gasping for breath

[amieb474]

hi does anyone else suddenly gasp for air when trying to fal asleep?maybe its just me but i kept doing it last night and then it sent me into a full on anxiety attack.......plese help(scary stuff)xx

[amieb474]

hi there its not been so bad for the last few nights thank god but im finding it really hard to take my mind off every little twinge/ache that happens to me have tried everything in the past but i dont even dare take calms now incase the side effects kill me or give me palpitations, the doctor just gave me some citalapram(spell check lol) but i dont dare take that either as i am scared of the side effects!!! arhhhh im such a wimp( i was the girl that would take anything years ago including illegal drugs,prob why i have this problem now). i have asked for some cbt help now and would like to know if anyone else has had cbt and was it effective????

[akitagurl12]

this happens to me sometimes and i agree, it is very scary.  It freaks me out so much that it will keep me up all night.  I have recently found that it only  happens if i take an OTC sleep aid or herb of some type before bed.  Are you taking anything to induce sleep at night?  Hang in there, you will get it figured out.

[caregiver222]

Gasping for air when lying down is something that requires an immediate evaluation by a physician. That means immediate evaluation. Not an appointment three weeks from now.  Not self-treatment. It may nor may not be simple anxiety, however there are certain medical problems associated with serious life-threatening consequences. A differential disgnosis by a physician is in order.

[omhome]

hi amie: yes i have experienced what you describe and i believe it to be fairly common----and normal. However-----it can also be symptomatic and require a doctor's attention. I would talk it over with them next visit and if you can see them soon it may ease your worries. There are too many variables involved here like what drugs---herbs---environment---food! yep food----etc. you   consume. And no matter what we do----it is very very scary. I mean---oxygen! Hello! I can't breathe!  Scary! Like water -boarding . It is why they use it for torture. Very primal fear. So the "scary" is normal too if any of this can be called normal. Maybe it is normal in its abnormality?  
     When it happens----do not lay there and gasp and dwell on it. Get up----maybe standing with hands on knees in bent over easier to breathe position. Walk slowly to the bathroom---do whatever--0-go---wash face---something---anything but just laying there thinking about your breath. Really---just do it and break that feedback loop. And you can.
     Again----important----do not just lay there!!  
     Let us know what the doc says about it amie. Good luck    omhome