Hello all. I’m sorry to write such a negative post, but I’m feeling very hopeless. I just woke up from a nap and I’m already anxious. As soon as I opened my eyes, I can already feel the anxiety. Everyday I’m growing more and more exhausted mentally and physically. I try to calm myself down by telling myself that I’ve been going though this a lot lately and I’ve been perfectly fine once I can calm myself down, but I feel like I can’t breathe and that is probably my worst symptom. I don’t know how to describe it that well. I feel out of breath, like I’m suffocating, gasping for air, etc and it feels like that for awhile, stops, and comes back. I don’t know if maybe I’m just paying TOO much attention to my breathing or if my anxiety is making it feel worse than it actually is. I’m just tired of feeling like I can’t breathe and thinking that I’m going to die... I’m 19 years old. I don’t want to die and I feel like something is seriously wrong with me..
I’m starting to lose hope. : Hello all. I’m... - Anxiety Support
I’m starting to lose hope.
Oh sweetheart you are so young to be feeling like this, however I’d suggest looking around you and trying to point out what triggers it, could it be work, uni, home life or is this just how you roll?
I felt this earlier in the year, a year after losing my dad so I knew mine was delayed grief and so I dealt with it, I still have bad days but at least I’ve figured out my trigger.
You should be enjoying your life right now xx
Honestly, I think everything is just triggering it lately. My anxiety has been doing its thing and taking its toll on me nonstop since July, so I’m just constantly on edge these days.
Told the doctor that I was feeling this way and feeling like I can’t breathe and feel like something is squeezing my head. He just laughed at me (not in a rude way or anything) and said that I’m doing great and that it’s just anxiety. He said I’m too young to really have any serious medical issues which CAN happen, but me being me I definitely think I’m that 1% of the population who has some serious underlying medical condition.
—- Having no medical insurance is a big trigger for a lot of my anxiety if I’m being honest with you. In December 2018 was my first time to the ER since 2015. I was having dizziness, feeling like I’m going to pass out, chest pain, etc and they did a ultrasound because I mentioned hat in 2015 I had very bad stomach ulcers from stress. He couldn’t find any ulcers, but just went ahead and said that’s what it was. Looking back at that scenario now, I’m so mad because I’m pretty sure it was just my anxiety. I know how having an ulcer makes you feel or at least how it makes me feel and that wasn’t it.
So I went to the ER in July of this year. Did an ekg, urine test, blood test, and a chest X-ray. Doctor said everything looked fine and that it was just my anxiety. I felt so much relief and felt like I could live happily again. I did amazing for about a week and fell right back into my pattern of being on edge from the time that I wake up until I go to sleep.
I went to the ER a few weeks ago. They already knew what was going on from the start because they now had my anxiety in their charts and apparently every symptom I gave them was because of anxiety. They ran an ekg and said everything was fine, gave me 2 Benadryl and sent me on my way.
I left feeling nothing this time. I didn’t even feel the slightest bit relieved.
These breathing issues are driving me insane... I can’t tell if my mind is making them up or just exaggerating them. I can’t push back the thought that maybe something is seriously wrong with me besides anxiety and i don’t feel like I have had enough tests done to actually rule out anything serious, but I can’t just go to the ER and say “hey guys, just run all of the tests that’s you possibly can on me so I can stop freaking out so much.” Because I have no insurance... ugh I just feel so lost. I should be celebrating life right now instead of laying in bed thinking that I’m about to die...
Ok you really need to take a big deep breath and tell yourself you’re NOT going to die, well not for a very long time..!!!
It’s such a shame about the medical insurance as we have medical services free here however, I couldn’t walk into a hospital requesting a host of tests.
