feelings of breathlesness

[fisher]

hi everyone i suffer from anxiety, mine started 4yrs ago but i have learnt to deal with it now, i do still get anxious moments though but not like it was, i have got a health phobia so it brings it on, since last night i have felt really tense in my stomach and i feel like i cant breath properly, its a really horrible feeling and it is worrying me, does anybody have this problem it would be nice to find out and ease my mind, take care everyone x

[nomorepanic]

Yes very common

Have a read of this ...

Shortness of breath
The sensation:
You feel that your breathing is forced and laboured. You become conscious of how you are breathing and you have a hard time catching your breath. It seems like you have to force yourself to breathe, in fear that if you don't, you'll stop breathing and die. Or, for no apparent reason, you feel out of breath and find yourself doing an unusual amount of yawning in an attempt to catch your breath.
The reason:
When stress biology changes the body, it quickens the breathing and respiration so that the individual is ready for immediate action. Unfortunately, this also means that the breathing becomes shallow in nature (unless we are physically exerting the body such as running, fighting, swimming, etc.) which results in the body not getting enough oxygen. That’s why we feel out of breath. This is a natural occurring biological outcome resulting from stress biology.
Sometimes this symptom will be persistent from day to day, and other times it may appear for awhile, then disappear. Both are common. Once the nervous system calms down, you breathing will return to normal.
Also, because breathing is an automatic bodily function, you’ll never have to worry about not breathing. Your body does it automatically. It may be shallow, but you’ll always get enough oxygen.
Regular exercise helps to maintain regular breathing patterns.
As with all symptoms, when the nervous system gets sufficient rest, this symptom will diminish and eventually subside.


and these posts ...

Breathing technique
How Do You Do The Breathing (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4042)
Breathing.. wow (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4037)
Breathing Techniques (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4044)
CONTROLLED BREATHING (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5041)
Working to get better, have a few Q's to ask... (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5412)
Insatiable Mouth / Chest Breather???? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7113)



Nicola

People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
But people will never forget how you made them feel

[vernon]

Hi Fisher, Yes I always get this it seems to be a very common smptom of anxiety, Take care and try not to worry about it. Vernon

[LadyBug]

This has always been one of my most prevalent symptoms!! I have had anxiety for about 14 years. I've only actually known what it was, after being diagnosed by a doctor, for about 4 years. I have always felt breathless when having anxiety. The longer I don't breathe normally, the tighter my stomach gets. As you relax it gets better and then you'll think backa nd wonder why you were worried.

[Wenjoy]

Me too - Ive just put a post under "panic attacks" in the forum coz Im feeling really breathless and have had this on and off for years as my main symptom of anxiety is my breathlessness - its horrid !! X Wenjoy

[xBettyBoopx]

I was searching for 'laboured breathing' and came across this old post.

Thanks Nic for the information, just reading symptoms and why we get them sometimes helps to reduce the anxiety.