Lump in the throat: spiritual meaning and emotional causes

What a lump in the throat is

A lump in the throat, known medically as globus sensation or globus pharyngeus, is the feeling of something stuck in the throat when nothing is actually there. It is common and usually harmless. The feeling often comes and goes, may ease while eating and drinking, and is often more noticeable when swallowing saliva. Unlike a sore throat, it does not usually cause pain, and it does not cause real difficulty swallowing food.

Common causes include tension in the throat muscles, acid reflux (heartburn), mucus dripping down from the nose, and strong emotion: anxiety, stress and sadness can all tighten the throat. A "frog in the throat", a rough voice that needs clearing, often comes with a cold, post-nasal drip or overuse of the voice. A doctor may examine the throat or refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist, especially if there are warning signs such as difficulty swallowing, weight loss, a lump in the neck or lasting hoarseness. Treatment depends on the cause and can include reflux treatment, voice and swallowing exercises, and help with anxiety.

The emotional meaning of a lump in the throat

The throat holds the voice box and the pharynx, with the thyroid just below. It is the passage through which you express who you are and exchange with the people around you. Spiritually, when it tightens, the question is what cannot get through.

Anxiety and feeling "grabbed by the throat"

A knotted throat is linked to anxiety. In French, to be pris à la gorge, grabbed by the throat, means to feel trapped and under pressure. You may feel your breath cut short and be frozen by anguish. Social life may frighten you.

Feeling small before authority

The lump often appears in front of someone who intimidates you and who represents a form of authority. You may lack confidence and doubt your own abilities. Rather than owning your choices, you may put up with things. Taking a position becomes hard, and you may start to question your own beliefs.

The frog in the throat

A frog in the throat is read as something you want to say but keep inside, which shows itself in spite of you. Something clutters the throat and tickles it. The spiritual interpretation asks whether you are afraid of being laughed at, criticised, rejected or misunderstood. That fear is tied to your sensitivity, whether you are aware of it or not.

The power of words

The throat is also where thoughts become words, and words shape the world around you. Negative words about yourself weigh at least as much as negative thoughts, and kind, true words have the same power the other way. The more truthfully you speak, the more easily you can exchange with those around you.

A gentler way to hold it

The closing movement is about trusting yourself enough to speak freely and to move beyond your fears.

• Breathe first. When the throat tightens, slow your breathing and let your shoulders drop before you say anything.
• Say one true thing. Choose one sentence you have held back and say it, to the person concerned or first to someone you trust.
• Notice who intimidates you. Ask what that person represents for you, and what you would say if you felt their equal.
• Own a choice. Pick one situation you have been putting up with and decide what you want to do about it.
• Speak kindly about yourself. Listen to the words you use about yourself, and replace one harsh phrase with a fairer one.