Has your Dr not offered any anxiety medication? Something you can take daily? x
They refused to give me any anxiety meds since I don’t have a primary care dr due to no insurance, but I have found a free mental health clinic and hopefully they can and will be happy to help me. Thank you for your kind words! I really appreciate it ❤️❤️❤️
This is typical anxiety my love I’ve had it for about 17 years now and the worst part of anxiety is we do gasp for air because we panic so much we take little breaths so our breathing becomes affected. Sometimes I’m like I can’t believe half of the physical symptoms are actually anxiety as they can be so severe I automatically think the worst that’s something is seriously wrong..my nerves have been spiked for weeks with anxiety and I too am very sensitive at the minute as well...just remember your not alone we are all going through the woes of anxiety we are all here for you and this will pass
Nat
Wow. I’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through it too. The physical symptoms are just UGH! A big pain in the butt. Thank you for the sweet words and the reassurance! 💕 it helps me a lot. I hope that things start to look up for you as well
I'm sorry you feel this way, anxiety is so hard on us but everyday is a new day, Iv never been so thankful to god for waking up every morning to a new day...
Rite now I feel like fainting and having chest pains also anxious ..but I'm trying hard to keep death out of my mind...knowing god is on my side always gets me through these times..
I'll pray for you now that god will shed a little peace in your mind ,body and spirit so that you can feel relaxed and cast your worries aside...stay strong, clean up the mess and keep pushing tomorrow's a new day
Thank you soooo much! I’ll keep you in my prayers. We all need the positive vibes. ❤️
I am glad you reached out here. As you can see from others responses you are not alone. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for over 20 years. I have really good periods and then ones like you described where I shiver uncontrollably and gasp for air. What has really helped me is looking to God for my strength. I journal to Him. Writing down my feelings and thoughts is huge on getting them out of my mind and onto paper. Praying over them and giving them to God. God wants to carry our burdens for us. I have to remind myself of this over and over. I also had to believe that I don't have to be anxious or depressed, that I can get better. What we think falls in line with what we feel and believe. So if we can think our thoughts positive and uplifting we can believe that about ourselves. It is also good to have support through counseling or other support groups like this one.
Here are two recommendations that work for me when I am struggling. One is deep conscious breathing. I call it the 557 breathing. Breath in through your nose for the count of 5 breathing in all the good things you want in life, hold for count of 5 and exhaling through your mouth for the count of 7 letting go of any thoughts or hurts that are affecting you. Do this sequence 10 times or for about 2 min. You will be amazed at how relaxed and at peace you feel after the breathing sequence.
The other one is called Emotional Freedom Tapping. This method helps incorporate positive self-talk with acupressure points. Here is a link to show you the points. . bit.ly/2m1cegn
Find something encouraging to say to yourself like I am at peace, I am relaxed, I am feel good, I am content - then tap on the points. You do this on both sides of the body. You will be amazed at how self-empowered you feel after this exercise. Doing these when those anxious feelings start and try to establish new ways to deal wit anxiety. I will be praying for you. God is your strength. I know you will feel better from the anxiety! If you ever want to chat please feel free to pm me. I understand the struggles with anxiety. I find it starts a lot with being too hard on ourselves and expecting too much. God bless! Hugs!
Thank you so so much for the kind words and the advice! ❤️❤️I sent you a message because I do really need to talk...
With my anxiety it’s more social when in big stores I over heat light headed dizzy and feel like I’m going to pass out when I figured out how my anxiety was triggered I found a way to use it so it became more of a tool I controlled not the other way around figure out the main cause of it find a way to use it see if that helps
Thank you very much!
I’m 19 also with anxiety disorder I have panic attacks sometimes I mostly think to much about crazy stuff I get nervous I hate looking at myself but I know I’ll be back someday I never been through depression this is new to me this is my 7th month with anxiety I Pray for EVERYONE this is not something we want to LIVE with and it’s so hard for us young adults everyone just keep praying ❤️ WE ALL CAN GET THROUGH THIS !
I’m so sorry to hear that you’re suffering too. It is very exhausting mentally and physically, but we are stronger than anxiety and we can get through it ❤️ If you ever need to talk please feel free to message me!
