Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Breathing anxiety

If someone can help me out with my problem I'd REALLY appreciate it. Here it goes: For the past week I have had some kind of difficulty breathing. Instead of me breathing subconsciously, I am doing it manually all the time, and it feels really bad. I know its mental because when I occupy my mind doing something it goes away and I breath, without me knowing it. But when I am not doing anything it seems that I am just concentrated on my breathing, and cant think of anything else. I pass the whole day like this, and unless I am doing something, I am going thru a living HELL. I really hope that someone can help me out,because I just dont know what else to do
33 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Well I went to a general doctor, and he told me that nothing was wrong with me. He told me that my heart, and health are perfectly fine. He sent me some anxiety pill called clorazepam(2 a day) which has calmed me down, but I still manually breath. I wish that it was something that would be ocassional (every once in a while) but its not. Its something that haunts me day and night. Sometimes I just want to take sleeping pills and just fall asleep. I am currently seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist, and hope that they will help me get my life back. All the money in the world cannot buy what I want. And thats to stop thinking about my breathing, and just lay in bed and relax watching a movie. I really pray to God that something will happen to me, and that this will just be erased from my mind because it sometimes makes me scream and it gets me angry. I am 21, and I am not only suffering from this, but I am also suffering from shizoaffective disorder. But lately I have been more concerned with my breathing, than with the voices. If I had a choice between the two I'd pick the voices. My mom tells me to just not think about it. Yeah its really easy for her to say that because she is not experiencing what I am. She thinks that whats wrong with me is something minor, but in my world its a living hell. I was wondering, how do you cope with this? and is it all day long for you? or does it happen periodically?
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Well, 2 weeks ago I went to a hypnotist and he programmed this into my mind: 1.each time i breath i breath better 2. im going to feel better etc.. I really dont know anymore if my breathing anxiety is an actualy problem, or its mental. But i will say that it is a living hell. Its like I cant breath naturally, Im focused on my breathing, its like i do it manually, and now my stomach bounces like if its gasping for air. If somebody can please give me some advice on what I should do I'd really appreciate it.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Okay everyone who has a "panic disorder". I have gone through some of the same things you have.  My salvation was my medical doctor, but my real salvation was being put on Paxil.  Paxil is a medication that has several uses such as anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive/compulsive disorder.  I have been on many types of medications for my anxiety, including Xanax which I only take once a day if necessary.  Paxil has made me a different person. I had all the signs and symptoms also, such as heart pounding, dizziness, nausea, feeling like I was going to have a heart attack.  Since being on Paxil for several years, I am symptom free of those awful feelings. I feel better, I am no longer afraid. I was afraid to death to even drive on a freeway, now I am not, I drive everywhere. I am 51 years old, got separated after 30 years, packed all my belongings and headed to Colorado to start a new life where my sister and her family lived.  For me those things were like HUGE!!! So, if your interested in learning more about Paxil, ask your doctor. I don't see a psychiatrist at all. I just see my medical doctor.

Search the internet and read up on Paxil. It has changed me so much.
Good Luck!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Check out Paxil.  It is a great medication for anxiety disorder, or check the internet and read about it there, or better yet ask your physician.  He will be able to help you. I had panic attacks for eight months before anyone would help. I knew I had it. I told the doctor I had it and read every book I could find on the subject.  If you want to know more about panic disorder and have questions about Paxil, let me know. I will be glad to help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Okay everyone who has a "panic disorder". I have gone through some of the same things you have.  My salvation was my medical doctor, but my real salvation was being put on Paxil.  Paxil is a medication that has several uses such as anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive/compulsive disorder.  I have been on many types of medications for my anxiety, including Xanax which I only take once a day if necessary.  Paxil has made me a different person. I had all the signs and symptoms also, such as heart pounding, dizziness, nausea, feeling like I was going to have a heart attack.  Since being on Paxil for several years, I am symptom free of those awful feelings. I feel better, I am no longer afraid. I was afraid to death to even drive on a freeway, now I am not, I drive everywhere. I am 51 years old, got separated after 30 years, packed all my belongings and headed to Colorado to start a new life where my sister and her family lived.  For me those things were like HUGE!!! So, if your interested in learning more about Paxil, ask your doctor. I don't see a psychiatrist at all. I just see my medical doctor.

