Anxiety breathing issues

[Chrissyjo]

Does anybody get breathing issues with their anxiety ? What are your symptoms and how do you feel?
I’ve had enough of my issues and too scared to go to the doc. I just need to know how others feel if they suffer the same and how often ?
Thanks
I’ve had anxiety since I was a kid but it was mostly related to throwing up as I have a phobia, so I basically led a normal life unless I felt sick or thought I was going to vomit. I still had HA but not this bad as I was younger. I’ve 53 now and feel like I’m full of diseases. The breathing issue only appeared a few years ago so now I feel like a 24 hour time bomb.
The only relief I get is when I sleep. I wake up and I’ve got about 5 mins of calm time then the breathing issues start

 

[Jonathan123]

Does anybody get breathing issues with their anxiety ? What are your symptoms and how do you feel?
I’ve had enough of my issues and too scared to go to the doc. I just need to know how others feel if they suffer the same and how often ?
Thanks
I’ve had anxiety since I was a kid but it was mostly related to throwing up as I have a phobia, so I basically led a normal life unless I felt sick or thought I was going to vomit. I still had HA but not this bad as I was younger. I’ve 53 now and feel like I’m full of diseases. The breathing issue only appeared a few years ago so now I feel like a 24 hour time bomb.
The only relief I get is when I sleep. I wake up and I’ve got about 5 mins of calm time then the breathing issues start

This is another of those anxiety symptoms that are to be expected. If you look up on that Canadian website 'anxietycentre.com' the 100 symptoms of anxiety you will find breathing problems listed. It is due to the tightening of the chest muscles when under stress. You say that it only happens after you have been awake for some minitues. Surely that must tell you that it is anxiety. Anything else would not go away when you sleep.
If it worries you so much you really should see your GP. I know it takes courage to go there, but think of the reassurance you would get.

 

[Seryn]

I haven't had breathing issues but my son has which started with asthma. Because of past experiences being rushed to hospital under blue lights from asthma attacks he will get panic attacks when he fears one coming. He says the panic attack is ten times worse than an actual asthma attack so people who tell us it's all in our head need to do one! He doesn't realise it but he stops exhaling as he's focusing on how his breath feels coming in. He just gets worse and worse until he's gasping. He barely breaths back out and it causes his chest to cramp and spasm, his hands literally claw up and he gets stabbing pains in his chest, dripping with sweat. It won't go until he starts focusing on breathing out.

If it is an actual problem with his breathing he says he doesn't have the energy to panic and gasp like a panic attack. You go limp more than frantic and it's like breathing through a straw and it's impossible to breath rapidly. Everything feels heavy.

I'm not sure if it will help but if you feel like you're having difficulty breathing really focus on your breaths out, it doesn't have to be calm or controlled id you feel panic but just make sure you're not solely breathing in.

Anxiety does cause me to have laryngeal hypersensitivity which is just a fancy word for my throat muscles tense, it's not a actual illness. Talking a lot, talking louder like in a restaurant with friends or getting out of breath can cause a sensation of shortness of breath, hoarseness, a cough and constantly needing to clear my throat I get it when I'm ill too.

 

[shay1988]

I get breathing issues from anxiety allot! I'll just feel like I'm not getting enough air! Or for the last week I feel this pressure on my throat like someone is choking me! And it can last all day till I go to sleep! It really freaks me out while it's happening. But in reality I Kno it's got to be anxiety! Cause it does come and go. But our minds are in fight or flight so do we believe that it's all in our head at the moment? Nope! We think we are dying. I went to Dr yesterday and told her about this pressure on my throat, she said there's two things I think that is causing it! Your bad anxiety and the mucus in ur throat! I have bad post nasal drip and I have the flu so I have allot of mucus right now. When it gets on our vocal cords they get inflamed and it can feel like your being choked! Every since she told me this I haven't noticed it as much! And when I do it's not as bad! Cause I believe what she told me. We can get threw this but it is going to take time. And if you need to see a Dr to clear your mind then do it! It can help!

 

[peronny676]

The tightness in my chest appears occasionally and prevents me from filling my lungs properly which amplifies all my discomfort. When I concentrate on the problem it brings out even more frustration. Minor relief comes from distractions such as watching media or walking or simply focusing on deep breaths.

 

[Chrissyjo]

Thanks all for your replies. The symptoms sound the same as me. I struggle with it several times a day and I’m fed up. My issue that doesn’t help is I don’t spend enough time talking to people. I work alone and don’t have family nearby. So when I’m anxious or just alone my throat just clamps up and I clench my jaw, then I start the breath oh thing, when I’m talking to people it all relaxes again. It was so bad a couple of years ago I couldn’t even talk to people without struggling. It’s hard to talk when you’re holding your breath! I used to avoid people or walk off mid convo. I’ve had a good couple of days though breathing better. I spend way too much time looking at my phone and I’ve cut back a bit and trying to get back into enjoying my shows on tv. Better days hopefully

 

[restlessduck]

I used to get breathing issues all the time when my anxiety was at its worst. It would feel as if I'm not getting enough air. I even called an ambulance once because "I couldn't breathe" which now sounds absurd as if I couldn't breathe I would have fainted or died. I started hyperventilating which is really tricky because you can't really tell that you're doing it yourself. Well I couldn't tell at the time cause I was in a panicked state. I tried to open up my nose as much as I can to let as much air in but that made it worse cause now I was hyperfocused on breathing. And when I hyperfocus on breathing I tend to think I'm not breathing right but in reality I just don't focus on my breathing in my day-to-day life. Besides that I also had chest tightness and rib pain every now and then. Oh and I was coughing. A lot of dry, barking coughing that my doctor couldn't diagnose. I thought I had a whooping cough except I'm not a child so it would be strange. I had that cough for like 2 years. I noticed that when my anxiety lessened, the cough went away too. I only cough when I'm really anxious nowadays and when I'm trying to sleep (maybe cause I'm anxious about the next day?)

 

[Jonathan123]

Yes arella, but have you ever experienced it? You say 'many others' but have you?
Forgive me if that is so, but your posts are too 'run of the mill' responses. Everyone on this site is fully aware of what you describe and need no reminders.