anxiety and shortness of breath

[LORIANDTOM]

Hi.  I am constantly having the feeling of shortness of breath or not getting good air.  This is a constant. I am now totally aware of each and every breath I take! I also seem to fatigue easily and cannot sleep through the night without waking up a few times.

Heart problems can be ruled out because for several months I have been having thousands of pvc's which were diagnosed as benign after a holter monitor and echo stress test.  The pvc's have pretty much subsided but not the shortness of breath.  I have had a pulmonary function test and x-ray which came out ok.

I feel as if I am falling apart.  I know the docs think this has a mental component because they suggested trying zoloft which I did try for about a week but it seemed to aggravate the palps.

This is totally hindering my everyday functioning and I don't know whether I should push to see if it has a physical component or seek counseling and medication.

Please help!

Lori

[Vigot]

I was recently diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive disorder and have discovered some very interesting things during therapy... I black out occasionally, and often experience shortness of breath. Yes it is terrifying to start with, when I feel myself slipping away, but it is as if my mind is trying to get to a safe place. Now I try to work out what triggered such a massive response. Like what I was experiencing just before the episode. Especially visual and auditory stimuli. Mainly because there is no regularity or pattern that I can find and it is generally when i am in a social situation (very disconcerting). A big thing I have recognised is that everything originates in the brain... It's telling my body what to do. Mental health is sorely neglected and very underated. Another interseting thing is the concept of the HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). I get very disorientated by bright lights, noise and often can't even tolerate soft music. I'm trying to figure out what is making me react so strongly. It is scary, but well worth it. I would  appreciate any input anyone else has on this subject as I need to find ways to cope now, as an adult.

[Vigot]

I was recently diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive disorder and have discovered some very interesting things during therapy... I black out occasionally, and often experience shortness of breath. Yes it is terrifying to start with, when I feel myself slipping away, but it is as if my mind is trying to get to a safe place. Now I try to work out what triggered such a massive response. Like what I was experiencing just before the episode. Especially visual and auditory stimuli. Mainly because there is no regularity or pattern that I can find and it is generally when i am in a social situation (very disconcerting). A big thing I have recognised is that everything originates in the brain... It's telling my body what to do. Mental health is sorely neglected and very underated. Another interseting thing is the concept of the HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). I get very disorientated by bright lights, noise and often can't even tolerate soft music. I'm trying to figure out what is making me react so strongly. It is scary, but well worth it. I would  appreciate any input anyone else has on this subject as I need to find ways to cope now, as an adult.

[KA]

i have the same problem....I take 40 mg of Prozac daily...I have the breathing problem on and off...But when i do have it , it is awlful!!!!

[auntiefreeze]

the same problem occurred with me in Aug. I was already on 75 mg of Effexor Xr and 25 mg lamictal. I thought I was having heart problems, so unbenownst to my Dr's I stopped all med's. Real dumb.

I still am trying to find the right cocktail, nothing is working, and to top it off, it triggered such a bi polar reaction(didn't even know I was BP)I haven't come out of it yet. It sounds like you are having some major anxiety. I am still experiencing what you are. Sometimes I can't even drive. I have been out of work for one month now, and since it is a federal job, they will not even pay for disability. I would say that a mental condition is a disability,right???

Good Luck.

[dgull]

meditate. consentrateon breath and give yourself permisssion to breath as you will while focusing attention on slowing and steadying. Go here    http://www.altavista.com/r?ck_sm=6de8318f&ref=20080&uid=31cb9587290fe0b&r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.learningmeditation.com%2F       and here    http://www.observingyourmind.com/      and here     http://www.observingyourmind.com/

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It sounds like you have done a good job investigating the physical, I would try the mental. It sounds like a special kind of anxiety, starting with pvc's that make you more aware of what is usually a quiet organ, getting frightened, and then becoming too conscious of your breathing and what should be automatic organ functioning.  Try a counselor, and ask for some short term use of an antianxiety drug like klonopin.