Today, I’d like to answer a common question and address a very common misconception when it comes to the fear of choking.

“I Feel Like Food is Triggering My Anxiety…”

Someone recently shared that they feel the food they’re eating is dangerous — especially during swallowing. They said it feels like the food itself is triggering their anxiety.

This is a very common experience for people struggling with swallowing anxiety or fear of choking.

But here’s the truth:

***Food is not the trigger.***What’s triggering you is the perception your mind has formed about food.

It’s Not the Food — It’s the Association

Food in itself can’t trigger fear or anxiety. What happens is that your mind holds on to a perception — an old narrative — where food has somehow been labeled as “dangerous.”

This belief often comes from:

• A past choking incident
• A stressful time where food was present
• Or any moment where your brain linked food to danger

Once this connection is formed in the subconscious, every time you eat, your mind interprets it as a threat.

The Body Responds to the Mind’s Perception

That’s when your body kicks into survival mode — triggering anxiety, fight-or-flight, or freeze responses. Not because you’re in real danger, but because your brain is using old data to try and keep you “safe.”

So it’s not that food is dangerous.
 It’s that your mind has mistaken food for danger based on a past experience.

The Good News: You Can Break the Loop

And here’s the beautiful part:
 Once you become aware of this illusionary connection — once you really understand that your fear is based on a false narrative — you can start to change it.

That’s how healing begins.

So if your doctor has ruled out any physical issues, and food still feels dangerous, understand that the fear is mental, not physical.
 It’s a thought your mind has kept alive — a narrative it’s been repeating.

Imagine Your Mind Like a Miscalibrated Alarm

Think of your mind like a smoke alarm that went off during installation. That alarm has been stuck in the “danger” setting ever since — even when there’s no smoke.

Healing is like recalibrating that alarm system.
 It teaches your mind to respond accurately — so you only get alerts when something actually requires attention (like real choking — not the thought of it).

Fear, in its healthy form, helps you stay safe. But fear that’s based on a false alarm does the opposite. It can stop you from eating well, getting nutrients, and even deteriorate your health over time.

Final Thought

So no — food is not your enemy.

It’s just that your mind has made an old, protective connection that no longer serves you.

You don’t need to keep reacting to the old script.
 You just need to update the story.