Search the internet and read up on Paxil. It has changed me so much.
Good Luck!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
KA
actually i am the one that suggested that you call Dr. Bourne, and I am a female...I know that if you leave him a message he will call you back, even though he said he is not taking any new patients at this time....he will actually do exercises with you over the phone... But i understand that you want to see someone in person...I hope you find a good doctor in your area...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well I didnt try the paxil, because I thought he was just f*%$ng with me so I didnt take it serious. Hes such an a** that I told him I was going to change psychiatrists that day. And im supposed to take the clonazepam 4 times a day. And he gave me 28 pills, which is a weeks dose. Thank God that the other bottle has one refill, because my next appointment is not until Dec 26. So he gave me a weeks dose, and he KNOWS that I go there every 2 weeks. And hes always talking about admitting myself, this and that. You see Im 21, and I go to college, and I have my problems, but I try to cope with them regardless of how bad they are. I think he gave me a weeks dose either to a)have me admit myself b)**** me off. Because for a couple of days I was taking it in the morning, and at night, but I feel a little better when I take it 4 times a day. It seems I gotta be doing something, like playing playstation, taking a walk, or just basicly talking to somebody, etc. The point is its a mental thing, when my mind is not occupied on something, I am focused on it, but when I'm doing something it just blanks out. I just hope that they send me the right medication. Something that will make it go away more often, because when I am not doing something, Im basicly coping with it, its torture actually. Its human torture, I really hate, I though my schizophrenic disorder was bad, but this, this is just a nightmare, actually both are pretty bad, I just wish I'd get amnesia, and they can both disapper and go to hell. Oh and to the guy that recommened the guy that does therapy over the phone, I called, and a machine answered, it said, that hes not taking any patients at this time. But I really need somebody thats in my area. I was seeing a therapist, which was for like 8 weeks, its now over. She told me she was going to teach me relaxation techniques, breathing techniques, etc. She was nice and stuff, but all I would do with her is talk! It was nice to have somebody to talk to, but thats all she did have a friendly conversation with me. Now I have no therapist, and she was referring me to group therapy (which I tried once, and I didn't like it) I prefer having a one on one session with somebody thats actually going to help me out with this obession or anxiety, or whatever it is. Its been going on since Sept. 10 I think, and since that days its been hell.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
KA
Hi Lori- I have had this problem also...I always thought i was the only one with it until i got on the internet....I believe it is a form of OCD...I have mentioned it to my doc before and he has heard of it, I have also read about it in an Ocd book....it is awlful... you are not alone.....my problem comes and gos
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
KA
Your right that doc is a complete ***!!! you need to see a diffrent doc, but you also need to see a therapist!!!! Call Dr. Bourne, he does consuling over the phone...I am sure he will work with you on the costs...I'm not a doctor, but i cannot beleive that they don't think you have OCD and,thinking about something over and over again, like brathing is classic of OCD... Any therapist will tell you that...Both my doc's have heard of it...(the breathing Problem)...I take 40mg of Prozac a day...I cannot beleive they have you on Clonapin...That is so addictive!!! Honey, You need to see a diffrent doc!!!! My breathing can be awlful sometimes...I feel like I have to take the perfect breath....and if it doesn't feel good then i have to keep taking deep breaths until it does.... I get dizzy and lightheaded, I also get heart palp's, and i am always fearing that i will have a heart attack....even though i am very healthy!!! but i have realized is that this breathing thing cannot kill you, It is just the OCD...I have had this for years...On and off...I used to do it so bad my chest and muscles would be sore in the chest area.....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
CCB
Hleon, Im sorry to hear that this hasnt resolved yet, im lucky that i only have manual breathing when im really anxious and exercize helps probly because mine is temporary so did you try the paxil that he gave you?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well I have been taking clonazepam 1mg 4 times a day and now its really not doing anything. I was just wondering how did it start for you? I have even gone to a hypnotist, and I felt 'ok' for like 2 weeks but then I went to a general medicine doctor and he told me there is nothing wrong with my heart, that its an anxiety problem and he prescribed clonazepam .5mg in the morning and at night. It worked for a while, but now im taking 1 mg 4 times a day, and I feel the same. And you are right it is a living hell, so if anybody has any comments, or would have some advice for me please answer this back or just write to my email ***@**** thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.  You are having the same problem that I am.  Constant shortness of breath and then you feel like your manually breathing.  It is hell and it is messing up my life.  I was taking xanax for a bit which seemed to help for a bit, but now not at all.  Mine is constant as well, if I'm lucky I can ignore it for an hour or two.

