Convinced I can't breathe right and/or dying

janemariesayed · Apr 26, 2018

fullofanxiety said:
my first year of college is coming to an end, and I am convinced my life is too. I used to never have so much anxiety about things before, even in the beginning of the school year and I'm not quite sure what has changed. I feel so anxious all the time to the point it has affected my breathing. I can't breathe correctly or stop focusing on it. I have to constantly take deep breathes which then starts to hurt my chest and make me feel light headed. It truly sucks so much and leads me to believe I have other underlying health issues. My left arm has been having a weird pain in the bicep that I have no clue what it is from. Of course I am just assuming I have some strange heart problem too along with my lung issue. It is very draining to have to worry about my health all the time, and not only to me. I feel as if I am constantly burdening my friends with my issues and worries that may not even exists. Someone help me please I feel so hopeless and scared

Oh you poor thing feeling like this. Yes, anxiety is very tiring but it seems that if you sort out your breathing you may feel a little better. Try each day doing breathing exercises as a kind of meditation. Yes, focus on your breathing for like a quarter hour each day. Breath in for the count of four, hold it in for the count of four and let it out slowly. It will calm you down and help your breathing for the rest of the day. If you feel you are burdening your friends, then don't tell them anything unless they ask you.

Kelculator · Apr 27, 2018

I'm right here with you. As I'm typing this I cannot breathe well too, but don't worry, I'm quite sure it is anxiety. I'm sorry you feel so stressed and scared. You can always talk to us if you feel like your friends won't understand or they lack patience. But don't be ashamed, anxiety does makes you paranoid and worried all the time, and we are always here to help.

janemariesayed · Apr 27, 2018

fullofanxiety said:
its really comforting seeing these replies. I was looking up some ways to cope a little, and this came about and I think its such a wonderful idea. especially hearing from people experiencing similar feelings. I'm for sure going to give the breathing exercises a try. It is very draining and also scary worrying about your health all the time. hopefully I can catch a break.

The sad thing with anxiety is that it doesn't seem to stop. One day may be okay but the next we can be panicking all over the place. Yes, breathing exercises do help but they don't actually stop the anxiety. Doing them can calm you down immensely. I take a deep breath and do these exercises whenever I feel an attack coming on and it helps.

TonyD · Apr 28, 2018

fullofanxiety said:
its really comforting seeing these replies. I was looking up some ways to cope a little, and this came about and I think its such a wonderful idea. especially hearing from people experiencing similar feelings. I'm for sure going to give the breathing exercises a try. It is very draining and also scary worrying about your health all the time. hopefully I can catch a break.

Dude, I feel exactly the same that you feel, btw sorry for my poor english I speak spanish, anyways, I am feeling exactly the same as you feel, specially when I am going outside and I am walking (normally after eating) is very difficult to walk and breath at the same time, I am also young 26 years old, and I dont have any health problem, actually doctors are already tired of me checking all the time, I dont know if you feel the same when you are walking ouside? while walking lack of breath and you have to take deep breath all the time, also is happening to me when I am completly quite. well anyways man, everything is gonna be fine, I have many time dealing with anxiety and this is just by seasons, there will be seasons where you will feel totally better, my advise is put your mind on something, work on a project or whatever, it helps a lot!

janemariesayed · Apr 28, 2018

TonyD said:
Dude, I feel exactly the same that you feel, btw sorry for my poor english I speak spanish, anyways, I am feeling exactly the same as you feel, specially when I am going outside and I am walking (normally after eating) is very difficult to walk and breath at the same time, I am also young 26 years old, and I dont have any health problem, actually doctors are already tired of me checking all the time, I dont know if you feel the same when you are walking ouside? while walking lack of breath and you have to take deep breath all the time, also is happening to me when I am completly quite. well anyways man, everything is gonna be fine, I have many time dealing with anxiety and this is just by seasons, there will be seasons where you will feel totally better, my advise is put your mind on something, work on a project or whatever, it helps a lot!

