Breathing, or a lack thereof...

[Cherry_mvff]

This is seriously starting to piss me off. Since this all started back in late December, I've had minor breathing difficulty on and off. Up until recently it would be a mild-moderate discomfort in my chest that would happen a couple times a day, maybe last 10-20 minutes at a time, and then eventually die off as if nothing ever happened and I could continue my day without a care. NOW however, it's basically constant. I literally feel like I'm pretty much suffocating 24/7. I understand that this feeling is commonly associated with panic attacks etc., but I couldn't tell you when I last had one, and I'm currently sat very "happily" in my room playing guitar and having a cup of tea! I'm (as per usual) having an incredibly hard time, more so than ever before, believing that this is anything to do with the "A" word, as I've felt so much better recently (apart from this) and been out with friends and done normal 21 year old socially active male things! I was at a beer festival with about 500 other people on Saturday and adored every minute (that I can remember ;))! I just don't get it. I've had this problem whilst going through a rough spot before but this is just hell. If anyone has had this issue so intensely and for such a prolonged amount of time PLEASE tell me and give me some tips to make it go away 'cause I've 'ad enough! (And you can tell I'm angry 'cause I'm writing in Cornish pronounciation ;L)

Cheers all x

[Agora1]

Hi 4d4m_wynn3, well it looks like you have a hodge podge of symptoms in the pot so why not add one more, breathlessness. Unless you have some other medical problem, anxiety tightens up our muscles so much so that it creates the feeling we cannot breathe. Not coming from the lungs but coming from the tightness in our upper abdomen and diaphragm. I play the guitar as well so I know as much as it is a good release for the mind it doesn't help the tense muscles. Of course, the longer you focus on it's discomfort the tighter the muscles get. Going to the beer festival sounds like fun but the good times came from the alcohol and not your inner emotions. Meaning, something is stressing you out and your body is reacting to it. I know you are angry, what 21y.o. guy wants to be driven by anxiety. My suggestion is that you need to work on calming your thoughts down in a one on one with yourself technique. Using some meditation/relaxation/deep breathing in times when you are at home and in a comfortable mode. Once you get to a more peaceful feeling inside you the other things you do will just benefit your added enjoyment of things you like to do. My best to you