Is this the anxiety cycle?

it is such a horrible cycle i have had shortness of breath for what it feels like consistantly for four weeks , so i start to tell myself why not? Admitt it is anxiety and so i do, but the breathing is still short, so then i get anxious again and get worried i am going to die again. I hate it but it is just that thought that what if? i am alot better then i was a few weeks ago but i know how easily i can fall back. So when will my breathing being short stop after recovery, because i am starting to think it is serious again i have seen a few docs and they think it is anxiety, but i am finding it hard to believe that right now. x

[barfer]

You are no different from most of us on this website.  We all thought or think at one time or another that this isn't anxiety, there must be something else wrong.  This is so classic for GAD.  You are so young and frankly it really sucks that you have this disorder.  I'm 55 and have had this all my life but never put a label to it until about 6 years ago.  It is really good that you are talking about it and maybe you should try and see someone who can help you with cognitive behavioural therapy.  That would be a good first step and relaxation tapes also help a lot of people.  Sometimes life seems better once we can admit to ourselves that we have this annoying disorder and then we can move forward to find a way of having a happy productive life.  This can happen if you let it.

[amish1979]

You can help that shortness of breath by taking a break and doing some belly-breathing whenever you start to focus on your short breaths.  It can help a LOT.  Pretty soon you will be belly-breathing even when you aren't thinking about it, and it will take away of lot of the symptom of shallow breathing (chest pains, tight chest, dizziness).

Just relax and fix your breathing when you catch yourself.

[JSGeare]

Anxiety Cycle?

Boy, do I have a visual on THAT. A bicycle contraption that goes only uphill and always backwards the harder you pedal it while constantly tipping over and you can't gte off the damn thing. Any artists out there? SOMEONE draw a picture of this, I'm beggin' you!

OK, I'm not up on all the latest tips to counteract the shortness of breath thing, but I think Amish is on to something with the "belly" breathing, which is also called "breathing from the abdomen," if memory serves (questionable, that). To learn "belly breathing," you literally practice breathing in and out from deep in your gut, so your tummy expands -but NOT your chest. Start the intake by expanding your tummy -and then let the rest follow from there. Work the gut muscles to get the chest muscles going. All of this, slowly.

Now, before I knew about any breathing exercises, as such, I learned about this, from experience: sit on the edge of the bed or a chair, and lean your body forward, bening at the waist, so your head is approaching your knees. That's the EXHALE move. As you come back up, you inhale. I'll be damned if I know why this worked for me -all I can tell you is that it ALWAYS did. You can't do it everywhere, but at least it gives a sense of relief.

And always remember that you are NOT, in fact, short of breath. You ARE getting air, and obviously enough of it to live and move around.

Finally, if you are IN therapy -discuss this problem and if you are NOT, then consider therapy, cuz once you get rid of the underlying causes -the breathing gets top be OK again, ALL the time.

[eronski]

I am with all of the above - my anxiety too, would manifest itself in my breathing.  If it even crossed my mind "how am I breathing?" I would suddenly loose my breath.  My husband showed me example after example in all his Natural Path books on learning to breath and how important it is for our health and emotional state.

I hated working on this because I felt - why should I have to think about something that should come naturally, right - it should be automatic!  From what I learned it does come automatic but that doesn't mean it's correct, and anxious people tend to breath shallow or over breath, does that make sense.

I tried over and over to do the Belly Breathing Amish mentioned and my anxious mind would fight it... but I kept trying.  What I did was:  Breath in my nose to the count of 4 and out my nose to the count of 4.  I did it for 5 minuets when ever I needed too.  The 5 minuets is important because after 2-3 you find it comes smoothly and you will calm down and your mind will move on to other things.  In the beginning the first two minuets I would be really fighting off the panic - it didn't feel right but I would force myself to keep going and the feeling would pass.  It has helped me allot and in the process I am breathing much healthier.  It takes awhile to get the hang of it - keep trying.

For me, I notice my breathing issues come with my cycle - they stay for a couple days, I work through it and then it's gone.  Like clock work it happens every month.

I feel for ya, my anxiety began around your age - even so I have lived a wonderful life with it so far.  I am on meds for the first time right now and it helps too but that's not for everyone I know.  15-18 were the most difficult times of my life by far (I'm 43 now) not just because of anxiety, that was a small part - it's just that time of life.  Re: Anxiety (if that's what it is)  You will get through it, you are so smart to be educating yourself and working on it you will learn so much and your options are numerous.  Keep in touch, Erin

[dizzy68]

Thanku so much for all your comments they are really helpful and i am definetely going to practice some breathing exercises thanku everyone x

[Millie999]

Amish has hit the nail on the head. I find that when I become aware that I can't quite catch my breath, I take a few minutes and  I focus on relaxing my shoulders (as usually find they are raised to my ears!) and then focus on my chest and imagine it expanding, giving my lungs more room, and then do a few rounds of abdominal/belly breathing - it works. The more you practice this the easier it is and you will end up doing it automatically.  Yoga helped me a lot with this - maybe join a local class, one that concentrates on the relaxing aspects of yoga.

