Severe anxiety due to symptoms and fear of dropping dead
Posted , 7 users are following.
So for many many years I've had severe anxiety. It has manifested itself in the form of some pretty scary symptoms. Shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizzyness, fatigue, just pretty much afraid of having a life threatening illness and dropping over dead... I've been to many doctors no diagnosis given but anxiety referred to a shrink told I need to see someone regarding anxiety and mental health that's the diagnosis everytime I go to a doctor. Lately I've felt the worst I've felt my entire life. I've felt so bad I have became convinced I am dying surely. I've had severe fatigue,extreme shortness of breath all day everyday no break no relief, as well as extreme dizziness.. it has became so bad and the fears are so strong I avoid many things because I feel like I am not healthy enough to do things healthy people do... I am 6'3 180 lbs so not overweight but I no longer excercise even though I grew up a athletic guy, I don't drive by myself anymore, I don't shop by myself anymore... Pretty much convinced I'm dying and I just stay in bed all day waiting for the day I die because I truly feel like I cannot breathe it's a air hunger urge for a deep breath yawning type of sensation that never leaves.... I finally had 1 full week where I was breathing normal and God I was sooo Happy I was actually smiling over it... Well it has came back with a vengeance the last 3 days and tonight I feel like I'm going to pass out and die I am home alone and very afraid I may die tonight.. I honestly think I have copd or a medical problem I went to the ER over it and test was run and they came to the conclusion it was anxiety related but keep in mind I've been to this ER so many times they label me and do not care to help me... My family doctor referred me to a pulmonologist my appointment is the 22 I'm just having I won't make it until then and it's scary... Right now I am short of breath and I know people say relax it's just panic but no I feel it all day when I feel anxious it gets worse just more less looking for someone to talk to about what I'm going through and feedback would help tremendously..Thank y'all and God bless..
1 like, 19 replies
Guest Cantbreath2254
Posted
I could have written this!
I have been dealing with it for about 8 years after coming off a benzodiazepine. The really bad waves come and go. I'm in the very place you are right now. I'm so weak and short of breath that I barely leave the house. I'm afraid I'll die on an errand.
The bad thing is I'm retired and have no place I HAVE to be. I have to make sure this does not turn in to agoraphobia. I walk my dogs at dawn. I am driven to because I wake up with such high anxiety that only exercise will calm it. Other than that I am paralyzed from doing much else. used to go to the gym, meet friends all week and travel the world.
I know its hard but if we can remind ourselves that it IS anxiety we can overcome it. If only I felt I could breathe!
I relate, I'm sorry you suffer too.
Cantbreath2254 Guest
Posted
Well at least you made it to retirement I'm only 26
samuels Guest
Posted
Hi,
?Try something, hold your breath for as long as you can, I bet you are breathing again with in 30 seconds. Don't try this if you have an organic cause that actually does interfere with your breathing. As you say, and I agree, easy said than done, well just do it, practices makes perfect, I'm having troubles with agoraphobia but am getting there with practice, I have also had agoraphobia for 30 years with the panic/anxiety.
denise92859 Cantbreath2254
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samuels Cantbreath2254
Posted
Hi,
?I have suffered 30 years if this, snake bite caused mine, the only thing that ever helped me is a benzodiazepine? called Kalma ( Alprazolam), all other treatments failed, I have been on this medication for 24 years and I rarely get the panics.
?The only advice I can offer you is, if all has been given the all clear health wise, as in absolutely nothing wrong with you other than fatigued, out of balance sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. you will recover from this. when you feel like this, which is every single day of your life, I know, until you know learn how to control it or beat it. Ok, you say you feel like dying, I don't want this to sound nasty or whatever, but just say to yourself, die, I bet you can't . remember that lump in the throat and you're convinced you can't swallow, well next time grab a biscuit and chew it, don't swallow it, just chew it, after a few minutes, the biscuit has gone hasn't it ? you swallowed it without realising because your nerves are in such a heightened stated. Mother nature wasn't so cruel as to make our bodies suffer that way, unless we had something organically wrong with us, even then mother nature isn't so cruel.