On a daily basis I wonder if I need to run to a doctor becuase I feel like I am suffocating and am conscious of every breath I take!

I see a Doctor on Wednesday-we'll see how it goes but it sound like there are now quick fixes!

Lori
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well that would be a problem because I live in Miami. First of all my breathing problem doesnt come and go, its just there, so I just try to cope with it. Yesterday I had an appointment with my psychiatrist, I told him about the medication and how it was having effect. Originally I went to a general medicine doctor because I thought this problem was my heart or something, and he sent me clonazepam(klonopin) he sent it to me, not my psychiatrist. I took .5mg in the morning, and .5mg at night. It worked alright for a while, my breathing problem would fade away at times BUT, from one day to another the fading away stopped. I went to my psychiatrist told him what happened and he sent the clonazepam 4 times a day (0.5mg), it didnt do s*%t. It helped me a little bit, but I upped the dosage to 1mg, which helped me cope a 'little' bit better. I also suffer from a schizophrenic disorder,but anyway. Yesterday I went to my doctor, told him what I did, and he told me he was going to keep on sending me the same medication. I asked him well cant you up the mg? And he said 1mg is the max dosage, which is a lie because I read that theres upto 2mg. I told him about what I read on the internet, about other suggested medication, such as paxil, etc. And you know what he did? He said 'you want paxil, here you go, heres paxil, he gave me a sample'. But he didnt do this in a nice way, its like he was mocking me or something. So I just let him know how I really felt inside, I told him that ever since I started treating myself with him I've felt like a guinea pig, I told him its because of one of the medications that this idea got implanted into my head, I also told him that its not convenient for you to cure me or any of your patients, because then you'd have know patients. I let him know how I felt. You know what the ******* wanted to do? Admit me. I've never liked this psychiatrist since the beginning I started to treat myself with him, I felt hes an a**hole, and he always gots an attitude. So I am just going to change psychiatrists. But what pissed me off is that he wanted to admit me, because I let him know what was on my mind, how I felt about him, and what I felt he has been doing. I hope to God that my next psychiatrist will be sincere, and will actually want to help. Wanna know something its just a relief that I got this doctor off my chest, because I feel that if I would have kept on going to him, I was just going to get worse. He knew about this anxiety problem for months, and all he would do is send me lorazepam 2mg before going to sleep, which lasts 4hrs... And it wouldnt do nothing, what good is that going to do me, if I am going to spend the rest of the day focusing on my breathing? How come he never mentioned any other medications (that I know they are out there) to cure this, or atleast have it fade away? Why? He didnt want to cure me, so he wouldnt lose a patient.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
KA
i would really suggest that you contact Dr. Bourne....He is a very caring person and very easy to talk to... My breathing anxiety comes and gos but when i have it , it can last for days...I think you need to see another doc...you might try Luvox or Prozac..I really think you have OCD.Are there any other problems you experience??? Where are you from????
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
KA
when i was reading this ..i totally thought that i was talking about the breathing problem myself.... I have have this problem on and off for a while now... It is a form of OCD(obsessive complu. disorder) You might want to try either Prozac or Luvox, and a therapist that specializes in OCD...I am 31 and have had the breathing problem...your right it is a living HELL!!!!!I get very weak and dizzy from it...IT SUCKS....The way you described it , is totally the same way I would describe it...It is trying to breathe manually...you cannot just breathe without thinking about it. YOu are actually trying to control it....I am in therapy right now with Dr. Ed Bourne... his number is 1-808-334-1847. He lives in Hawaii and is a very good doc...He does therapy over the phone... Do you also have dizzy spells from the controling breathin thing, and pains in your chest area from it???  Where are you from???
