Feel like I'm suffocating all day!
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi,
I have been like this for 6 months. Although the breathing symptoms do change. The way I am feeling right now is like I'm suffocating/ not getting enough oxygen. My head feels heavy from not getting enough air. The inhales take a lot of effort - sometimes they are satisfying for a few seconds, and then back to feeling suffocation, other times I can't even take a deep breath. My chest has some pressure too, and my ribs feel constricted, like they can't expand completely. I am able to do most things, but with a lot of discomfort. My only relief is sleep. Otherwise, from the time I wake up, I have this feeling (feels less intense when I'm busy though).
All this is making me feel very down and depressed. I'm not sure why I have this - I have very little stress in my life.
Anyone else out there feeling suffocated/ hungry for air? Other than yoga, meditation and breathing exercises, what can help? - it's so unbearable!
1 like, 4 replies
nicola75516 dip58448
Posted
hi i have this and it is awful always have that feeling that you are not getting enough air i have had it for years and it always seems to be worse when im stressed it is now at its peak and it has now developed into depression and severe anxiety! all i get told to do is breathing exercises which dont help at all, have you tried medication? thought i would reply as i know how horrible this feeling is, the feeling is amazing when you get that satiafied breath but like you said atraight away its back....
dip58448 nicola75516
Posted
Thanks for the response Nicola! You have had this everyday for years? How do you cope?
I haven't tried any meds. I'm worried about making things worse. Right now I can still sleep. And sometimes, when I'm just watching tv, the symptoms are not that intense. I also don't have too many other symptoms of anxiety. Just some chest and throat tightness associated with the difficulty breathing. So I don't want to make things worse. But when these symptoms peak, it feels like I won't be able to go on much longer. I also can't exercise like I used to - hard to do it when you can't get the deep breaths.
Have you tried meds? Have they worked for you?
nicola75516 dip58448
Posted
its something that has become a habit, its like you said when you dont think about it you dont do it when the mind is distracted but as soon as you start to think about breathing again...bang the trying to get a satisfied breath kicks in! i have had to go on medication, citalopram a fee times because of this as i find when im stressed for example i lost my mum last year then afterwards the breathing issue really took over and i was having panic attacks thinking i couldnt breath and basically made it impossibke to do normal everyday things the only way i could describe it to the doctor was its like im fighting to stay alive everyday, dramatic i know but this is how i felt it s is exhausting, my back hurt alot bc of the constant breathing hard...medication did help has it is all psychological but like now i have just started the medication citalopram and it increases the anxiety 10 fold for me but everyone is different, it did help last time and the breathing issue subsides but i found it takes something traumatic to set me off again! hope this helps and you can message anytime as i know how scary this is but also you aint alone ive read so many people have the same thing! xx
dip58448 nicola75516
Posted
Hi Nicola,
I am so sorry to hear about your mum! That is so incredibly difficult. It's no wonder you are going through this. You sound so strong though, and I really hope you are getting the care and support you need to deal with it.
Thank you so much for letting me know I'm not alone. I actually don't know anyone who has this. So I felt so alone and down as to why I have this random sensation. I also feel terrible, because I don't have any stress in my life right now. I have been through much worse previously, and was fine. This just randomly happened out of nowhere. It makes no sense.
Does your throat feel tight too? Like the air getting stuck in your throat, and not reaching your lungs?
I know what you mean your back muscles hurting from trying to breathe too much. For me, even neck muscles hurt, and the ribs feel so tight, like it can expand.
I'm sorry to hear your meds are making things worse right now. But you have experienced this before, and know the meds will eventually help. So hang in there, and it will get better! I haven't taken any meds, because we are trying to get pregnant. But it's good to know if I need it, they help.
Keep in touch! Here for you if things ever get too much, and you need someone to talk to.