Cantbreath2254 samuels
Posted
The shortness of breath interferes with my sleeping for some reason I only sleep 3 hours at a time and it leaves me tired so I take multiple naps a day but sometimes I feel like I can't breathe so I can't fall asleep I guess because I focus on my breathing
samuels Cantbreath2254
Posted
Exactly, you need to focus on something else, listen to relaxing music, read, in fact anything that will take your mind off your breathing, a good practice to get into is close your eyes and picture yourself doing something relaxing or something you like, on scenario that worked for me years ago was I imagined myself as a frog on a lilypad leaf floating down a river observing all the beautiful things nature had to offer, worked a treat, another is laying in a sun chair on the beach with an umbrella , imagine things like that, helps greatly. I like native American indian music , that always took my anxiety away.
?The reason you are so tired is because of your lack of sleep, this is adding more stress to your body, you seem to be fixated on your breathing, it is now your train of thought, that's how you are perceiving it, because your tired and your nervous system is in a compromised state you have convinced yourself that you are going to die, when in fact all you are most likely experiencing is hyperventilation caused by the anxiety. Have you heard an asthmatic try to catch their breath when problems arise from their condition ? It sounds awful, same with a person with actual lung disease, there are other tell tale signs if you have lung problems, for example, pains in the back, fingers and other body extremities will be blue, there's many other symptoms that come with lung problems, obviously one of them is wheezing.
Don't focus on your breathing.
lucy35376 Cantbreath2254
Posted
Hello
Sorry you are struggling. I've had similar symptoms in the past and the only way I managed to sleep was to have the tv on then I was distracted and would fall asleep after an hour or so. If I woke up I would just find more tv to take my mind of myself. This lasted a few months and was very draining.
I get regular anxiety now during the day but try distraction techniques to get through. Cleaning, listening to music, even colouring in. Some of these help more than others but I'm desperate not to have even more of my life taken away from me because of the fear.
I truly hope you all find something that works for you x
Cantbreath2254
Posted
I only feel like I can relate with y'all to a certain extent I really do feel short of breath I'm gasping all day long every day searching for a deep breath it keeps me from doing alot of things I feel it's impossible to excercise I feel I will for certain die I've just accepted the fact that I am dying from this
samuels Cantbreath2254
Posted
If there is no organic medical reason for your shortness of breath, I dare say you have like all anxiety sufferers have let your brain and nerves take over, this is natural, because your brain is tricking you and the organs, in your case your chest wall muscles or lungs that you are feeling short of breath, it's programmed you to think there is a life threatening situation going on. You cannot die from panic/anxiety alone.
?Did you do that simple little test ? short of breath or finding it hard to take in a breath, hold your breath, I bet you will be breathing again within 30 seconds.
Cantbreath2254
Posted
And everytime I go to the ER they find nothing so I just accepted I'm going to die they don't want to help me it's very very very very scary
lucy35376 Cantbreath2254
Posted
Hey
I struggle with that daily, maybe not to the same severity but it's scary. I find bending forward then taking a deep breath works, try that.
Are you on any medication or seeing a therapist? If you are not then I think it's important that you seek some help. Find a therapist who offers CBT, I wouldn't say it's a cure but will certainly help you on your way and give you some tools for coping. I'm not a fan of medication but maybe you need something short term to help you.
You can get over this bump in the road but I know the journey is a scary one.
Anxiety is awful but I promise you are NOT DYING.
Cantbreath2254 lucy35376
Posted
So my anxiety over breathing and my fears are strong I'm actually telling myself this morning that I am ok and I'm watching a relaxing video trying to just go with the flow and my breathing feels fine so maybe I can get over it I hope I can make this last all day
lucy35376 Cantbreath2254
Posted
That's good. Keep a diary of your good moments and they will build up and when you are having a bad day you can read back through your diary to remind yourself you can cope. And it is a distraction to be focusing on writing or reading.
zainab37536 Cantbreath2254
Posted
Cantbreath2254 zainab37536
Posted