Anxiety and difficulty catching your breath

[joeylittle]

I tried the long, deep breathing, but it just got progressively worse.

It'll usually get worse before it gets better. Do you know if you made it to four minutes?

 

[whiteraven]

It'll usually get worse before it gets better. Do you know if you made it to four minutes?

Oh yeah. Probably an hour where it wasn't awful.

Then I did ok once I was at my mom's last night - again, still an issue but not nearly as bad - until the neighbors started using fireworks in the street. I had to leave it was so bad.

 

[joeylittle]

It's really great that you tried, and kept trying. I know it's sort of cold comfort...but getting breath-work to be effective and making it a strong tool in the toolbox, takes time and application. I dunno if I recommended this earlier on the thread, but I got a lot of benefits from an app called breathe to relax (B2R) when I was starting out with this stuff. It's free, or was last time I checked.

 

[whiteraven]

It's really great that you tried, and kept trying. I know it's sort of cold comfort...but getting b...

Thanks. @joeylittle. I'll check it out.

 

[Jacey_344]

I have had this ever since I was little - around 5 or so is the first time I remember it. It stands...

I have anxiety and i always struggle with my breathing when i feel uncomfortable in situations or when i am around a lot of people.... for me, just stepping aside and taking really deep breaths in and out will help, relaxing music and sitting in a cold room helps a lot too. I hope this can be of some help to you.

 

[Dancer]

I've noticed also that I hold my breath. Why the heck do we do that?!?

I hold my breath because I'm getting tired of breathing. I'm just taking a break from the hard work of breathing.

 

[ImSad]

Very glad I found this thread right now. For the past several days I’ve been having so much trouble breathing. It’s like no matter what I do I can’t get my lungs filled up with enough air. I’ve had similar issues with breathing in the past and I’ve alwaysbbeen told it’s anxiety, so I’m trying not to worry too much about it. Although it’s been quite bothersome, I’ve been spending time at work (&home as well) taking deep breaths, gasping almost, trying to get a decent breath in. I end up just exhausting myself. There are some useful suggestions in here though that I will have to try out.

 

[whiteraven]

I'm sorry you're having this same problem, @ImSad...it's always good to check with a doctor and rule out strictly physical causes, but it sounds like you did that already? Even when you do, trouble breathing can be scary. I hope you find some relief in the suggestions here, like I have.

I'm still struggling with this every day. I also have pain (all over, including my chest) often that feels like all-over bruising and sometimes just throbs. It's a vicious circle - anxiety causes pain and trouble breathing, trouble breathing creates pain. And then there's all the pain that isn't anxiety.

It's really great that you tried, and kept trying. I know it's sort of cold comfort...but getting breath-work to be effective and making it a strong tool in the toolbox, takes time and application. I dunno if I recommended this earlier on the thread, but I got a lot of benefits from an app called breathe to relax (B2R) when I was starting out with this stuff. It's free, or was last time I checked.

So far I like this @joeylittle. I am also using the Calm app - it has a couple of breathing exercises I find very helpful. I need to practice regularly, which is really hard. I can't stick with anything these days.

 

[ImSad]

Hi @whiteraven, thanks for the reply. I’ve had it kinda checked out by doctors before, but it’s been a while. Probably 3-4 years ago, now that I’m thinking about it. But I’ve noticed it only seems to happen when I’m in a particularly rough spot with my mental health. My body does a lot of fun things when I’m not doing great mentally. Sometimes it’s the breathing problems, most of the times it’s stonach/appetite issues, and I’ve had chronic joint pain for years. The stomach and joint pains I spent years trying to get an answer with blood tests and imaging tests, and every time they say I’m fine. So nowadays I write most things off as “anxiety” — though I know that it’s probably not a good idea to always do that, as one day it could be something serious.

I’m sorry to hear of all the aches and pains you experience too. I am glad you’ve found some things helpful within these threads. I will have to check out that Calm app. I have the same problem though where I’m not great at sticking with things, but I suppose it’s worth a shot!

 

[MyWillow]

Yup. I can really relate. Even trying to notice breathing or change it can make me worse. And I’m not in a place where worse is tolerable. Just for the moment.

The thing that I try to do is notice my breath/body without judgement. Even if that’s for a few seconds. TS Yoga is good for that. But I’ve just discovered something that really works for me. When I consciously notice my dogs’ or cats’ breathing I’m about as far from being judgemental as it gets. I either rest my hand on their chest/ribs or just watch the rise and fall. I might even close my eyes and listen. Then I flick back and forth between noticing their breath and noticing my own. It’s calming rather than panic inducing.

 

[EveHarrington]

I have breathing issues. Mainly in taking short fast breaths, sometimes im gasping for air.

My boyfriend is a former EMT so he can pick up on my breathing patterns better than I can, and will stop me so that I can take deep breaths.

Here’s something funny for you... Tonight we were intimate and he noticed I was breathing unevenly,(yes I said I was ok to continue when he checked in with me), so he said ok E will you do some deep breathing exercises with me? So no, I can never escape from PTSD calming exercises, not even in the middle of making love. :hilarious:

At least it helped keep me out of flashbacks!

 

[whiteraven]

Here’s something funny for you... Tonight we were intimate and he noticed I was breathing unevenly,(yes I said I was ok to continue when he checked in with me), so he said ok E will you do some deep breathing exercises with me? So no, I can never escape from PTSD calming exercises, not even in the middle of making love. :hilarious:

I can relate to this in ways you wouldn't believe! LOL