason that this cannot happen is the frenulum, the skin under the tongue that ties it to the floor of the mouth. That frenulum, as the name indicates, acts as a brake, making it impossible for the tongue to go back .
Much of the urban legends about swallowing the tongue may come from the movies or the widespread version that when we lose consciousness we can swallow our tongue. The truth is that this does not happen. It is true that when you are unconscious, the tongue loses muscle tone and can temporarily block the airways and make it difficult for air to pass. In these cases, snoring can be heard, however, if we lay the person on their side, the tongue will fall under its own weight.
Feeling of swallowing the tongue and other symptoms of anxiety
There is no exact cause behind anxiety, the truth is that it depends on the person, the triggers can be one or the other. However, it is closely related to other psychological conditions such as depression and panic attacks, as well as having a strong genetic and stress component .
This is a disorder that usually has a gradual development, which usually begins in youth, and which develops different symptoms. At this point it must be clear that there is no medical test to detect anxiety, so the person can spend years from doctor to doctor trying to find out the origin of their physical discomforts and problems, for example, noticing that the tongue swells , without the doctors being able to give him any answer.
The main symptom of anxiety is constant and exaggerated worry about any aspect of your life, be it health, family, work or money. It is also common to know that these concerns do not have any logic, however, the person cannot control it. In addition, there are other psychic symptoms of anxiety :
- Difficulty staying focused.
- Constant mood swings
- Continuous tiredness
- Insomnia and trouble falling asleep.
But it is not only manifested on a psychological level, anxiety can also lead to physical problems :
- Trouble breathing.
- Muscle tension.
- Intense sweat
- Tummy aches.
- Diarrhea.
- Palpitations in the chest.
Treatment for anxiety
If you suffer from anxiety, the first thing you should do is visit a psychologist. There, after evaluating your case and seeing the levels you have, they will draw up a treatment to alleviate the symptoms of this condition. Typically, anxiety treatment usually comes from two sides:
- Use of antidepressants , in the conditions, doses and time indicated by the doctor.
- Psychotherapy : meetings with a psychologist to learn how to deal with stress, counteract anxiety and reduce the tension that causes symptoms.
Depending on the severity of the case, one, the other or both options can be chosen, in the most serious cases. In addition, there are many remedies that you have at your disposal to lower anxiety levels, for example, these medicinal plants for anxiety .
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do I feel like I’m going to swallow my tongue , we recommend that you enter our Mental Disorders category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.