Shortness of breath
Hello, I'm posting in an effort to find answers, reassurance, information and more than anything to learn that I am not alone in this battle.
I've been dealing with anxiety for about a year now. I've been getting new symptoms progressively as the time goes by. At first, I had to deal with tachycardia or fast heart rate and chest discomfort or pain. I've learned to deal with these symptoms all of this time but now, new and scary symptoms showed up. And that would be shortness of breath and chest tightness. These new symptoms lead me to the ER where they ran an xray and an ekg on me and the docs couldn't find anything. They look for infections, diseases, risk of heart attack but all came out normal. So they sent me home but to this day I keep feeling like I suffocate. I just can't catch my breath at all. I just truly cannot breath. It's just awful. So I'd like to know if people here has dealt with these kind of symptoms too and what do you guys do to overcome it?
I obviously want to feel better. I have a newborn at home so the fact that I have to deal with these new symptoms is pretty annoying.
Any advice through here would be so appreciated. Thank you in advance!
@storyofjenny Hi Jenny! I also was having tightness in the chest area and shortness of breath problem. This problem came for no reason, and it was even the cause that trigger my anxiety. Please just skip to the last paragraph if you're desperate or in a emergency.
A month ago I was having trouble breathing for I don't know what reason, best I can guess is I am very lazy person that have poor sleep pattern. It was becoming worse and It made me feel tired, I cannot focus on my daily activities, which made me losing interest in things I loved. One day, I was having such a bad trouble of breathing that leads me to hyperventilating and I was so scared that I had a panic attack and I thought I would die.. But I also think of just giving up and not even trying to live anymore because this breathing trouble that taking such a toll on me. It's like my mind was being possessed. I was a very positive and happy person and have so many things I love to do that I have never think any negative thoughts that come to this. The next day I went to the doctor and he gave me medication for acid reflux and told me to check my blood and x ray my lungs, and the results came out clear. I was very healthy physically and I did get better.
Although, 5 days ago, I started to have this breathing problem again. I was so scared and feeling anxious all day in fear that I will hyperventilate again and get panic attack again. I tried so much to control and focusing on my breathing. It helps.. but it is also tiring, I have to keep control of my breath again and again. Even after that, I still have hyperventilation.. but not as bad as before. I figured out that I have anxiety which I think the trigger is very ridiculous. This anxiety also came with depression, it was like a cloud clouding my life, it looked very bleak. I finally accepted my condition and decided to just observe and let it flow. Followed by meditation, exercise, taking vitamins, and anything I can do myself to improve my condition, and it worked! I am not scared all day anymore.
However, the feeling of anxiety and depression always come from time to time again, and it can be so strong or so small. Now, I have another problem because of trying too much and often to control my breath, I often forget how my body take breath automatically. My mind tricks me to think that I take my breath manually, and it was as tiring as shortness of breath. I must remind myself just to relax and not be afraid over and over again.
It's very difficult but I want to believe in myself and and I know I will get better, this needs time. I will do whatever it takes to make me be better, because I love this life so much and I want to live the life I love to the fullest <3
If I cannot handle this problem I created myself by myself, I will go to the doctor, theraphy, or anything from physical to mental, anything that can help me to recover myself. I know and believe we both can go through this and finally life a better life we love :) Get well soon to us both <3
@neeladaisy thank you for sharing your experience. I'm definitely sorry that we have to deal with breathing problems. We must be strong and positive to overcome this awful illness. I guess I had an episode of hyperventilation too and if it's gonna be an ongoing thing, I might as well learn some breathing techniques because I really dont wanna wind up in the ER all the time. Thanks a bunch for writing!
