Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Anxiety Disorders
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Hi Everyone

Jess1995x
Jess1995x

Hi guys, 
This is my first post on this group so please bare with me. 
I suffer from Anxiety and have done for a long time, anyway in the past week I have had some serious problems breathing, it feels like I can't get enough oxygen into my lungs, making me feel very lightheaded, weak and poorly. I have been to the doctors and they have checked my chest for infections, checked my oxygen levels and they are all fine, done all the regular checks and have basically said I have an inflamed intercostal cartlilage/muscle, my doctor gave me an inhaler to try and open up my airways a bit better and get me back to usual breathing and advised me to go straight to A&E if I can't breath or start coughing up blood (sorry for tmi). 


Before I left he said this can be caused by your anxiety levels, I know this isn't an anxiety or panic attack as I know my signs and symptoms for that and it definitely isn't one, but I was just wondering, has anyone else with anxiety every had this issue? And if so, how did you cope with it? 
Thanks 

Squarley
Squarley
I've had anxiety all my life and sometimes I feel like I can't breath, I don't know how many times I went to the emergency room and they would test my oxygen level and that would be fine it is scary but it's always good to have everything checked out you're in my thoughts and prayers
AnxietyFreak40
AnxietyFreak40
Usually my anxiety is mostly nausea and chills but this last year or so I have noticed that I started feeling that my chest was tight and I could not breathe. Since there does not appear to be anything wrong, I can only guess that I have developed a new anxiety symptom. I usually just take slow deep breaths and try not to panic so I don't hyperventilate. Hugs!
Jojo82
Jojo82
I have had anxiety for most of my life and just recently I downloaded meditation/self hypnosis apps i was sceptical at first but it helps alot and I have managed to implement the techniques they instruct
chordman
chordman
Jess...your issue sounds just like mine!
Do u feel like sometimes u cant get a good deep satisfying breath...but u think u really need to...right?
Thats how mine is...i also sometimes get a weight like pressure around my upper chest and little lump in the throat...if that sounds like your symptoms, also, if u yawn do u get that deep breath? Thats a definate sign that its only anxiety.
Trust me...been dealing with it for quiet some time now...it WILL get better too! If u wanna chat sometime, drop me a message...sounds like we may be in the same boat here! Take care...and i hope u r feeling better real soon!
Jess1995x
Jess1995x
Thank you for all your help and advice, my anxiety has always been breathing related but never this bad it feels so different which is what worried me
Chordman, yes I do feel that way, feels like when I try and breath normally I am suffocating, I have been trying all the breathing techniques that counselors have taught me and nothing works, however with the yawning, I feel I need to but again I can't get the deep breath when doing so, I am using the inhaler a few times a day to see if it works and have got to go back in a weeks time if no better. Hoping it will settle down though
lisamarie77
lisamarie77
Oh my goodness! I feel for you. I have been to ER thinking I am having a heart attack....it has always come down to breathing. And reassurance that I will be okay....do you have a solid support system? I also try to measure triggers and meditate (or try) at the onset.
lisamarie77
lisamarie77
oh dear, I would be dishonest if I didn't mention ativan. But I hate it. Trying to send calming vibes.
serenity1977
serenity1977
Hi. I'm not sure about the symptoms you mention in your post but I read your about me and wondered if you have been checked for the mthfr gene? It can cause anxiety and can be related some other illnesses with symptoms you mention
Jess1995x
Jess1995x
Hi Lisa, thank you for that :) means a lot! I have a few people around me who look after and support me well :)

Hi Serenity, Thanks for you comment, I don't think I have, I will have to look it up and check but I don't think so
kenznoel
kenznoel
Before I had my first anxiety attack, my chest was tight for a week and I lost my breath a lot. I had no other mental symptoms for about a week. It was like a work up to my panic attack. Then when I was actually having my anxiety the breathing problems and chest pain got way worse. I couldn't sleep because it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I thought I was going to die in my sleep because it felt like I would just stop breathing at any moment.

Practice breathing exercises daily. Big deep breaths are important. Not little quick ones.
Suzy
Suzy
I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. It is a very scary situation when you feel that way. I struggle with anxiety and this does sound like a form of a panic attack to me. They can produce different symptoms. I felt like I couldn't breathe and I had a strange feeling that I was dying. I would suggest you use some 'coping skills' when you are feeling this way. Get on the floor and lay as flat as you can on your back. Stretch out your arms as far as they'll go, stretch your legs and through your toes. Get as quiet as you can and just lay there. Take a breath, feel it go into your body, hold it a few seconds and then slowly let it out. Count to 10 as you are exhaling. Take a deep breath, etc. Do this for about five minutes. This will take your mind off of what is happening and gives you some deep cleansing breaths. There are other ways you can cope with your anxiety/panic attach that can be searched on the internet. But this breathing exercise can help. I sure hope it helps you!

Suzy
Jess1995x
Jess1995x
Hi Suzy, Thank you so much for your advice and support, thankfully the feeling has settled down a little for now but been feeling this way for about a week and a half, its still there a little but I am not struggling so much now. Kind regards :)
chordman
chordman
Lisa marie is right...ativan is a Godsend for me! As needed and a low dose...and it does the trick!