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You know I have been waiting for something to answer my message again. And you are right it IS A LIVING HELL. The medication i am currently taking clonazepam helped at first, it would kinda have me thinking other things without thinking about my breathing, but now it just doesnt do anything. I was taking .5mg in the morning and .5mg at night. But now it seems that it doesnt do anything. My psychiatrist told me now to take it 4 times a day 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm.. I tried that, and its just the same, so I upped it to 1mg and am taking it 4 times a day(not like he told me to take it) and it has helped a 'little' bit but not much. This just started one night. Its incredible how the subconscious can play games on you. I read this book on the powers of the subconscoius mind (which was a big mistake), and now Im paying my dues. Its true what they say, what you dont know, cant hurt you. I really dont know what to do about it anymore, but I am gonna try contacting that doctor. How did this start for you, I'm curious. Im 21, and I hope this goes away someday. When I am doing something my mind wanders off and Im thinking other things, and Im not thinking about my breathing, but when Im sitting down... Thats when it happens. The clonazepam has helped a little, but I just with that it would go away. If I had a choice between contracting amnesia to forget about the breathing, and winning the lottery, which one do you think I'd pick? contracting amnesia for the breathing, thats how bad it is. Somebody without this problem would obviously pick the lottery, but they dont know what its like to live like this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Could you try paxil? It seems to have halped me with my breathing- diagnosed as anxiety
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If somebody can help me out.. I was taking clonazepam 0.5mg for this 'manual breathing' thing. It sometimes distracted me into thinking other things and I wouldnt be so much focused on my breathing as I was before taking it. But theres a problem, ever since Thursday its like I am not getting distracted anymore. I had a refill, and I said to myself 'maybe I need a higher dosage'. So now I am taking 2 0.5mg instead of 1, so that it will equal to 1mg. Does anybody think that it will start having the same effect? I just truly wish to God that there was some kind of medication out there that would have me distracted all the time, thinking other things, instead of breathing this way. It seems that when I'm doing something my mind goes blank and I forget about 'this breathing problem'. With the clonazepam I would watch a movie and sometimes I would focus on my breathing, and sometimes I would not, but now its like its not doing anything, just keeping me calm?! Someone please help me out.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have heard that Valium is pretty strong. And that it makes you VERY sleepy. I have been taking Clonazepam 0.5 mg for about 2 weeks now and it has helped a little bit with the breathing anxiety. Sometimes I think about it, sometimes I dont. I mainly dont think about it when I am doing something I enjoy. Its very difficult for one to understand this breathing problem, if they are not experiencing it. Its like sometimes I feel that I do it manually, instead of it being a nonthough process. I dont know how it started, I just woke up one night feeling like this. And it has gone on since Sept. 10.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
follow what your breathing wants to do.Hyperventilate if your body is trying to do it. Anxiety is about fighting something. Dont fight it.  trust your body. Dont listen to fears -yours and other peoples. Theres nothing wrong with you. Your body is sending you a signal. Follow it. Changing breath is an important healer, -like laughing and crying are healing breath changes, so is gasping and hyperventilating.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm not sure if the valium has made me forget the breathing or if it's a team effort between changing my thinking...focusing on something else and taking valium.
All I know is that it has been the "kindest" med i've taken. I don't feel so depressed on it. It kind of just evens me out. Sometimes I get nervous about thinking about going off of it because it is addictive BUT my doc says I may never need to go off. The effect of valium is not something that changes over time apparently according to her.
There are GOOD doc's out there. You need to find one. It seems like once you get caught in the system it's like a spiderweb. You have to take control of your situation and start making choices that feel good to you even if that deters from what someone else may think. You know your body better than anyone out there and if something isn't working than find another solution. It took me a while to do this...I'm on the road though.
