Hard to breath

had 3 good weeks without anxiety. then 2 days ago got this feeling like i cant get a good breath have had this before, because of my anxiety and ocd. but there is also a tightness in my chest. feels like someone is squeezing my heart. wondering doe's anyone here get the squeezing feeling? hope it's just my anxiety, have had this before but not for this long. do you ever get anything like this? God bless!

[dolphin845]

Yes, I get that and it's awful.  Before I knew I had GAD,  I went to my doc several times complaining of heart palps and the tightening in my chest.  I thought for sure it was the beginning of a heart problem.  They never found anything wrong.  All tests came up normal.  I now know it's anxiety.  Mine is lasting now for a long time too.  The only time it really lessens and even goes away is when I'm very relaxed - lying on the couch watching tv and almost asleep.  Or if I take a benzo.

[scaredjo]

hiya yeah i get those feelings to i got em now actually i always try to yawn so i can get that deep breath its not nice i recently had an echo and it was 100% ok but i still have the anxiety and the tight chest etc

[duckandcover]

I have it as I'm typing this.  I've seen the doctor and he says I'm fine.  I know exactly what you're talking about.  I'm actually just learning to live with it till my zoloft (hopefully) takes hold in a week or so.  In the mean time my apetite is almost non existant so I get heartburn on top of it.  Ughh...

And yes it will go away with xanex but I've already got addiction issues and I don't want a problem with benzo's so I only take them for "attacks".

Hang in there.  You're not alone.

[ctlvsap]

hi all im new to this.iv been feeling the same i cant get breaths and also have to yawn,i was on anti depresants but am now pregnant so i came off them i felt ok for a while but the breathing is doing my head in.i have been to docters so many times they have now told me its anxiety(which i know) and never helped atall im so annoyed because iv tried to relax and not think about it but nothing helps i hate it.

[peggy64]

Have you had your thyroid levels checked?

The reason I ask is because that is a major symptom of thyroid disease, hyper and hypo. Usually, unless you have a very thorough dr, or you directly ask, they will not run a check for that.

Most people go in tell the dr they are depressed, anxious, can't sleep. They automatically put you on a benzo or antidepressant. That is what they did to me. I took myself off of them, suffered for 2 years. Was describing my symptoms to a relative and she said get your thyroid checked.

Looking back now, I have suffered with this disease over 10 years. It has caused a lot of damage to other organs, and is hard to get regulated.

It is so much easier for these drs to write a script than get delve around. But thats a story for another day.

[scaredjo]

well done u admitted its anxiety a massive step for you, this breathin thing is hard to live with, horrible to live with BUT wont kill any of us, its anxiety and excepting it is the best step forward

[lonewolf07]

It could be a number of things - humidity, pollution levels, gastric problems, anxiety or a combination of all of them.  Do you ever find that you are holding your breath or even holding your upper body rigid without even knowing?  It's difficult to breathe when holding your breath.  IMHO it's anxiety but that doesn't make is any less uncomfortable and scary.

[Suzyq0826]

I had the same thing on Sunday...two really good days prior and then Sunday out of nowhere I couldn't breath and felt like someone was sitting on my chest. That's not usually the case with my anxiety, usually it's just the can't breath feeling with the racing heart, but every once in awhile I get just what you're describing.
How are you doing now, any better?
Take care,
Suzy

[Happy2girls]

This is a chicken and egg thing....does your anxiety cause your symptoms or does your symptoms cause the anxiety.  I had all the things you described (and still do).  It took me over two years and several visits to family doctor, cardiologist, therapist, ER, ENT, and finally a gastoenterologist to get a diagnosis of LPR (silent reflux) which according to an endoscopy caused damage to my vocal chords, a hiatal hernia and something called a shatski (sp?) ring which apparently was causing the chest pressure and breathing issues.  Prior to that DX I was diagnosed with GAD.  I am on meds for the LPR but still have trouble with the breathing...it causes me much anxiety.  The Xanax never helped with with the breathing but did calm my heart when I would have tachycardia.  Have you been to the doctor for a check-up?  I think it's important for anyone having chest pressure or pain to rule out heart problems.  By the way, I never had a lick of heartburn.  Hope you are feeling better.