Hard to Breathe???

Yes! It is so mental!! It happened one night I was home alone I kept hearing noises! I was scared. Next morning, woke up had basketball practice and I couldn't breathe I felt lightheaded! Then I got home and I couldnt breathe still well then I went to the doc. And I thought it was a peanut allergy then it went away a few days later and then like 2 weeks ago it came up again adn then I just ignored it and it went away, its totally all mental so just dont think about it it will go away! :d

I get the same thing. I have taken ativan in the past. Maybe my physician will prescribe it to me again. I found taking benadryl will help me if I have problems with sleep.

Hello fellow gaspers,

i too have this damned feeling!! Let me begin by saying it is the worst thing that has happened to me health related. When I eat it feels as if I am smothering myself. I am 24 years old, very fit and cannot complete my usual work out on the treadmill at the gym becasue I have to stop and yawn or do something to get my deep breath. Back to the food issue. Whenever I go out to eat, I can't finish my meal because there it goes again! I've read all these testimonies and I still want to keep the faith that there is a cure. God! Oh yeah, I too feel that this has come about from stress. I majored in accounting in college(stress), just had a little girl(stress), and am dealing with this issue(extra stress!!!) I usually don't drink but I took a shot of vodka and it calmed me down and I don't think about having to breath deep. If there are better alternatives please reply to me and may god bless all of us and relieve us from this stress!!!

I'm getting so tired of being caught in mid-yawn, mouth wide open, chest inflated, waiting for that split second when my body decides if it will let me jerk that last bit of air into my lungs and relieve this indescribable feeling of deprivation!!!

I am relieved to read some of these posts -- i've had this breathing thing for at least fifteen years, through various stages of fitness (working out three times a day to ~once a week if i'm lucky) and hormones (pill, no pill, menopause), and haven't been able to put a finger on any one cause. For a while I thought it was a wheat allergy, because deep-dish pizza would put me over the edge, and then sugar, or lack of sleep...My doctor keeps telling me it's a "classic" anxiety symptom, but somehow I think that if i'm sitting on a beach in bermuda in my most relaxed state I shouldn't be gasping for air!

It has gotten worse over the past couple of weeks (which is why I went googling and found you guys - I feel so lame when I complain to my doctor and she gives me that look and tells me the same thing year after year, I might as well go do my own research), and when it's at its peak, i'm so exhausted and unfocused it's making me goofy. I've read it can be related to sleep apnea...Has anybody worn a breathing monitor to track their symptoms?

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea...And I was wondering the same thing, if it is linked. I did a home sleep study and was prescribed a cpap machine....Problem is, everynight when it is time to go to bed, this is when i'm at my worst (with this problem) and I get so stuffed up that I can't breathe thru my nose, thus, I can't wear my machine! Fun fun fun....I'm still searching for the answers, but think that this could be an element of the problem.....

I have this problem too. I mainly notice it when I go to sleep, but its like I have to concentrate on my breathing.. Like I am paying attention and taking deep breaths every once in a while instead of just being able to sleep without worrying about it.

There's another thread on this topic here:
http://ehealthforu m.Com/health/topic2753.Html

there's a non-drug treatment for hyperventilation syndrome and panic/anxiety called co2 biofeedback. It's based on the theory that people with anxiety/stress chronically overbreathe and have chronically low levels of co2 in their blood, which can cause the symptoms that everyone here is describing (can't get a full satisfying breath, etc). The biofeedback therapy includes training sessions where you view your co2 level on a monitor and slow your breathing to increase the level - repeated a couple times a day for several weeks.

Some researchers at stanford did a study that showed co2 biofeedback significantly reduces panic attacks. Others have researched it for hyperventilation syndrome specifically with good results. I've been having this same problem for four weeks, a feeling that I can't take a full satisfying breath, sometimes with it spiraling into breathing difficulty and panic. I haven't yet tried the co2 biofeedback therapy but I plan to. I also think more traditional anti-anxiety approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (to learn to view the sensation as annoying but not scary) and psychotherapy (to resolve any underlying, unresolved issues) would be helpful too

-stanford study
-hyperventilation syndrome
-symptom questionnaire
breathing chemistry
capnobreath training

in the meantime, some things that have helped me:
-distractions (anything besides sitting and focusing on my breathing)
-exercise

Curious: does sleep "fix" this for anyone here? Do you wake up and feel fine, then the problem comes on during the day? For me, it's present all the time, including right when I wake up.

