I need opinion on this....

I was taking asthma inhalers till now, but yesterday the pulmonologist said that I in fact I don't really have asthma and that I should completely stop taking inhalers (or at least use it rarely). I do have allergies which can give me some breathing problems sometimes and in that situations I can take inhaler, but otherwise he said that I do not need any more medicine for that.

By now, dear Happyguy, you should know that breathing problems are very, very common with anxiety. I am doing very well with anxiety, yet at least two or three times a day....there is the short, gasping breath. I just sit and focus on breathing deeper and deeper, and all is well.

This is anxiety....nothing else, Honey. Use one of the breathing techniques, darlin'.

Thanks I will definitely do that. For me that feeling is constant. It is not two or three times a day... It is all the time. Since it started I have never got full breath. Really never. I am doing meditation, I am trying to breath with my stomach and I am reading books to stop my anxiety. The problem is that while other symptoms can come and go this one persists indefinitely.

Then if the pulmonologist recommended stopping use of the inhalers then personally I would follow his advice. There's no advantage to unnecessary medication. If the pulmonologist advised that you could use the inhaler for allergy flare ups then do so.

Overbreathing or bad breathing can become a habit ( a problem I had and still, at times, have to correct )  Coupled with awareness of being short of breath, can be unpleasant to say the least.

It's hard not be be anxious when we are breathless. You need to establish what they call " Good Breathing "

By practise and by remaining calm, and by this I mean not being agitated mentally that you have breathing problems, you can retrain your body into an acceptable breathing pattern. Then your body will "Right Breathe " naturally.

I assume you know how to do this?

I found the best time to practise was when retiring to bed. The brain stores info before going to sleep. I would lay flat on my stomach, relax my whole body, let it loose, so to speak, then inhale slowly  through my nostrils before slowy breathing out through pursed lips.

It's important that when you inhale you feel your belly bloat. Laying flat on the stomach is good because you can feel your belly push into the mattress.

Also important is that your rib cage does not expand. The belly only. You must expel as much air out of the lungs as is possible. So the breathing out slowly is the vital part.

Now wait, lol, all your friends will now rush to help

Helen xx

There's always one symptom that hangs in there like grim death It's a pain in the ass..well, in your case a lack of oxygene, lol! Try not to be desperate like a headless chicken running round, don't try to do all manner of self-help techniques at once. As dearest Cia, advises, concentrate on the breathing techniques

We're all here for you as always honey

Also when it all started I didn't feel anxious. I was calm, because I knew it is probably some small infection... I went to a doctor and started taking ihnalers back then. I was doing sports 6 times a week. Suddenly I couldn't normally run or lift weights because I couldn't get full breath. It is months later that I really felt anxiety (I couldn't get full breath for about 2-3 months) and it bothers me soo much that I can't do what I love to do... And that's sports... I can do it, but not as intensely as I used to. Everybody is making me crazy, saying that it doesn't look like I couldn't breathe and that I am completely fine. But honestly it stops me. It simply stops me from doing sports as intensely as I did. 

I definitely have anxiety right now...  I am not denying anything, but is it really possible that you don't feel anxiety and have symptoms. Could it be hidden anxiety in the beginning ? I am trying to be rational, because even if I think rationally things just don't connect that I can get full breath and that doing sports helps nothing even though it should ? 

Thanks I will try all breathing techniques my doctor also advised me so I  can see which one works best for me.

You are trying to make sense out of something that doesn't make sense. Try to let go of what you used to do, and how you used to feel. Stay in the present with, who am I now....how do I breathe now, I love myself now, i accept myself now, i am a terrific person now. These are called affirmations. You are affirming yourself...now.

I have something going on now (not relevant to this) that has changed my body in three weeks. I have been pushing against it....didn't help. Finally I came to....this is my body now. This the new me, al least for awhile....I accept myself for how I am now.

You are locked in, right now, to the idea that you can't breathe properly, so you think it, dislike it, let it scare you, etc. We have all done this.

If you were really in trouble with breathing, you would be passing out every few minutes. Obviously, you are getting enough oxygen. I am going to suggest an affirmation....which has to be first person, present tense.

I BREATHE FULLY AND COMPLETELY AT ALL TIMES, AND GET ALL THE OXYGEN I NEED AT ALL TIMES. 

When dealing with affirmations, say them throughout the day. Tape a copy on your bathroom mirror, on the sun visor in your car, etc. You will be retraining your unconscious. Right now your unconscious believes what you are telling it now. I can't breathe.

For more information on affirmations, and how and why they work, see the PM I will send now, Sweetie Pie.

Thanks I will try that

Haven't heard about it yet, but it does sound promising Thanks !