Shortness of breath

[Sara5]

I've been feeling like I'm not getting enough oxygen for that past 3 days now. It's not an all day thing. It comes & goes. I check my O2 and it looks good. I know this can be an anxiety symptom but I need reassurance. Has anyone else felt this way? I can just be sitting down or simply talking and I feel like I can't catch my breath.

[Goldfish_]

That and chest pain are probably the commonest posts on this site. All have normal tests and no abnormalities found. Most are in their teens and twenties. Sounds like you fit the bill perfectly!

Checkout health anxiety management.

[Sara5 in reply to Goldfish_]

Thank you. I will do that.

[Agora1]

Yes Sara5, I had it yesterday. The muscles in my upper stomach are so tight that it feels as if I can't catch my breath at times. We are so excitable that our bodies clench in anticipation. You will be okay I'm sure.

[Sara5 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. I do feel my muscles in my upper stomach tight. & I'm breathing fine but my brain tells me otherwise.

[Agora1 in reply to Sara5]

You'll be okay Sara, now what you have to do is switch off what your brain is telling you.

[MrsB08 in reply to Sara5]

I'm same honey. My problem is that I allow my brain to concentrate on all these "ailments" then the cycle begins.... xxx

[shamila7861]

Me omg I have his all the time tight muscles , night is the worst I feel I'm not breathing but I am obv, it's just feels my stomach doesn't expand enough but that's me being so tense. I can't sleep cuz of it anymore u till I be super super tored

[Mrworrymaster]

I've had this for over a year now. Heart tests, Lung Tests, X-Rays, Pulmonary Function Tests, Echocardiograms, Nuclear Imaging....all came back good.

I basically feel like i'm not breathing correctly and have to take deep breaths in order to talk, drink, eat. etc. Ironically, when i'm exercising I actually breath better!

I have a hard time understanding how anxiety can cause me to feel short of breath. But, all the Dr's keep telling me that is all it is. Of course, I'm a former smoker so I think I've wrecked my lungs by age 33 and I'm doomed to lung disease...but all tests say otherwise.

I understand your struggle. It's no fun feeling like you can't breathe.

One Dr told me I'm overthinking and screwing up the natural balance of something my body does naturally. That's how anxiety screws up breathing.

Here's and example I found in a book which kind of helped me:

Your body swallows automatically. You don't tell yourself to swallow. If you did you would struggle with an automatic process. To demonstrate. Try to swallow 6 times, right now.

The first and second time were probably ok, but it got more difficult by the fourth and fifth time right? This is what happens when you disturb an automatic body process.

If you over breath you're flooding the body with too many chemicals and causing the shortness of breath..

(mind you, I've been told this but still struggle everyday thinking something is wrong. Ah, the beauty of health anxiety!)