Shortness of breath even when im not having an anxiety attack!

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Hello I'm a 32 year old female,I have been having anxiety and some depression for about four years now!!so I understand everything that everybody on here is going through!!!!I started back on my meds almost 3 weeks ago....I can just be sitting there on my bed and start getting shortness of breath,even if I'm not having an anxiety attack....ive been to the er so many times because of my panicking....I've had xrays,ekg's,and lots of blood work done,& the doctors tell me that I'm healthy....my psychiatrist told me that I think about the breathing too much and that Its just in my head,but it scares me!!!does anybody else have that same problem???I have read other stories with the same issues!!!I just want to know that I'm not the only one going through this!!!!!

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  • Posted

    Hi there

    You seem to have the same problem as me.I keep trying to take a deep breath and the majority of the time I can't and I get really anxious and panic.Do you experience this?

  • Posted

    I've also went to the doctor for the same issue and my results came back fine. I totally understand where you're coming from. You're not alone! I think it stems from us noticing ourselves breathing and then we become preoccupied and have to focus on our breathing. If you are at wits end, you could ask your doctor for .25mg Xanax (only use when you can't calm your anxiety down). Also, I've found that putting Vicks VapoRub under your nose takes your mind off of your breathing because it gives you a small burning sensation (not painful (like menthol)) and directs your mind towards the smell of it. Also, try researching belly breathing, as it puts you in control of your breathing and tends to calm you down.

    Hope this helps!

    Jake

  • Posted

    I had septoplasty and rhinoplasty surgery back in March. Late April I had my first panic attack because of swelling in my nose from the surgery as well as my allergic reaction to pollen. After that initial panic attack i was in a frozen state for weeks where i had shortness of breath because i could not breathe through my nose properly, not to mention poor posture. I was always in a state of disorientation/ lightheadedness/ shortness of breath and felt like i was stuck in fight or flight. Its been 7 months now and although my nose us better healed and i can breathe through it better i still get frequent attacks since i discovered i have TMJ/TMd related jaw problems which may be restricting my airway. Not to mention a tight diaphragm whenever I stand or walk leading to consistent back pain. Multiple doctors told me its Anxiety and I have no doubt anxiety plays a part but because the symptoms arise when im not anxious makes me believe there is another cause. Tried chiropractors, gastroenterologist, CT scans, blood work, therapy, physical therapy and have gotten little improvement. If this continues I may ask to take something to alleviate the shortness of breath because it has greatly impacted my social life. Any attempt at certain physical activity seems to leave me with shortness of breath. Something i never experienced to this extent in my 28 years of life. But I am not giving up.

  • Edited

    Hi I am 57yrs of age, I know what each and every one of you are going through, I awoke suddenly one morning with SOB and have had it now for 7 mths. Went to all the specialists, Cardiologist, 4 x GP's, Gastroenterologist, Respiratory Physicians all said "Stress", didn't believe them so googled till the cows came home, this didn't help me mentally, I was constantly self diagnosing myself, convinced I was seriously ill and that if I got the Covid I was surely going to die.

    I was diagnosed with acid reflux & allergic rhinitis on top of my SOB, which made it so hard to breath, GP put me on PPI for acid reflux and a steroid nasal spray which helped tremendously with finally being able to breath through my nose, however I also suffered with Dysfunction breathing, which was so distressing for me, GP said not to think about it, but when you cant breath normally, how on earth do you not think about it. I feel like for the past 7mths I have been to hell and back with my dysfunctional breathing it caused me so much distress, GP's couldn't seem to offer much, only to put me on antidepressant (escitalopram). Was also suffering with stomach pains (all stress related) so bought a soft football and used it to roll on thus relaxing the stomach muscles, which I feel has helped, but the main thing that has really helped with my stomach stress (fight or flight symptoms) or air hunger which it is sometimes referred to, has been to cut out all caffeine, no coffee/tea (only herbal tea) I drink Rooibos only. Also went on a bland diet, still on a bland diet, but this has been mainly because I have acid reflux.

    It has now been 7mths and I do feel there has been a big improvement in my symptoms, (no more flight fight responses) or air hunger in my stomach, which I put down to cutting out the caffeine, my SOB has improved since being on the antidepressants.

    Still feel like there is a lump in the back of my throat, constantly clearing my throat, which causes my throat to get quite sore. However on a whole, I am on the mend. With regards to my dysfunction breathing "I feel that this helped me - but I may be wrong" sounds stupid, but as soon as my mind turned to my dysfunctional breathing I would imagine myself taking it in my hands and kicking it as far as I could - LOL!! Stupid but thing is - it seems to have worked!!