Is the breathing the center of the anxiety? Or is it but a secondary stressor to something else in your life? It might be helpful to understand how things relate to each other in your life (i.e. is my anxiety centered around certain activites I used to partake in the deep past or something very recently). Sometimes anxiety/fears stem from the unconscious and can be treated more effectively when considering all issues that occur and have occurred in your life.
I hope that helps. I terribly struggled with OCD and depression not too long ago, and I am here to tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. How to do it usually differs, but that's not to say that people can't help.
I think it’s the center of my anxiety. I’m honestly not really sure. It’s been one of my biggest symptoms when feeling the anxiety coming. Then, I start thinking that I’m going to die and that something is seriously wrong with me, but I’ve been trying to get better at talking myself down since I’ve been through this so many times. Anxiety is scary because it’s crazy how many physical symptoms it can give you, but I just need to tell myself that it’s not going to kill me and stop fighting with it. I just need to accept the fact that I’m anxious and everything is going to be okay.
You know, one thing I did that might help you as well is to take a deep breath and then weez all of the air out and hold your breath for about 10 seconds. This is to expose yourself to the fear of "am I going to die (because of the breathing)," for 10 sec. Even for me, reading and responding to your post is an "exposure" for me.
I used to have perpetual thoughts and fears about breathing, and I used to think of it as the "unthinkable thought." I thought I had "cursed" myself with the thought of breathing. Little did I know that it's the stigma/taboo that I carried with the thought that perpetuated the fear.
I wish you a good day.
Hi destinymichell, I too suffer badly with health anxiety & it has been really bad over the past few months, but I have to keep telling myself I conquered it before & I will again. Unfortunately there is no quick fix, but the comfort & support on this site is a great tool to help u through difficult times. Pm me anytime if u want to chat. Big hugs to u x
Thank you so so much love. I’m always here if you need to talk as well. 💕 yes my health anxiety is so crazy. I’m trying to learn how to keep myself off of google with my symptoms. That’s been a really bad habit for a very long time because most of the options are something serious and then that makes me freak out even more.
I understand exactly what ur saying & I am the very same, the mind is so powerful and can play tricks with u & it’s a battle trying not to let it win. But good support & conversations with like minded people always helps 😘😘
Awh, you will be fine, all bad things WILL come to an end. It is guaranteed. I get that breathing issue while eating and it worsens when I exercise, I am horrified of exercise, I haven’t done it in six months because of the breathing issues. I sometimes think that I have some mysterious lung illness, all doctors say my lungs are fine. What scares is they just used “fine” but maybe it means great to them or something and anxiety is making the word seem like “bad”. I am scared of going out or hanging out with anyone because of the physical symptoms, every time I go out with mom, I ask her if we can go back home not even 15 minutes after leaving. All the physical symptoms creep up on me, and I feel like I can’t escape them if I am outside so I always prefer staying at home. We can fight this, we are all strong to be able to even go through this sh1t. I promise you won’t die❤️ 
I feel like you took the words out of my mouth LOL! I am the same exact way. When I eat sometimes I start to feel breathless and I will not continue to eat until later on when I’ve calmed myself down. I don’t like to go anywhere as well because I just get too anxious. My anxiety really has been testing me too much lately though because it’s gotten to where i hate being home alone, but I also don’t want to leave and get out. So it’s been a lose/lose situation for me. Please message me! I would love to talk more because this sounds so much like me and now I don’t feel so alone!!
I am more than happy to message you again and these doctors that refused to give you anti-anxiety medications...are they even doctors.. Girl I will be your doctor😂 anyways I will send you a message now!
i know how you feel every time i get a head ache i think i have a brain tumor then the anxiety kicks in it's an endless circle that won't stop i'm sure it's the stress from my job
Yes! Or I’ll feel my head shaking if that makes sense. Just for a little bit like uncontrollable shaking and of course I had to google it and all I kept seeing was stuff about brain tumors, but then I stumbled across a piece of information that said anxiety, so...