It sounds like you have a bit of agoraphobia Tony. Because you are having anxiety when you are out.

Kelculator · May 5, 2018

janemariesayed said:
The sad thing with anxiety is that it doesn't seem to stop. One day may be okay but the next we can be panicking all over the place. Yes, breathing exercises do help but they don't actually stop the anxiety. Doing them can calm you down immensely. I take a deep breath and do these exercises whenever I feel an attack coming on and it helps.

Yeah, I kind of treat it as a part of me now. I'm not like giving in, but instead embracing a trait or a part of myself. I've been like this since childhood so might as well learn to cope with it and treature it when anxiety makes me safer as I analyze everything, welp.

Kelculator · May 5, 2018

fullofanxiety said:
its really comforting seeing these replies. I was looking up some ways to cope a little, and this came about and I think its such a wonderful idea. especially hearing from people experiencing similar feelings. I'm for sure going to give the breathing exercises a try. It is very draining and also scary worrying about your health all the time. hopefully I can catch a break.

You can do it. The longer you deal with health anxiety, the easier it is to tackle. It may really take a while, cause a lot of stress and effort, but it will be okay. Talk to us anytime.

Marebear913 · May 7, 2018

I have the same thing going on with me. I always have a hard time breathing and always feel a constant lump in my throat or it feels like my throat is closing up and sometimes that makes it hard to eat. It is so exhausting and feels like I am going to die. But I know that it is my anxiety and we all just have to find something that will help us and in time we will. We just gotta have faith about it.

Kelculator · May 10, 2018

Marebear913 said:
I have the same thing going on with me. I always have a hard time breathing and always feel a constant lump in my throat or it feels like my throat is closing up and sometimes that makes it hard to eat. It is so exhausting and feels like I am going to die. But I know that it is my anxiety and we all just have to find something that will help us and in time we will. We just gotta have faith about it.

That's really amazing if you to be able to tell yourself it is just anxiety. And indeed it is. The more you focus on your swallowing and throat the worse it gets, and once it even got painful for me to swallow food down my oesophagus. Don't worry, and instead focus on your mental health more because being tense and stressed out fuels anxiety and cause us to be even more aware of our bodies and their conditions.

janemariesayed · May 10, 2018

[YayQUOTE="Kelculator, post: 23614, member: 1353"]Yeah, I kind of treat it as a part of me now. I'm not like giving in, but instead embracing a trait or a part of myself. I've been like this since childhood so might as well learn to cope with it and treature it when anxiety makes me safer as I analyze everything, welp.[/QUOTE]
Yay, I sometimes swear at my flashbacks. Then I say 'okay go on then, get it over with' take the deep breath and it starts to cease. It does zap my energy though and makes me feel tired.

Kelculator · May 10, 2018

janemariesayed said:
[YayQUOTE="Kelculator, post: 23614, member: 1353"]Yeah, I kind of treat it as a part of me now. I'm not like giving in, but instead embracing a trait or a part of myself. I've been like this since childhood so might as well learn to cope with it and treature it when anxiety makes me safer as I analyze everything, welp.

Yay, I sometimes swear at my flashbacks. Then I say 'okay go on then, get it over with' take the deep breath and it starts to cease. It does zap my energy though and makes me feel tired.[/QUOTE]
Oh, I'm sorry it's a thing you encounter. But at least it helps you cope, right?

janemariesayed · May 14, 2018

Kelculator said:
Yay, I sometimes swear at my flashbacks. Then I say 'okay go on then, get it over with' take the deep breath and it starts to cease. It does zap my energy though and makes me feel tired.

