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

I HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH SOB . I am on anxiety meds have been for 20 yrs different ones will work for several years and then i get switched to one that does better. my anxiety kickrd in full force when covid came. I have contamination ocd when makes me feel i have to clean everything before bringing it into house. we dont eat out like we did before covid . my like had changed so much because of all the info about how deadly covid is and what we have to not touch and do to stay safe . i wear a mask at work and gloves when i go out of my offce which isnt much.Does anyone feel like they have a lump in throat when the swallow?

It started on april 16 when I couldn't get asleep from shortness of breath so I decided to keep awake all night, next day ate a cannabis edible which helped me at the moment but suddenly started having a panic attack (weakness, vertigo, dizziness, intense but non rational fear, and suffocation) just after it finished I started feeling hyperventilation (rapid bpm, weakness, actual extreme fear, lack of oxygen, ...) so all was normal to me because I knew those were side effects from the substance, however the next day I started to feel the exact same episodes without consuming which freaked me out a lot.. I was like that for 5 days including shortness of breath throughout all the day and at nights (which doesn't allow a proper rest) and the attacks came every evening or when it's hot for about 1hr.. went to the dr. and they said my heart is alright (which was hard to believe) but they detected me lung atelectasis (from covid post viral syndrome), low glucose (for unknown reasons), high bilirubin, low cholesterol (which is weird) and also diagnosed me "Anxiety disorder" (which is something hard to believe due to I haven't felt something like this before). After that, I still feel suffocated (shortness of breath, alertness mood) but hyperventilation attacks haven't came on (thank god) however I start to feel mild panic attacks at some points of the day (which is still tiring and worrying)

Whatever it is, I just want to know how long this nightmare is going to take and I wish the best for me, my family and everybody in this page.

additional: what I did to cease hyperventilation a little bit: pray, try to relax, breathing exercises, run for 10 mins and walk until feeling better, shower, eating garlic celery and orange, cough, massage myself, do a couple of squats

what I did to cease panic attack a little bit: (this one is easier than hyperventilation because the sensation is more mental than physical but still hard): try to relax, drink water, think positive, breathing exercises, run and or walk

if somebody have questions or opinions please let me know! I hope we all can get better soon! 🙏

Hi there

Anxiety makes our mind hyper sensitive to bodily functions such as breathing, heart beats, etc. At the same time, it causes shallow breaths which results in rapid breathing.

As all of your tests have come fine, there is nothing to worry. It is anxiety which is creating a sense of false alarm/panic/anxiety.

I too get anxious about my breathing patterns. But then, I take some deep breaths and negate the panic with an auto suggestion that it is just another bout of anxiety.

Stay strong

Hi, G.mommy. Everything you have described is spot on. My anxiety manifests itself through my breathing in many different ways. Feeling smothered. shortness of breath. inability to take deep breaths. you name it, I've had those sensations and that's what they are, sensations, although that is not a real comfort as it feels so debilitating. The one thing I have learned to do is to breath using my stomach as you should naturally, instead of breathing from the top of your chest, which is unnatural and can cause you to over breath, thus disrupting the chemical balance of Oxygen and Carbon dioxide, which then causes anxious people to become more anxious and the vicious cycle begins. I know it's hard to accept, but it's your brain doing this because it is on high alert for any remote change in your breathing pattern and like me you are probably immediately alarmed by any change and when that happens, so act accordingly with anxiety and fear, resulting in the micro management of your breathing. it's a never ending vicious circle. The only way to break it is to stop allowing the brain to dictate a fight flight response, when these sensations happen, difficult I know, but you have to reprogram your brain that you are not in danger and refuse to feed it the anxiety it thinks it needs to survive. Anxiety cannot exist without the negative thought to fuel it. It takes courage and practice, but trust me it does work and can reduce your anxiety hugely. Hope that helps from someone who has suffered this for 10 years.

Hello G Mommy ,

I totally understand what you are going through. I've experienced several episodes that landed me to ER and after many tests they tell me all is normal. Its now 5 days im experiencing shortness of breath and my throat seems to tighten and my family doc said its cause of anxiety. For me this is all new. I've started with this anxiety since the start of this pandemic. At times I'm good at times it hits me hard. You're not alone , hang in there and stay safe.

Hello I am 24 yr old female, I dnt drink or smoke. Im 5'5 145lbs.

Almost 2 months ago, I had a pain occur where the best I can describe it as if someone took a balloon and slowly squeezed all the air out. It happened again 10 days later. Both while sitting and both sudden and gone withing a fewseconds. Since that incident, i have had persistent discomforts and pain in the chest since this. Seemingly amplified at night. The pains and discomforts are now accompanied sometimes by headaches and/or pain and/or burning sensation in my limbs.

Last night when trying to sleep the sensations were heart palpitations, light headed, and feeling weak in the chest, tightness in left arm, and sometimes a pinching pain in chest.

I also have a dry cough from a tickling sensation in throat all day everyday now.

My EKG, blood work, and chest xray were all normal but yet everyday and almostALL day no matter what I'm doing i am constantly having shortness of breath that feels like my heart is just about to shut down.

Hi, I've been experiencing the same shortness of breath that comes and goes. But every episode lasts about a month. I went to the ER a year ago and I was told my lungs were healthy and it was only anxiety. It happened again in November and its happening now again. The worst part is I am 9 weeks pregnant. And suffering this shortness of breath and insomnia. Doctor put me on Lorazepam but I am scared of hurting my baby. Has anyone taken this med when pregnant? Or experienced anxiety attacks when pregnant. And how did you overcome it? Im desperate, tired, and scared of feeling this way. Or that it might get worse as my pregnancy progresses. Help please!

Hi, I've been experiencing the same shortness of breath that comes and goes. But every episode lasts about a month. I went to the ER a year ago and I was told my lungs were healthy and it was only anxiety. It happened again in November and its happening now again. The worst part is I am 9 weeks pregnant. And suffering this shortness of breath and insomnia. Doctor put me on Lorazepam but I am scared of hurting my baby. Has anyone taken this med when pregnant? Or experienced anxiety attacks when pregnant. And how did you overcome it? Im desperate, tired, and scared of feeling this way. Or that it might get worse as my pregnancy progresses. Help please!

i feel the exact same way right now as i type this and its bloody awful. i was actually googling if anyone else feels short of breath and this convo came up!

yes my dear I have been having shortness of breath for the past 6 months now and the doctors says there is nothing wrong with me but I still have shortness of breath

I have also been having quite a severe time with anxiety and shortness of breath.It feels horrible. You always have the urge to breathe in (air hunger) and it feels like each breath you take does not contribute to feeding your air hunger which just makes me even more anxious. Many blood tests, ECGs and X-rays later and after being told nothing is wrong it still persists. Seems to be an anxiety thing. Have been suffering for the most of 11 months. it is persistent rather than happening in short episodes which is the scary part.

it doesn't take a full blown attack to cause shortness of breath , a build up of everyday stress can do it.