Can anxiety make you cough?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi...Im currently awaiting a ct scan for something picked up on a lung x-ray but since I was told about it, my anxiety has gone through the roof. I've convinced myself its going to be cancer and have noticed for the past few days I just can't stop coughing. The consultant who has ordered the ct scan said he doesn't think its anything too bad and is probably infection but I'm so scared. I've had a cough for a few months but my doc thought it was related to allergies and GERD but of course it could be related to what was seen on the x-ray.
My question is, can being anxious over this cause me to cough more? It's a really tickly feeling cough and has got worse these past few days. I have other anxiety symtoms including loss of appetite, churning stomach, shaking etc.
Thanks for reading x
0 likes, 6 replies
edwina97301 Di4677
Posted
Short answer is yes. So many symptoms anxiety makes worse. Whatever you notice , the anxiety makes you hyper sensitive to the fact that it is there. You will notice the cough and cough more, or anticipate it happening in public, this makes you nervous and cough more. It's rediculous . Tickley cough very annoying. ,my mum carries a small bottle of water with her everywhere, has done for years. Check wit your doc but have seen people mention this before with anxiety??
Di4677 edwina97301
Posted
I have been sipping on water and trying not to cough too much...helps a bit. I'm just so scared and really struggling with my anxiety right now x
edwina97301 Di4677
Posted
Hi keep the water at hand, maybe even suck cough sweets, anxiety will make it worse. No harm in mentioning to doctor, ask if they see this a lot to put your mind at rest or if they have anymore tests they can do. Anything to reasure you. If they are doing scam that's good, they seem confident it's nothing serious. We just can't seem to accept it's not something worse because of our anxiety. My anxiety could convince me black is white. If we could switch a button and the anxiety would go , we wouldn't worry or overthink,( wish it were possible) . My mum puts up with her tickle cough, but drives her mad, she laughs and says she couldn't possibly go to church or library as she'd be thrown out, we tend to constantly worry it will get worse, hope docs can reasure you it's nothing bad, ??
edwina97301
Posted
Meant 'doing scan' not scam🙃??
Laroxe Di4677
Posted
I think everyone gets anxious if they are waiting for the results of investigations but generally your Drs are right, there are lots of very common conditions that cause a cough. One thing to consider is that a cough that has its origins deeper in your lungs, doesn't feel like a tickly cough. Anxiety certainly can be linked to coughing, in fact we sometimes use the term "a nervous cough", it also focusses your attention so that you notice every cough and throat symptom which previously you simply would have ignored. You recognise your anxiety and it is to some extent understandable, but its also making you feel worse. I expect your just going to have to wait for the scan results before you know for sure, just remember that there is nothing wrong or abnormal about having some anxiety. You could try finding a relaxation technique on the web to see if they help tide you over and make it managable. Best of luck.
Ashley025 Di4677
Posted
Anxiety does cause cough. One time I was in college in my math class. I started to get this choking sensation and tickling feeling in my throat i had to cough. I had to get out without asking professor because it was Severe I didn't want to interrupt the class. I got out of the room and started violently coughing I felt something bad was gonna happen. It was my nerves. My Anxiety messing with me again.
So embarrassing. The girls in the hallway were looking at me worried. Anxiety causes so much things in the body.
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