Chest tightness, difficulty breathing...

[Dean]

Iv had breathing difficulties for months, i can't sleep with them. I though i had to lung problems or something... yesterday i had my first major panic attack...my hole body went tingly, i couldnt breath and my joints and hands spasmed together and locked up. It was while im was in the van on way back from work... i didnt know what was happening so i got the guy i work with to call an ambulence.. thats when i found out im suffering from anxiety.. im going to book a docters appointment ASAP. Is their anyway to prevent my breathing difficulties.. i get it alot at work and its worse at night...now im thinking about it and looking at this site im shivering and find it hard to breath and i have stomach aches.... its affecting my work.. i cant sleep.. is their any part time solutions to this? any suggestions would be gladly appreciated... im only 17.. and am on an apprenticeship.. i dont want to lose it by not been able to stay awake at work or unable to perform well... thank you

[honeybee3939]

Hi Dean

Check these posts out hun theres some useful information that will help.

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=coping
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)

Love
:hugs:
Andrea
xxxxx

[Dave777]

Hello Dean, my Partner has tightness across the chest causing breathing difficulties.
This was found to be Asthma.

Dave

[Wenjoy]

Hi Dean

I have EXACTLY the same problem. My firrst panic attack my hands locked and I nearly fellover - I saw my Dr who said its called a Tetonic contractionand its because when we panic we overbreathe which means that our balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide is wrong and it alters our chemistry so to help - cup your hands over your nose andmouth and breath in and out of your hands a few times (or use a paper bag) and that puts the balance of carbon dioxide back into the lungs and the symptoms gradually subside although you will feel tired and shakey for a while. I now do this everywhere if I hypperventilate (panic breath). I suffer on and off with this breathing problem AND I have asthma as well which doesnt help!

Feel free to e mail me if you need any more advice
Wenjoy

[neptuno]

Hello Dean !
You are going through a very stressful time at the moment which has resulted in blaster of a panic attack. Your breathing difficulties are because your muscles are tense, and that makes us feel like we can't get a good deep breath. When you go to bed each night try to realx your body - start at the top of your head and think about relaxing your scalp, eyebrows, eyes, mough, chin, neck, throat, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, fingers, chest, back, tummy, hips, thighs, legs, calfs, ankles, feet and toes - as you concentrate on each part say to yourself "calm and relaxed, safe and secure". Keep practising this, it will help you to get some good quality sleep and help bring down your anxiety levels.
Be kind to yourself

[Aimee19]

Hi Dean,

I am exactly the same my shortness of breath is one of the symptoms of panic attacks I get most. from morning to night I don't have asthma and have been checked out for everything at the doctors. I just try to take my mind off how short of breath I am and then take a nice deep breath. This usually helps me and helps me to relax more about it.

[beadbabe]

Yes, it's pretty common. I get it from time to time and it is disconcerting.
But basically please don't worry about it - your body is not going to stop breathing that is not possible. Your body will always keep breathing regardless of what you do - that is why you breathe in your sleep because you don't need to think about it!

I did some Buteyko sessions with a breathing physiotherapist last summer and now when I have these problems I revert to the techniques I learnt then and they do help to regulate and remind me what correct breathing is like.

do a google on buteyko for a practitioner near you - it was originally developed for asthma sufferers but it helps all sorts of problems.