Hello everyone. This too happens to me. If I try to breathe slowly n deeply than maybe in about 2 minutes ill be able to have that one big breathe fill up my lungs. Otherwise it feels like there is jus a huge clog in my airway n air is going in but not going all the way down. I notice that it only happens when im on the verge of having a panic attack. Not a full blown attack but as if one is coming on.

I am so relieved to know that others out there have the exact same breathing problems as I do. Until now, I thought I was absolutely nuts for yawning and struggling to breathe so much. I'm not on any meds right now. I've tried several, but for me the side effects of the meds are as bad as the anxiety itself - a tradeoff I guess.

When I wake up in the morning I feel fine. But as the day progresses, the shortness of breath seems to get worse. I'm not worried or anxious about anything that I know of. I love my job and the people I work with. I have an awesome husband and family life. I just feel like i'm suffocating all of the time. I think that in itself causes the anxiety. It's been bothering me again for the past 2 weeks. It usually disappears after a few weeks and doesn't bother me for months at a time then suddenly reappears. It feels as if my lungs are filled with cotton and I can never get a deep breath, except by yawning. Any support is appreciated. This is my first visit to these boards. I will bookmark them.

I wrote about this before but nobody really answered me.

I know how all of u feel. My friend died suddenly last october and ever since ive been thinking I was gonna die too. Then about 2 months ago I had a panic attack, I was watching something on tv and it just triggered thoughts in my head and then the attack. Ever since ive been feeling this feeling that I cant get a good breath. Some days I dont feel it others I feel it all day and sometimes only sometimes during the day. I went to doctors, did blood tests, wore a heart monitor and everything came back fine. The doc told me to see a therapist and I have been. Im working on ways to control my stress. To control my anxiety.


There are ways to control your anxiety and stress without taking meds, I never took meds and im gonna try to take over this without them. I might not be the strongest person in the world physically but ive got a big heart and I know all of u do too.

I suggest mantaining a schedule for urself, getting to sleep on time getting a good nights rest, eating good, and most of all having fun. We live such boring busy work filled lives, make sure u have fun. Also stay active, go on walks, move around, if u like sports play em. The more u move around the more ull see that u are fit and all this is in ur head. And finally the most important I beleive is meditation. Since this all happened I have been going to a buddhist temple once a week and meditating. It helps alot but it takes time. U can do this at home. Get comfortable sit up straight and relax. Breath in and out and focus only on ur breathing if any other thoughts come into ur head shut them out. You will train yourself to eventually control ur thoughts instead of having ur thoughts control u.


Im sorry if this was long and alot to read but I just want to help u all, im battling with this too, it may sound like nothing to some ppl but its really hard. Just know that it is all up to u and u can do it.


All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become." - buddha

Hello everybody!

Im a 16 year old high school girl, currently on summer vacation. Almost a week ago I was hanging out with a friend when I started minding my breathing, somehow it felt strained. I couldnt let go of my thoughts regarding this and I slowly built up panic senasations.

I have fel this before, most notably in november 2005, and then again in februari 2006. After the last "episode" I had been totally symptomefree for a very long time. Right now its at its worst. Is it good for me to relate to the previous attacks, where they have eased over a few weeks or should I not think about it? Is this problem something that has to have its way with you over some weeks or could you stop it on your own right away. I also feel that it gets worse during the daytime (at least right now) and easier at night, I can sleep with just half a pill of diazepam (it calms my thoughts..Cause last time sleep was the most disrupted issue last time I had the problem)

what is your best piece of advice right now. Everything you say is comfort that makes me keep my will to live...I swear that. Earlier today I thought about turning to drugs or drinking and going for a swim...It sounds crazy but my anxiety reaches the darkest places in my mind where I never think I will be ok again...