    I sincerely hope that my story helps in some way, as I know it is so very distressing, but definitely try to cut out the caffeine - caffeine can worsen anxiety. Drink herbal tea - no coffee. Just give it a try!! Go on a antidepressant, get some Mega B Complex, some Magnesium to relax muscles, Melatonin for helping with sleep, I also take antihistamines just in case its related to allergies "cant hurt", I take a steroid nasal spray for rhinitis and PPI for acid reflux.

    Good luck Guys!!

  • Posted

    hello everyone. I was reading through this thread, so I made an account to say that I feel the same way. I have been dealing with chronic stress, anxiety and panic attacks since I was 13 years old, but it's been an on/off road since then and I actually recovered. I had a relapse back in 2018, then another relapse when COVID started, but never experienced any breathing issues until August this year.

    I went to an internal medicine doctor who did a complete check-up, found nothing wrong with me. I know it's mainly rooted in health anxiety, since my university was part-online, part-on-campus this semester after nearly 1.5 years, and it was really difficult for me to adjust. Health anxiety is something I've always struggled with. I live in a country where we still follow SOPs and I am double-vaccinated, my entire family is, but I still can't help but feel like I can't breathe. It started when I had a panic attack in August itself, I woke up in the middle of the night and it felt like my throat was closing and couldn't get any air in. I have been hyperaware of my breathing since then. I'm paranoid about COVID all the time.

    Some days are better than others but it's ruining my life. I'm almost 23, but I feel too debilitated to leave the home out of fear I might feel smothered. I was thinking of getting therapy at university for my health anxiety, but I feel too embarrassed to admit I'm conscious about my breathing 24/7. I'm too scared to go to the pulmonologist to get a lung function test done, just thinking about it makes me anxious. Especially since the hospital is so far, and we don't have insurance anymore. No one has to reply to this, it just feels good to get it off my chest.

    • Posted

      I know what you are going through! Mine started after a random panic attack as well, for no reason, as I have no stress in my life. Since then, I've been hyperaware of my breathing. I randomly feel short of breath. And I use soooo much effort to inhale. Feels like my throat is tight, and I'm trying to pull air past this tightness. And it's been like this everyday, for 9 months. Do you get these symptoms too?

    • Posted

      hey, im not sure if i responded to this but yes that's exactly how i feel... some days are better than others but it's been difficult. i went to a trusted pulmonologist in jan, who checked my chest and told me there's no way i can have asthma. and he explained to me how asthma works, and it doesn't manifest in the way i think it does. whenever i feel anxious, i try to remind myself of his words, even if it doesn't help sometimes HAHAHAH. i hope you've been better after all this time 😃

  • Edited

    I get this too! This sensation of being short of breath, and not getting enough air, when I'm just sitting doing nothing. I feel like I'm suffocating, and my head feels heavy.

    I have a few more breathing issues. My breathing feels heavy, like I need to use a lot of effort to inhale. It feels like my throat is tight, and the air gets stuck there, instead of reaching my lungs. I also have trouble getting a deep breath in. My ribs feel so tight, like they can't expand enough.

    I don't feel anxious at all though. Just have these symptoms. Doctors can't find anything wrong, and told me I have to live like this, which I don't think I can do.

    Anybody out there feel throat tightness, and lot of effort to inhale past that tightness? Please help!

  • Posted

    Hey Everyone,

    Thankyou for starting this thread and just found it googling my issues and others experiences ! my story is below that I posted in the Anxiety section but unfortunately no one responded! You are all brave and amazing as this is terrifying x

    I already suffer from anxiety, depression etc but ever since I had a massive freak out , I am really struggling and looking for simular same experience, advice if possible ! I was sat here one evening after surgery and all of a sudden it felt like my throat was closing up and then a lump appeared, i freaked out and since then i have also been suffering with shortness of breath, takes all i have sometimes to regulate my breathing and not to lose my breath, can feel i am about to be smothered, it also happens if trying to sleep, like taking a double breath or a sigh i cant quite sigh, it keeps happening and i cant sleep or lay down not even a little bit ! This has been happening on and off for 4 weeks now! I have noticed that even small emotional upsets results in my breathing changing and for hours it can be difficult to breath and my concentration is then on regulating my breathing, I also get very tight in the diaphrahm (sp) sternum area which is uncomfortable ! this is really affecting me and my life now to the point its a daily battle where even eating is a trail in itself as I become breathless, and I'm frightened I will die ! I am seeking help and support but it's so far away ! Thankyou for any responses.

