Can anxiety cause nausea?

I’ve run into a bit of an issue:
It seems I have a fear of going to the dentist, but it isn’t exactly the typical kind of anxiety...
It’s not that I’m afraid of the pain or even the dentist themselves—it’s more about the sensation once my mouth is open and they start working in there. I get this intense gag reflex, especially if their tools or even their finger touches my tongue... it’s a total disaster.
Even just a deep yawn can trigger it, which is frustrating because everything is perfectly fine when I'm not in the chair—I can yawn as much as I want without any issues at all.

Now... this issue might be (read: most likely is) related to clinical psychology, but regardless, does anyone have some practical advice on how to manage this?

And please, go easy on me—no laughing. 😁

Look, this might go against the vibe of this sub, but I honestly have to pop a Xanax before any dentist appointment. If I don't... I just can't walk through the door.

I suspect my situation is actually ten times worse. Every single time I have to deal with anything medical—whether it’s having blood drawn, getting a tooth pulled, or even just receiving an injection—I end up passing out, vomiting, and my digestive system goes into complete overdrive, all triggered by pure fear. And, much like what was mentioned in the previous post, I suppose I'm left with no other real recourse than turning to substances.🤣

So, what you're saying is I should just pick up some anti-anxiety meds? Is there really no other way to shake this?

Those sound like anxiety reactions.
Either have your doctor prescribe some anxiolytics to take as needed, or reach out to a psychologist for some CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). You're looking at roughly 10-15 sessions, maybe even fewer. Check out the Mayo Clinic; they have a website and everything.

Thanks for getting back to me.
It looks like I'll just stick with the pills for now—I have a dentist appointment this Friday, and there's simply no time to squeeze in a session with a psychologist. I'll likely have to schedule a follow-up with him later on to actually sort this out.

Ma. Okay, look—it’s not exactly winning any awards, but I haven't actually seen anyone for clinical psychology. (:

Look, nobody is going to laugh at you, but just try to handle this before it turns into a full-blown panic attack. I used to be absolutely terrified of the dentist—honestly, I thought I’d pass out from pure nerves—but these days, a dental appointment is the least of my worries. You just have to face it head-on; confrontation is usually the best cure. Once you accept it's something you simply have to get through, and you manage to find some balance, it gets easier. When the fear and nausea hit me—which they definitely do—I just ask the doctor to pause for a second, take some deep breaths, sip some water, and then we pick up where we left off.
Or you could just pop a pill, which is the easy way out, but probably not the best long-term fix.

nimblegardener21 said:I've got an issue:
It seems I'm terrified of going to the dentist, but it isn't your standard anxiety...
I'm not afraid of the pain or the doctor himself. It's what happens once my mouth is open. When they start poking around in there, I get hit with instant nausea. If they even graze my tongue? Total disaster.
Even just a heavy yawn triggers the gag reflex. Outside of the office, everything is fine; I can yawn or swallow without any issues at all.

So... this might be (read: definitely is) psychological, but does anyone have actual advice on how to deal with this?

And please, don't make fun of me. 😁

I can't believe someone else deals with this exact same thing. It’s been a lifelong struggle. I thought I’d outgrow it, but clearly, I was wrong. My hygiene is perfect, but I have bad genetics, so my teeth tend to chip easily. Because of this gag reflex, I avoid the dentist entirely. It’s not the needles or the drilling—anesthesia handles that. It’s the poking around. Once they put something under my tongue, it’s game over. It’s awkward for me and frustrating for the dentist, too. I have an appointment this Monday and I'm clueless. Does anyone use anti-anxiety meds or something else that actually works?