Hi I'm sorry your going through this. it's been about 20 years of anxiety for me and I just wanted to encourage you. You have anxiety symptoms but it's not who you are
When I cant breath I try put my hand on my stomach and make sure I'm breathing from my stomach vs my chest. Give this a try and breath deep.
Thank you very much! I’m so sorry to hear that you’re suffering as well, but you’re right. Anxiety doesn’t make us who we are. Thank you for your advice and your kind words! I wish you well
These are clearly anxiety symptoms.
Please calm down, take it easy and look for professional help.
Stay strong.
Thank you for the reassurance and the advice. I’m currently looking into counseling and getting on medication.
You have been in my prayers. I actually watched a video today and thought this might be helpful to you. bit.ly/2OtpQx6
I understand the feeling of anxiety and how everything seems overwhelming. Anxiety and depression go hand in hand. So for me I know I need to give myself a break. Be aware that am feeling bad and tell myself it is ok, I will feel better, I just need to take one moment at a time. I spend a lot of time repeating to myself that I am ok, that I don't have to feel this way, and praying God will help. If we ask God for help, He is there for us. Just knowing He is by my side is encouraging for me.
I was doing well for a while and just recently began struggling again. I know I don't always have to feel this way.
I will be praying for you. Try to surround yourself with uplifting music and friends who can support you. You are not alone on this journey. We are here for you. Hugs!
Thank you so much sweetheart. Having all of this support is overwhelming in a good way. ❤️ I hope that you start to feel better soon as well and I will be keeping you in my prayers. God is great!!
I continue to be praying for you. You are doing the right thing by reaching out and sharing your concerns. Try to work on your deep breathing and positive self-talk. This helps me when I am really struggling and I feel symptoms I cannot explain. This is the deep conscious breathing I do. I call it the 557 breathing. Breath in through your nose for the count of 5 breathing in all the good things you want in life, hold for count of 5 and exhaling through your mouth for the count of 7 letting go of any thoughts or hurts that are affecting you. Do this sequence 10 times or for about 2 min. You will be amazed at how relaxed and at peace you feel after the breathing sequence.
The other one is called Emotional Freedom Tapping. This method helps incorporate positive self-talk with acupressure points. Here is a link to show you the points. . bit.ly/2m1cegn
Find something encouraging to say to yourself like I am calm, I am peaceful, I am relaxed - then tap on the points. You do this on both sides of the body. You will be amazed at how self-empowered you feel after this exercise. Doing these as soon as you feel the anxiety and thoughts of being in pain. I will be praying for you. God is your strength. You are strong! You can beat this anxiety. God bless! Hugs!
Thank you so much for these tips and all of the positivity and love! ❤️ You are so amazing and I appreciate it beyond words!!!!
Sorry dear. I have been there before. I felt worse than you. I was on medication for about 2 years. Untill I decided not to give a damn about how I feel. Right now I don't know if I'm well or not but I live my life normally and I feel so good about it.whatever u are feeling now is just anxiety and it will never kill you. Hang on
Thank you so much. ❤️ I’m terrified that I’m going to die and that it’s not anxiety and it’s something serious.
Im sorry i can relate. I went through the samething with breathing a couple months ago for 3 months it finally went away. But it hasnt went all the way away but is way better. I hope it ends for you soon it is a scary place to be. I felt like life was over but it did get better.🙏🙏 for you
I just saw this..I hope you are better. Are you taking meds for this? If you are feeling hopeless, I hope you are taking something. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy...I hate dealing with it. 30 years! Started when I was 28...I only take ativan when needed...andnot much of that. Some meds helped for years and then just stopped working. 19 is so young...please say you have gotten help. I haven't read the replys yet.
Sadly, I am not on any medication. I don’t have any insurance. 
I found a mental health clinic that is really good and does free treatment, so I’m looking into going there.
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