    0 likes, 0 replies

  • Posted

    I have this issue with breathing and it seems generally worse in the evening at the time going to bed although some days it sticks around all day too. it actually makes me so extra stressed I start eating anything, like peanuts or bread or something. Not really a good idea granted.

    last two months it's got a bit worse in that I have experienced constant issues with acid reflux I believe. My throat is constantly pulsing if that's the right way to describe it. I've also noticed a weird taste in my mouth which probably is the acid now in my mouth. Only thing that seems to alleviate that is chewing gum.

    I'm trying to get fitter again, using my exercise bike and also out on the road on my bike a couple of times a week for say 20 or 30 miles and the breathing issues do manifest. it's worse on the exercise bike (indoors). I seem to have a like stabbing pain in my chest if I try to push myself too much and it's kind of annoying because it's as if I feel capable of pushing myself only that my chest won't dare let me with pain. Not sure if I should just stop for a while until maybe it goes away like a miracle.

  • Posted

    I dont know if youll see this considering it was 6 years ago but im going through the same thing right now I've been to urgent care and the dr and no matter what I feel like I can't breathe right... I even got a chest x-ray and it was clear I wake up in the morning and the first thing on my mind is breathing.. It's just nice to know I'm not alone because this feeling is the worst.

  • Posted

    so I totally get this have any of you got some relief? a month ago I chest felt weird we waited then went the er the next day. guess it was more than a month now right around my 30th bday. well I was told it was Costochondritis, I still wasn't convinced but it wasn't bothering me as bad then. few days later still didn't feel well went to a different er thinking something was missed was told by this er drs use that thing above as a cop out.. ekg fine chest xrays fine even ultrasound on stomach. everything came back good anxiety off and on feeling like I couldn't get a full breathe but then last week starting unbearable anxiety that just won't quit like can't get out of my head with the breathing and chest pain issue. I used to as a teen once in awhile regulate my breathing but this is different it is from sun up to sundown can't get it to stop.... was given two meds one is lexepro. the other is lorazapam and that made me super groggy. felt tad better but not for forever. I haven't been eating a ton and have lost like 10 to 12 lbs.

    what have drs prescribed for you? any advice appreciated I want to go back to normal

    I talked to my Dr and she explained sometimes a switch flips and no one knows why

    I have a counselor and she told Me to do the belly breathing but that is hard for me cause then I'm thinking about breathing again.

    panic attacks I can do cause they don't last that long normally but this this is an all day thing......

  • Edited

    hello, I'm not sure if anybody anyone is still up to date with this post but reading all of your comments I feel so identified. I am 27 years old and I started having anxiety around the time i was 20 after having my first child THEN it came down... fast forward to when I turned 27 OH MY! I started feeling disoriented, I have difficulty concentrating, driving or doing a lot of things. Also I feel like I have to keep taking in deep breaths every so often. I get so scared because I also have gone to the ER my PCP and done blood work and any other work yall can imagine and all I get told is that its all in my head. so i started therapy because I dont want medication but at times I just wanna say screw it and request them but now I am 6mo pregnant and Is getting worse. I pray we all get the help we need to overcome this disorder!

  • Posted

    hello i know this was posted a while ago now but i am having all these issues at the moment. ive had blood tests, normal except low vit D and oxygen sats chest checked etc i just feel like i cant get enough air in. weirdly if i go for long walks the symptoms almost go or if im distracted but when im lying in bed or relaxing it can be terrible

    • Edited

      Hi Sarah,

      I think a lot of people here do not reply anymore, some do. Sometimes you wonder if they found some cure for it and don't feel the need to post anymore.

      I totally understand how you are feeling. I have it most days and I think it can get worse if you do not keep distracted or busy and keep thinking about it. It is addressed as anxiety by my doctors whom I have seen a number of times. It is a cycle; anxiety leads to abnormal breathing patterns which then can cause your brain to turn into fight or flight mode and then cause more anxiety and this vicious cycle restarts. I personally think the more it happens we tend to develop behaviour and keep doing it, but it's not good behaviour because we are always triggering this fight or flight mode.

      A few things that I found useful for myself:

      1. 4-7-8 breathing technique (slow breathing - makes you and your brain calm)
      2. Tummo breathing techniques
      3. Drinking water - lots of it - icey water is better.
      4. Exercise - high intensity
      5. A couple of alcoholic drinks ( as weird as it sounds but it is a sedative and makes your brain forget about it)

      Reach out to me if you want to talk, because talking to someone who has similar problems actually really helps.

      Stay safe.

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