constant shortness of breath/frequent yawning/constant clearing of throat-gerd

Hi,im a 22 year old male and i've been dealing with this constant shortness of breath for over 6-7 years now..I see so . It just started outta the blue I went to take a deep breath and i couldnt get that last bit of hair to satisfy the breath and this whole vicious cycle started. After that for about 2 years i was constantly taking deep breaths and not able to get a satisfied breath. I WAS CONSTANTLY YAWNING>SIGNING AND TAKIN UNSATISFIED DEEP BREATH ALL DAY LONG. I had reached the point when i was staying home in my bed just hoping i would die so it would stop.  After 2 years or so it seemed to just go away. It then came back right after i smoked a cigarette . Ever since then its been an ongoing struggle. I feel as if i have no control of my life, and im constantly thinking of my breathing. I feel hopeless and feel as if no one understands what im going through or that i have this disease that doctors cant detect. My doctor has put me on xanax for anxiety and it seemed to cut the edge off a lil but its still there. Its not as bad as when i first got it but it still disrupts my life and im at a stand still. I .I've gone to cardiologist, ent's, gi's, pulmonary doctors. I've gone through xrays, PFT, EKG, stress tests, endoscopy . Only thing i have is GERD/LPR with sinsation of lump in throat and a very small irregular heart beat. I also am constantly clearing my throat.I heard that can be because of the Gerd/LPR. I just took a new PFT test and my breathing is normal. i did have a deviated septum but got that fixed..My lung specialist says its just all in my head and that i have this because ive become aware of my breathing pattern. i've used advair, singular and breathing pumps for asthma with no results. when im sitting or laying down its seems to be fine but when i stand up or move it kicks in more. I'm losing hope on what's going on with me. ive heard it can either be chronic hyperventilation syndrom (syndrome) or vocal cord dysfuction? please help

[National Jewish Health]

What you describe does strongly suggest a functional disorder of breathing rather than a lung disease characterized by physical or pathological abnormalities of your lungs.  What you have experienced is not uncommon and almost always associated with anxiety at times not obvious to the person who has it or those who observe him.  This is also not uncommon in an individual prone to be obsessive in general, including about presumed physical health problems.  Two factors in support of this conclusion would be the fact that there is no evidence of progression of any abnormality of lung disease or lung function, over a period of nearly 7 years and no discovery of disease by any doctor, even after sustained observation and voluminous testing.

I have 3 suggestions:  1) that you join a health club and, with the assistance of a personal trainer at the outset, develop an exercise program including both aerobic and muscle strengthening activities, for at least an hour at a time, no less than 3 to 5 times weekly; 2) that you work either with your doctor or with a behavioral health doctor to:  a) deal with any emotional issues that may be contributing to your anxiety; and b) find a dose or combination of anxiety-reducing medicines with which you are more comfortable; and 3) engage in at least one outdoor activity be it walking, running, hiking, tennis or other sport and participate in any of these activities, with other people.

Good luck.