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...
Hey, I just joined and I have a few questions and I would like to share my personal experience with anxiety, it's going to be a lot, just a little warning. So I have asthma which is recently kicking my butt. I have been up almost every night with it but I am honestly not sure if it's asthma or anxiety. I have hyperventalated due to anxiety many times in the past but now it seems the asthma is making it worse. Anyone else feel like asthma is making their anxiety worse?Also, for the past half year I have had a lot of trouble swallowing, food specifically. I have dealt with a lot of throat tightness and I honestly haven't had a decent meal in months becaus of it. But I went to the doctor and nothing is physically wrong with my throat. AND when I don't eat for a while it makes me feels a lot worse. I have never been this sick in my life and I feel like most if not all of my problems stem from anxiety. I can barely focus on school or get through a shift at work. I am truly at rock bottom, I just want to feel normal, idk what to do anymore. I feel selfish because me being sick all the time affects my family and I would give anything to feel better. Anyway, that's my rant, thanks for reading. And I really hope you are doing well.
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I did the dumbest thing today. I charged my earbuds, unplugged the block and put the block in my little bag instead of the earbuds. I wasn't happy about that when I got to the gym. What a dummy!
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Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
I cant say I have asthma but I know the feeling of not being able to breath from my anxiety attacks. I seem to hold my breath when in attack.
as far as eating how do you do with drinking liquids to get the nutrition?
WN
The difficulty breathing defenitly sucks and even has affected me when my asthma isn't that bad and it feels like a weight is constantly on my chest. As far as eating goes, I have a protein shake every morning and do my best to get through meals using water to help and I try to stick to foods that I have tried and that I can usually get through eating. It has been difficult finding info about the swallowing difficulty as it relates to anxiety.
I don't have asthma, so I don't know much about that. Just a thought... do you get allergies, such as hay fever? That could cause a throat irritation, feel like it's closing, etc.
Does it feel like your throat closing is every day, or when you've anxious, or something that you can pin point?
Keep a daily journal and write in it every day along with what foods you ate.
Try your best to do things to relax yourself. Keep your mind busy and not focusing on anxiety.
I don't have asthma but I do have a tendency to hold my breath when I am anxious. That tendency imitates asthma over the course of time, up to and including difficulty swallowing. Breathing exercises are my remedy. They work when I work 'em. The breathing exercises are also very useful in managing my general anxiety, as well. 'Tis amazing what a diff taking the time to regulate my breathing can make.
Then we get to eating under the influence of anxiety. . . I still can't do that and often feel like I'm melting away with involuntary weight loss. When my anxiety is running amok, baby food is my staple. It is solid nutrition in an easy to use and digest format.
But that is me and every case is unique. . .
Gentle support while you find what works for you. Welcome aboard. I hope you find stabilizing companionship here.
I would reply individually but unless I'm doing something wrong, I don't think I can do that in the replies here. As far as the trouble swallowing goes, I went to an esophagus doctor were he had me do a barium swallow test. I did and the results came out fine. He told me to try and relax and see if that would help. This was months ago and I am swallowing better than I was then when it started but it's still not normal by any means. I am going back to the doctor in a week for my asthma and I'm planning to bring up everything that's bugging me, so idk hopefully that will help. Also, I do have allergies which does irritate my breathing and throat. The throat closing has happened only occasionally in the past few months but with in the last week it's been way more frequent. I have not been able to catch my breath for around 4 days now. But, I did not know that anxiety can mimic asthma after a while.
What kind of breathing exercises do you guys use? I go to YouTube sometimes to try some out but nothing has been able to calm me down or help my breathing.
I really appreciate the advice, thank you guys.
I have bumped into that fact in my animal studies, as well. Anxiety is a cross-species element in any species aware enough to have a survival instinct. The manifestations of that anxiety vary wildly, even within a single species. Some of us are fliers. Some are fighters. The mixes between the extremes are infinite.
I found my personal favorite breathing exercises through "Lamaze Childbirth" classes. The Lamaze breathing techniques cover allot of intense needs.
What you share is common in anxiety acute situations.
Writing it out is one of the most important steps in helping to find a better balance.
Breathing exercises-keep track of when, where, what, who, why, and how, whether they seem to work or not. These will be helpful as the pattern shows up after several entries in a daily journal.
I do facial and neck massages to improve the muscle tone and relax tensed muscles. I do the breathing exercises (in through nose, out through mouth, in through nose, out through nose). I do the blow out to relax the facial muscles.
The thing is to find what works, and add to that to help improve your better balance.
My throat finally loosened up naturally instead of tightening up in distress.
You are stronger than you realize.
Best wishes as you find your better balance.
Reading has helped me understand my anxiety a bit better.
Meditation and breathing exercises and mindfulness may help as well.
Use every resource you can to help you on the road to wellness.