But sometimes my problems seem minor to those I have read in this site. I try to remember that too.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My doctor is just like that. He always has an attitude, and always wants me to admit myself. He actually tells me: "I dont know how you are attending school". Instead of him encouraging me to attend school and try to do something with my life he tells me negative stuff like that.Psychiatrists dont want their patients to get better, because its one less patient they have. Hes been talking to me about changing psychiatrists (for a second opinion) and I think thats what I am going to do because he always has an attitude, and it seems that he just doesnt care.But if he were going thru some of the stuff his patients go thru he wouldn't be so cool and calm. He actually has a tick in his eye! So he probally has more problems than me, but he should leave his problems at home, not take them to work. I am going to try and talk to him about prescribing valium, but I doubt he will, because I've gone to his office a nervous wreck, and he just sends me the same pills. Its like he was saying here take these, now go away and dont bother me no more.I got one question, does the valium make you forget about the breathing to a point that you're just thinking other things rather than the breathing?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well yes I am also seeing a psychotherapist, and all she does is ask me questions, and I answer. I have started to see her about 2 weeks ago, and when I go there it feels go to just let go some of my emotions. She has told me to try and occupy my time doing something. She told me she was going to teach me some distraction techniques, so that when the breathing problem starts I can think about something else. (If only it were that easy) I asked her yesterday about valium, and she told me that valium is very strong and psychiatrists dont often prescribe it because its very addictive and makes you dopey. Hey I was just wondering how do you take valium? 2 times a day? before going to sleep? The psychotherapist that I am seeing seems real nice. But my psychiatrist in my opinion is just a plain a**hole. I told him that the lorazepam wasnt doing nothing for me. He just prescribed it again. He tells me to take it before going to sleep, and that the effects last 4 hrs!? What am I supposed to do with that?? I told him that the geodone(which is for the voices) really accelerates my heart, and he just prescribed more milligrams. Its like he wasnt even listening to me. He was talking to me about changing psychiatrists, and I think thats what I am going to do, because he always has an attitude, and I just dont like him for some reason. The general medicine doctor that did a checkup on me and sent me clorazepam has done more for me, than the psychiatrist has done for me in the last couple of months. The general medicine doctor sent me clorazepam, and it has helped a little with the breathing, although I think about it sometimes.(mainly when I am just laying around, doing nothing)So hey I was wondering about the valium, do you feel that it has really helped you out? And how often do you take it? In the morning, and before going to sleep?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im glad your seeing someone!!!!
I think she can help you w/ the distraction techniques...it's hard to master but does work.
She's right...valium is not prescribed very much anymore because it is a longer acting drug and MAY be more addictive.
But see according to my therapist its really no worse because w/ the shorter working drugs like Lorazepam every time it starts to leave your system after 4 hours you go through withdrawels. With Valium it stays in my system until next dose and I don't deal w/ withdrawels on a daily basis. I take 5mg. 3 x a day. AM, mid day and evening. I really don't need it to sleep. I actually use more of a natural sleeping thing...right before bed I take 500mg of calcium and 500 mg. of magnesium. It relaxes and helps sleep to be more restful...maybe that's an idea.
At first the valium made me sleepy but that happens w/ all until your system gets used to it. It has made me more normal than any other anti-anxiety drug out there and it's been around for a very long time. I think the others made me more anxious and depressed. Valium stays in the system longer than Lorazepam.
Sometimes I think Pschiatrist are jerks. It's all about the medication w/ them. Mine can be like that too. I only see him when I ned med refill. I think they see more serious people than us and think we aren;t worth their time! Poop on them! Our lives are just as valuable! I am also into a lot of alternative therapy...yoga, natural remedies, massage therapy, chiropractic thereapy. Some people can not break out of the box especially some docs...a lot of it is about money and it pisses them off when you try to find something on your own that may not be synthetic made.
Talk you later!
Helpful - 0
2

You are reading content posted in the Depression/Mental Health Forum

Popular Resources
15 signs that it’s more than just the blues
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Simple, drug-free tips to banish the blues.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
For many, mental health care is prohibitively expensive. Dr. Rebecca Resnik provides a guide on how to find free or reduced-fee treatment in your area