Horrible

[Shiann123]

I thought has so much tension it's awful how I feel, I feel as if in get strangled as if my airways are backing of, like I can't breathe I hate this and don't fully understand why I go threw this it's awful, and I feel like in gonna die😢can someone please give advice 

[Mloanddb]

You can't breath either? This started for me since Saturday it's been going on off & on I can't take much more of it. I have to take deep breaths as if I'm being smothered, I have to keep yawning to know I can still breath. I have no reason for this to really be happening  my chest gets tight at times to. 

[Agora1]

Hi Shiann,  It's called "Air Hunger" and is not dangerous just very worrisome.

It's due to our anxiety causing our diaphragm and chest wall muscles to

tighten.  The answer is to find a quiet place (sitting)  and listen to relaxation

or meditation/imagery while doing deep breathing.  This calming technique

will relax as well as open up the chest muscles so that you can take a breath

normally.  Peace and relaxation...

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

This is a kind but not adequate reply. I have done what you suggest many times but the difficulty still persists. In my case I have a "double problem". When I relax, I get tighter. This is an over simplification, but true. Most people don't understand it. I was severely abused as an infant so "relaxation" meant I could be attacked again. That got stuck almost in my DNA. By the way, I am a different person than the one you originally responded to, so I don't know how he or she will respond. So my double bind is I get the constriction, cannot relax, but when I do, I get tighter. As odd as it sounds, it is true. I need a deep spiritual perspective to get through it, which I have.

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

jaybaba,  you are right in that "one size does not fit all".   What works for one person may not work for the next.  Our minds and bodies

react differently to stress.  It sounds like  your trauma in infancy caused you to be in "on alert" mode.   When you relaxed it made  you

more venerable to physical and emotional hurt.  I can see how that

would make relaxing a problem.   I'm glad that you have found a way

spiritually to help you.  The end results is what counts in making us relax.  Wishing you well.....

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

You are exactly right in your interpretation of my situation. I have had for over 50 years! That is a lot of adapting to a difficult reaction. My spirituality is my core and strength. I actually believe all people have this but don't know it consciously.  You are very kind to respond and I wish you the best.

[Jayde_96 in reply to Agora1]

This post has really helped me i always wondered why I'd become so breathless suddenly 

[Hidden]

I have had this many, many times over many, many years! It is definitely awful and I totally understand how you are feeling. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DIE if even if it feels like it. Believe it or not, this is your psyche's way of protecting you from old deep feelings, probably in which your survival (not literally) was at stake and the only way you could handle the threat was to freeze up. Unfortunately, when the same feelings from the past get triggered again, you freeze up again. There is no way to control it because it many even be preverbal in origin. There is no one solution, believe me, I have sought them all.  Counseling is not a bad option though because few people willl understand and identify what you are going through and it may be helpful to ger perspective by seeing a therapist. The thing to remember is that you are a good person, have not done anything wrong and you deserve lots and lots of compassion. Just getting throught the day when you have this difficulty deserves a special award. I am symbolically sending it to you. Seek people in your life who are non judgemental and accepting and if possible, share what you are feeling. You are never alone!

[Mloanddb]

Sorry you are suffering like this. Mines has been acting up since 9am chest stays tight can't breath. I'm actually sitting here relaxing & it's still happening. My father was just diagnosed with copd, I'm thinking about going to the ER when my boyfriend gets off work and tell them I can't breath. Because the minute I tell them any related symptoms to anxiety the tell me that's what it is. I would like to be examined & have more test ran.  

[Maltesers11]

I have severe anxiety attacks which even I dont understand.  I was abused as a child but my parents were told(by my abusers) I had a dirty imagination.  I was anorexic for nearly 9 years and as an adult I have shaking and times when I cannot write but cannot explain it to people.  I don't think there is a test.  My marriage ended and my youngestchild left to live with her dad, although I still see her.  It is like one bad thing after another.  However, I refuse to think things can get worse than they are now.  I  am trying to look at positive, move forward and sod the awful past. 

[Maltesers11 in reply to Maltesers11]

Oh I also have bad asthma attacks.  which do not help.  

[Maltesers11]

On another note, what do you do when you feel like your chest has gone into spasm when out shopping?  I had such bad chest pains last time I went foodshopping, i'm not sure I can do it again.  I had to grab a bottle of water to get me through it, I didnt know what else to do.   It didnt help.  What did I do wrong?

[Shiann123 in reply to Maltesers11]

Just take a deep breath in and out threw your nose,and say in your head I can do this because you can building confident is very hard I understand when I felt like this and I go into attacks , I slowly take a breath in, every new day set a task Evan taking a wee walk and the next walk a bit more, it will build, but dont rush take baby steps, sometimes we do shallow breathing but take a good breath in and stay strong I hope this has helped, your more than welcomed to give me a text, keep me posted☺️

[Shiann123]

I'm so touched by all your stories guys (all of yous who had the time to spare, to write to me) I'm very thankful, and hope everyone sees the light after the darkness, I suffer bad but it's like a secret I don't wanna tell my mum or dad I'm feeling like this again because I wanna think I'm strong and i can do this, I've beat my eat disorder in eating soild foods I'm very proud, and my reflux (GERD) it's getting controlled by my medication, as all yous said different things work I love having a nosey on my phone at times like this, I think of my family and that keeps me going, I'm touched by all yous who shared stories it's very brave of yous and yous should be proud to open up and be confident to say the things yous have went threw, and I hope yous are on the road to more brightness, love shiann x

[Maltesers11 in reply to Shiann123]

Hey.  thanx.  Keep getting better.