Breathing

[Kimbosuki5]

Does anyone constantly focus on breathing? Thinking that you need to take deeper breathes or that you can't catch your breathe ? It becomes a daily battle telling yourself to breathe in and breathe out . And it's not like a panic attack it's more of just focusing on taking every single breath. It's exhausting :/

[philly101]

Someone asked this same question in a similar post earlier. I have had this issue where I would have to force myself to breathe. This is a symptom of anxiety. Just like someone would be focused on there heart beat and feel there pulse throughout their body. Its the same concept. Try and focus your thoughts on something else, a task or an exercise (walking, cycling, etc). It can get very frustrating but the more you think about it, the worse the symptom gets. Hope this helps and good luck.

[Kimbosuki5 in reply to philly101]

Yeah it's just like I'm constantly thinking about my breathing and I'm not sure if I'm getting enough oxygen or breathing too fast and then my heart will start pounding. I'm always worried I have lung cancer or heart problems bc I get chest or back pains

[philly101 in reply to Kimbosuki5]

How old are you? If you don't mind me asking. Reason I am asking is because you look young in your picture and I seriously doubt there is something wrong with your heart or that you have cancer. Have you had a physical recently or been to the doctors? I have health anxiety as well. I always think something is wrong with my body ( I get heart palpitations, numbness in face, etc). I've been checked out, CT scan on my heart etc. Everything is normal and they determined it was anxiety. Chest and back pains are also symptoms of anxiety.

[Kimbosuki5 in reply to philly101]

I'm 26. I had an ekg and an echocardiogram done about 1 year ago and everything came back clear, but I'm worried it's my lungs. I used to smoke for about 5 years and that's why I think it's lung cancer. I'm really scared :/ like right now my breathing is perfectly fine so that's what makes me think it could just be anxiety, because if it's wasn't I doubt the symptoms would go away

[philly101 in reply to Kimbosuki5]

Yea exactly, if your symptoms went away then its most likely anxiety. Don't just assume that you have a disease if its not confirmed especially something like lung cancer. Don't forget that your lungs heal themselves after you quit smoking. Hope this helps.

[Mddieb01]

I agree .... very exhausting !!!! It's a everyday struggle for me for the last 8 months !

[Kimbosuki5 in reply to Mddieb01]

I had it for about a year and then it went away and now I have it again. I always think the worst :/

[suzanne1217 in reply to Kimbosuki5]

It's anxiety. Even so far recovered I get it from time to time. I yawn a lot to try to correct it. It's my first symptom when anxiety is mild. Do your best not to think about it and it'll reset.

[Kimbosuki5 in reply to suzanne1217]

Yeah I do the yawn thing to a lot! It's just like I don't feel anxious I just have the symptoms :/

[duchess1226 in reply to suzanne1217]

Thank you for mentioning the yawning...I do that too!!!

[duchess1226]

I am currently hooked up to an event monitor and dealing with this breathing thing... I have previously as well. Its like 'air seeking'... like I need to take a deep breath.. scary too.

[carrieprice1998]

Yes I completely relate. This is me every single day pretty much. Its a tough thing to deal with when your convinced something more is wrong than what actually is. My mind goes to lots of dark places. I find that exercise helps or maybe listening to your favorite music. Usually as long as I am busy with something, I don't think about it much.

[LMCello]

Yes. I have asthma, too, though, so I may not be the best example. My therapist told me that I hold my breath when I'm anxious. I hadn't ever noticed until he pointed it out to me. Maybe you're doing that?

[Itzallgood1]

This is the first I've seen of your posts. The pain in the left side, the breathing, and the dizziness. I've had all these symptoms in the last 8 years or so. Docs don't feel there's anything wrong. My heart/chest/lungs sounds good, phantom pain in ribs (one doc wanted to open me up to see what's in there,he's 80 y/o). Scares the crap out of me thinking he wanted to do that. Dizziness they just dismiss because of heart/lung sounds good. No testing of any kind.

[kama24]

I understand what you are saying. I wake ea morning and feel breathless. I battle the fear it caused. I am for ever thinking....do I have cancer, lung disease, copd, what?? Frankly it terrifies me. I try mindfulness and to do things to take my mind off it.....to no avail. I wish I could overcome this feeling. I am so afraid especially when alone. I think I may pass out from it. Often it goes away early evening. So if it was something very serious it would not go away. I truly hope we can get control of it.

[Hidden in reply to kama24]

So you are ok in the evenings but not in the mornings, is there something in your morning routine that might be triggering it?

[kama24 in reply to Hidden]

I have asked myself that so often....as soon as I open my eyes I'm breathless then the fear hits. It makes no sense I know. I've been like this now for about a year. Yes I am on anxiety medication what for I don't know and I do talk to a therapist once a month. I'm told by my family I just over think.

[Hidden in reply to kama24]

Your family should be a bit more supportive really.

Maybe its to do with awakening, do you usually awaken and get up quickly?

[kama24 in reply to Hidden]

No I open my eyes and lay there thinking about breathing & battle fear. My therapist says to try getting up as soon as I wake even if it's very early in the morning. maybe she is right.

[Hidden in reply to kama24]

Give her suggestion a try, it might work for you.

[Hidden in reply to kama24]

I mean are you getting out of bed or wakening up to quickly maybe?