Oh, I'm sorry it's a thing you encounter. But at least it helps you cope, right?[/QUOTE]
Yeah, kind of. Sometimes, like this morning for example, I think to myself that it is like having my own 'on the edge of the seat' movie. All for free too! So I don't have to pay for the cinema at all if I don't want to. I have my own private showing right here in my head! LOL. I really think it helps all kinds of anxiety to accept it and be light hearted with it. For sure, the symptoms don't stop, but it makes them easier to live with. Even the lady in the shoe shop who asked my size and I got thrown back in a flashback. I just laughed and told her sorry I'm having a flashback. The look on her face was puzzled and she obviously thought I was crazy but her lack of understanding (which is ignorance - unintended) just made me laugh.

Kelculator · May 16, 2018

janemariesayed said:
Oh, I'm sorry it's a thing you encounter. But at least it helps you cope, right?

Yeah, kind of. Sometimes, like this morning for example, I think to myself that it is like having my own 'on the edge of the seat' movie. All for free too! So I don't have to pay for the cinema at all if I don't want to. I have my own private showing right here in my head! LOL. I really think it helps all kinds of anxiety to accept it and be light hearted with it. For sure, the symptoms don't stop, but it makes them easier to live with. Even the lady in the shoe shop who asked my size and I got thrown back in a flashback. I just laughed and told her sorry I'm having a flashback. The look on her face was puzzled and she obviously thought I was crazy but her lack of understanding (which is ignorance - unintended) just made me laugh.[/QUOTE]
Heh, I agree humor is good in these situations. I hope it gets even better for you!

janemariesayed · May 17, 2018

Kelculator said:
Yeah, kind of. Sometimes, like this morning for example, I think to myself that it is like having my own 'on the edge of the seat' movie. All for free too! So I don't have to pay for the cinema at all if I don't want to. I have my own private showing right here in my head! LOL. I really think it helps all kinds of anxiety to accept it and be light hearted with it. For sure, the symptoms don't stop, but it makes them easier to live with. Even the lady in the shoe shop who asked my size and I got thrown back in a flashback. I just laughed and told her sorry I'm having a flashback. The look on her face was puzzled and she obviously thought I was crazy but her lack of understanding (which is ignorance - unintended) just made me laugh.

Heh, I agree humor is good in these situations. I hope it gets even better for you![/QUOTE]
Haha, I hope they stop and I can throw my humour in another direction.

alwaysworried · May 23, 2018

I get the same symptoms! (and I also just finished my first year of college). A lot of times after a panic attack I become really conscious of my breathing, like I have to think about taking a breath and exhaling and it's horrible. I also sometimes get weird twinges in my left arm and I freak out.. but then I also get them in my right arm which also concerns me but makes me feel better because I know it's not just a left arm issue. It's funny...you know it's all anxiety but can't seem to force your mind to believe it. I like to try and get cuddled up with a good book or listen to calming music when it all becomes too much for me...with a book I find (if I can calm down enough to read it) I can leave my own life behind for a minute and escape into someone else's. Hang in there, we're all here for you!

ruby · Jun 3, 2018

fullofanxiety said:
my first year of college is coming to an end, and I am convinced my life is too. I used to never have so much anxiety about things before, even in the beginning of the school year and I'm not quite sure what has changed. I feel so anxious all the time to the point it has affected my breathing. I can't breathe correctly or stop focusing on it. I have to constantly take deep breathes which then starts to hurt my chest and make me feel light headed. It truly sucks so much and leads me to believe I have other underlying health issues. My left arm has been having a weird pain in the bicep that I have no clue what it is from. Of course I am just assuming I have some strange heart problem too along with my lung issue. It is very draining to have to worry about my health all the time, and not only to me. I feel as if I am constantly burdening my friends with my issues and worries that may not even exists. Someone help me please I feel so hopeless and scared

don't worry, you're fine. I've had this in the past and I thought I had some sort of problem so I went to the doctors and they checked me over and said I was fine and all it was was anxiety, I had a lump in my throat too and I thought my throat was closing up,it wasn't tho. try to install headspace and other apps, they're good. try to tell yourself you're fine and that this is a highly common anxiety symptom, I hope you feel better soon

Convinced I can't breathe right and/or dying

fullofanxiety

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TonyD

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