Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum as a member, but have been reading for quite some time. I've had a problem for a while now with shortness of breath and overbreathing, leading to hyperventilation. It's been one of my more prominent symptoms of anxiety as of recently. A month and a half ago I went to the ER for hyperventilation, after trying to nervously climb several flights of stairs- only to be told it was in my head, my lungs were clear, and that I was developing some new phobias. Since then my chest muscles have been very sensitive. If I over breathe for a while, the next day I'm sore. I went to my doctor who said I was straining my muscles to breathe. More recently I had an over breathing bout which made me cough furiously and bruise my ribs. I'm in constant pain with this and was told that the cure was to "stop thinking about it and take some ibuprofen." Problem is now when I even go up one small step I breathe heavily, or if I walk a few steps the same thing happens. If it's not in my head at that exact moment, I'm fine, but once it is I'm gasping for air. Has anyone ever experienced these problems? I have a prescription for Xanax, but I've never taken it as I am more inclined to homeopathic and holistic remedies. Meditation and yoga helped greatly, but once I missed a day or two I was back on the suffocation wagon. Help!!!!!!!