Well I really only need to hear one thing in order to calm myself. Since it has passed the last times, it has to pass this time too, right??? Thats all I need to hear and tell myself....Im praying for you all so much...Im so glad not to be alone, even right now when im in tears here...

Grungeprincess: hang in there, girl! You can do it! I know it's hard but try not to think about your breathing so much. I've found that the more I think about or pay attention to my breathing, the harder it is to breathe. Also, if I keep myself busy, especially with things I enjoy, it helps take my mind off of it. Believe me - I know how hard it is. I've battled this for years. It comes and goes. We're pulling for you!

It really is all about keeping ur mind busy and having a good mindset and trust me I know how hard that sounds. Figure out what things u like to do and doi them, make sure these are healthy things, not drugs and alcohol, but something u like and itll keep ur mind off it. Just know that nothing is wrong physically its something in our heads. I really suggest meditation for everyone dealing wit this, I remember times when I was having a horrible day and after I meditated I felt alot better.

I hope u guys find ways of dealing with this, I think, if possible, its best to conquer it urself without meds.

Hey you guys...Thanks for answering me!!

Such a comfort...Right now its so hard....But I have to keep my mind on how I once felt just like this and how it eased and went away.

I have noticed that I actually feel better with it at night?? How come?? Last times the nights were the worse. It took 1,5-2 weeks in order for me to "forget" about my problem last time, when I went to a party. Thats when I knew that I could happen to forget it!! The joy....

But really, what is this problem?? How can the body produce this sensation that causes such panic??

Regarding meds, I take diazepam, only at night to ensure sleep. And last times I have tried going down in dose from 5mg, to 2,5 to half o that. Worked fine.

Another "issue" is that its been so long since I last had this problem, that its harder to handle cause my body memorizes the panic I felt and I get sensations of that rather than just knowing what it is ect...

How long do your troubles last?? For a few weeks like mine has in the past? Longer or shorter? How long have you suffered?? What has doctors told you??

Love/sam

Sometimes it lasts for a few weeks at a time. Other times it has gone on for a year or so. For the past few years, it seems to only last for few weeks since i'm learning how to handle it a little better. I just have to try not to think about it. I don't want to try any more long term meds. The side effects are as bad as the symptoms, to me. I don't know what makes our bodies go into this mode. I'm not worried or stressed about anything right now and my anxiety symptoms have been bothering me for the last 2 weeks. Mine doesn't seem to bother me as much in the morning as it does at the end of the day. But once I lay down at night, I don't have any trouble falling asleep. I guess i'm just so exhausted from fighting it all day. The doctors just confirm that it's anxiety and want to start the meds again. With the meds, it's just trial and error as to which one will work for any one person. Everyone tolerates them differently. Like I said, I couldn't stand the side effects of any of them so I finally gave up.

Is it normal if it takes a week or more to be able to "forget" it at times?? Somehow I just cant do it right away...I know that I shouldnt worry...And not think about how long it has gone on...Just try to "accept it" and not see it as a problem, then it will go away. Anyways it has in the past seem to have passed on by itself, should I see this a a comfort??

I try to stay positive and not cry too much, is is so that when you dont see it as a problem anymore its just not??

I really think u just need to forget about it, I mean I know its easier said than done, I have a lot of trouble forgetting about it too. U gotta get out there and do fun things, go to parties go with ur friends, dont turn to drugs or alcohol though cause the results will always be the same, bad.

Another thing dont ask so many questions about it, understand its in ur head and when u feel it think this is not my health this is my head and its not harming me. Because in reality this problem isnt a physical thing for the most part its in our heads and its annoying. Im sure by ur username u know of kurt cobain. He had an undiagnosed stomach problem. Im not saying what it was or anything but I think he was suffering from anixety and depression and it went to his stomach. Ppl put there anxieties on themselves in a physical form. We know the outcome of his life. Dont let it control u, u are the only thing that holds u back in anyway. U are the master of ur mind control it. Like I say a million times try meditation, it might take some practice but ull relax and itll help u deal for sure.


Get out there and do fun constructive things!


Hope u feel better, I know its hard.