Breathlessness : Has anyone else ever had... - Anxiety Support

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Breathlessness

Anxietyparanomic profile image

Has anyone else ever had the problem where you feel short of breath and then it feels likeyour lungs contract and you think your unable to breath for a second

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Anxietyparanomic profile image
Anxietyparanomic
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10 Replies
Caddycat profile image
Caddycat

when trying to do breathing exercises especially depending if I'm already high anxiety it seems like the nature of the slow deep breathing techniques is more difficult and sometimes I end up hyperventilating instead.

Anxietyparanomic profile image
Anxietyparanomic in reply to Caddycat

What does that feel like?

Caddycat profile image
Caddycat in reply to Anxietyparanomic

Sorry might of not answered your question first time around. Yes I think I've felt what you're describing. It used to happen to me when I actually would worry about breathing, when I focused on it, or tried to control it.

Breathing is an effortless process so try not to focus on it and distract yourself.

Bt_1213 profile image
Bt_1213

Yes, Anxiety messes with your emotions then in turn the thoughts make you have physical symptom's. I think I could sit here for hours and list all the feelings anxiety has had on my body..

David2 profile image
David2

Yep always had sensations like this, anxiety, stress and other factors can cause it and make it worse. Definitely make sure sometimes exhale too and occasionally taking a bit of time to maybe do a few breathing exercises too even if you take a short time out ensuring you do a few purposeful full breaths in and out.

Also don't forget as I am suffering from hay fever this is restricting my breathing at the moment blocking my sinuses and making me feel as if I can't achieve complete breaths too.

patrica60 profile image
patrica60

sounds like hyperventilating.scary at the time.

lyn21 profile image
lyn21

Yes I've had this problem before. it used to scare me really bad but I've had every test possible and they all came back okay. it did get better once I started telling myself that it was just the anxiety however I do still have trouble sometimes.

Anxietyparanomic profile image
Anxietyparanomic

After a late visit to the hospital, i am healthy as can be, of course lol. So I gotta double up on my medicine...

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply to Anxietyparanomic

Anxietyparanomic, I am so glad that you got a clean bill of health from the hospital. I would tend to feel that the breathlessness is coming from the diaphragm being so tight and not the lungs. I agree with Caddycat in that the more you focus on breathing the worse it gets. It is true that breathing comes automatically and even when it feels tight, you are still getting enough oxygen. Besides the doctors doubling up on your medication, try finding time for yourself to just sit and calm down your breathing. Get involved with something else you can focus on. I wish you a better day.....

DaemonBrown profile image
DaemonBrown

I get that when i take my meds, seriquel 100mg. It causes me to do shallow breathes to the point of non breathing then i take a huge breath that i feel wont actually be taken in

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