Allergy Q&A: Chronic Post Nasal Drip, no solutions

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Question:

My whole life, I have had chronic allergies through all four seasons. My biggest complaint is post nasal drip which causes me to snort to clear out the back of my nose at least 100 times a day. I've had allergy testing done twice and both times, the allergists said, "welp, you're basically allergic to everything. " Trees, dust mites, grass, the list goes on and on. About a year ago I tried pretty much everything under the sun: two nasal sprays (Fluticasone, Azelastine - that one that tasted so bad, i was relieved it didnt work for me), many perscriptions (Loratadine, Fexofenadine, Xyxal, Montelukast) and a whole slew of OTC meds in various combinations with and without the rx meds. I keep my house clean and wash sheets weekly. Nothing seemed to work, so my dr put me on Xolair. Xolair seemed to help for a while but my allergies are back in full force and I am still taking it. I've even tried combining it with an antihisamine per my dr. and it didnt to anything. I am not interested in allergy shots simply because I've been told that they really are hit or miss, but I suppose I could be convinced to try it. Have any of you had something similar and were you able to find relief? I am not sure what the heck to do, but really want to find a solution bc the snorting and sniffing bothers everyone around me! and it really bothers me - that feeling of mucus sliding down my throat constantly is very annoying. Send help! ! !

Answer:

Hey there! I totally get how annoying and exhausting it can be to deal with constant post-nasal drip, especially when it feels like you’ve tried everything under the sun. I’ve been there with my own set of symptoms, and it's frustrating when nothing seems to provide relief.

Sometimes, our bodies react in ways that reflect deeper, underlying issues in our minds. It might sound a bit out there, but psychosomatic processing suggests that unresolved emotional conflicts could be playing a role in your symptoms. It's like the body and mind are in constant dialogue, and the body can sometimes express what the mind hasn't fully processed yet.

A few hypotheses might be that your body is responding to stress or unresolved issues from the past. Maybe there’s a constant pressure you feel in life that mirrors the physical pressure in your sinuses, or a desire to “clear out” things in your life.

Here are some questions to reflect on:

1. Are there ongoing stressors in your life that might feel overwhelming?

2. Is there something in your past that comes to mind when you think of congestion or being unable to breathe freely?

3. Is there a recurring theme or situation that you wish you could remove or avoid?

4. Are there emotions or situations that you feel are taking too much space in your life?

5. How do you feel about needing comfort or care—could snorting be a call for nurturing?

I hope some of this resonates with you. Feel free to reach out with more questions. Sending you lots of positive vibes!