[Kgc950]

Its college time... time to apply to colleges i just got a gf, my grandmother has a couple days im not doing to well in school (stresses)  howerver i have plenty of friends to get me through it, i leave school early because of panic attacks yet i get all my work done at home were i feel great without anxiety. It carries over to the weekends which i don't like i do not feel like my normal funny self even tho its definatly deep down in me just waiting to come out. I constantly think what ifs and never enjoy the new england weather like i used to. THis has started for me at the beggining of senior year and i was wondering if this sounds like i am going to be fine after i am accepted to colleges liek all my other friends. please let me know your thoughts thanks

-kevin

[MayMayMeemers]

if you have problems still can i suggest a few ideas that help me over come some panic attacks?

1. I NEVER SUGGEST BREATHING METHODS for one it is a crock of **** (exuse my language) it maynot work for everyone. infact it is proven that if you try this method alot of the time when you panic you focus on what makes you feel ill. in your case it is breathing so if you focus on that what do you think will happen? PANIC ATTACK (I know from first hand.)

2. take a hot relaxing shower or bath. add bubbles or if you have a spa use that.

3. sented candles in a dim lit room, soft music or calming music help.

4. Play with your pets.

5. Sometimes this helps but not always (Go for a short walk) but this may trigger you to get short of breathe and dizzy along with freaking out about your heart.

6. LOL, sex always helps calm one down

7. read a book, you will focus on the book rather then the attack

8. play a game or talk to someone about it.



those are what help me..it may or maynot help you. GOOD LUCK!

[sAturngal]

Hi I am 30 years old and have been suffering from anxiety dis. For over 5 years! Currently having chest pain and pain in left arm which is concerning  me

[dnbjedi]

maymaymeemers probably gave the best advice i've seen for anxiety attacks.  Anxiety medications obviously work even better, but it is true when people tell you to breathe in your stomach and breathe out that way...  thats definitely not going to work unless your trying to get More relaxed...    we're not meditating, most of us are frazzled and desperate and winded, and pushing/forcing air into your lungs is a bad idea...  for me it is a horrible idea because it makes me more tired..  my anxiety is so bad in fact that I have trouble walking up the stairs...I do it anyway, but it still tires me out and has me breathing a bit raggedly...  I dont know what to tell anyone except to use mind distraction, books, tv...  some people say to talk about it with someone, but how can you talk if your having trouble breathing all the time...  good luck people.  

[JaneIyvone]

Some of you are probably feeling lost - like you're looking up into a black tunnel with no light at the end of it. I know how that goes because I've been there and am still sometimes find myself in that place. It feels like you're perpetually going backwards with no hope of relief. Or maybe you're like me and you feel like when you finally hit a good patch, someone's pulled the rug out from under you and you're suddenly back in that dark place.

Hello, I'm Jane Harris, I'm nineteen years old and I'm a hypochondriac. People will tell you that it's no laughing matter but really, take it from me, it is. And this is how rediculous it got with me:

At the age of twelve, I had to have an EKG because I was convinced I was dying of a heart attack the night I was to leave for vacation. Very peachy, that. Nothing was wrong.

At the age of fourteen, I had to have an ultrasound because, mistaking PMS for something more sinister, I was convinced that I had breast cancer. Nothing was wrong.

Two years later, I thought I had diaphragm paralysis - an issue that not only has never occurred so far in the US, but also remains such an impossible occurrance that hardly anyone has ever had it. Didn't get that checked out but after I took my head out of the clouds, nothing was wrong.

You probably keep track of every last symptom you have and by now, you're probably so in tune with your body that you pay attention to every little thing in it. When something fires off slightly, you start wondering what it could mean and thus begin diving into a sea of severely convoluted, silly possibilities. What does that accomplish? It stresses you out so much to the point that you can hardly breathe! WHO'S STRANGLING US?

WE ARE. Because unlike most people, we are blessed with the spark of creativity and that, my friends, is what makes us constantly anxious and allows us to be convinced the sky is falling on us and there's nothing we can do. Fortunately, it's really a mind over matter thing. Find your happy place. Or, you can be like me and find God.

This isn't some conversion thing I'm doing because I genuinely want everyone to read and listen because I feel I have a lot to say that can help. When trouble comes and you feel like there's no way out, find your bible, open it to the book of Psalms and read the comforting words and promises that God pours out to all of us (Psalm 23 is eternally comforting and so it Psalm 121). We are His children and it is by His grace that we endure. Don't let your hearts be troubled.

There's so many perscriptions that doctors can give and if you're like me and have seen them all, you're probably tired of them. Why? Because they aren't a permanent solution to the never ending problem.  What is the solution then? God it.

Doctors can treat, but only God can heal. Remember that. Let his peace envelope you and remember that goodness and joy are inevitable for those who put their hope and trust in God. He is the constant source of all joy, love and truth and most of all, HEALTH. God will heal you if you ask. He only asks in return that you come to love Him and put your trust in Him alone. He is the cornerstone on which all things of stone are built.

Do not let anxiety and stress get you down. It's all I'm saying. God is there for you and it is Him that will get you through to the end of all of this. Trust in Him and do not falter. Let Him be your confidence and your guide.

I'm praying for all of you and I hope you're all well. Most of all, I hope you all come to know and love God as I do and may His blessings reside with you all! :)

In Christ,
Jane