Help with stopping a nervous coughing tic

[Traviud]

It's rather discouraging that there is so little in the literature about people with this problem, but it does pop up every now and again. This is a problem that I've had since I was a child in various forms that I've not grown out of. When I'm in an anxiety-inducing situation, I have a tendency to cough and/or clear my throat. It's related to my breathing, particularly exhalation. For years, this came and went depending on my level of anxiety in general during a given period.

However, lately, in response to an extended period of anxiety that I've been coping with for the past few months, I have been coughing constantly, so much so that it feels strange for me when I don't cough, as if there's a lump in my throat. It has become a regular part of my breathing. The thing is, I don't wake up in the middle of the night needing to do it, so I know it's entirely psychological in nature and tied to GAD.

I'm seeing a new therapist for the first time in months on Monday and hope to speak with him about it at length and maybe receive some CBT for it, but in the meantime, what would you guys suggest I do as far as breathing/mental exercises that could help me break this habit? It's bad, man. My throat is regularly sore and the thought that I will start doing it uncontrollably has made my struggles with agoraphobia much worse. I've been really beaten down by this as of late.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

[Nowuccas]

Hey Traviud,

"When I'm in an anxiety-inducing situation, I have a tendency to cough and/or clear my throat" - I suggest that, for the present, try replacing it with the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT.

Give the Meridian Tapping Technique / EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. It is free via mercola.com or www.tapping.com (13 free videos), or www.eftuniverse.com or www.emofree.com or one of the many YouTube videos. Google: "YouTube; EFT videos".

Professionally instructed is generally preferable (Google: therapists; EFT; [your location] or mercola.com has a locator). - There is a version for use in public places at http://eft.mercola.com (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you employ the acupressure massage / tapping on your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind: "Even though I have anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself)." or words of your own choosing.

Once you are proficient in MTT /EFT, you could try using acupressure tapping in the open, in an unobtrusive way, by tapping on your thighs with fingertips as you walk or stand, and subvocalising with your preference in wording, and if anyone asks, you could say that it's just a nervous habit.

Alternatively, use Progressive Muscle Relaxation ( http://www.drcoxconsulting.com/managing-stress.html ).

My previous post about GAD may be viewed at: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?33964-New-to-the-site-and-looking-for-help&p=223989#post223989

AGORAPHOBIA: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34181-Fear-of-getting-out&p=224994#post224994

HERBAL ANXIOLYTICS / ANTI-ANXIETY PRODUCTS: (passionflower, valerian, St. John's Wort, etc.) http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34269-5-Powerful-Tools-You-Probably-Haven-t-Tried-Yet&p=225415#post225415

NON HERBAL NATURAL (NON PHARMACEUTICAL) ANXIOLTYICS: (5-htp, etc.) http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34355-Help-Please!!!/page2

[TonyCOD]

Almost same as me dude, i'm doing the exact same thing. My opinion is that we have to concentrate in getting rid of anxiety not the tic. Let me explain: before the "coughing tic" i had the "smiling tic" i had to force a smile every minute, i forced myself stopping doing that and eventually i ended up with the coughing tic! If you do not get rid of the anxiety first you will just exchange one tic for another!