Feeling like I cant breath... is this just anxiety?
- Asked
- 14 Dec 2014 by babydoll610
- Updated
- 28 Mar 2018
- Topics
- anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, oxygen, sleep
Details:
For three days now I've been having the feeling I'm not getting enough oxygen ... I wake up with it and go to sleep with it it last all day and has caused me to have more panic attacks
I'm consitrating on my breathing so I know I'm taking in deep breaths not hyperventilating and I'm not weezy so why do I feel this way its scarrying me to death... I also have the feeling I have to constantly swollow ... Does this happen to anyone???
I'm going to say you should see a dr so he can determine if there is something physically wrong, before you just brush it off as being anxiety.
Hello,
Definitely see a doctor to rule out any other medical problems but it sounds like you are having panic attacks. A couple years ago I had a problem very similar to what you are describing. Panic attacks usually only last about 15 minutes but sometimes they can repeat one after the other making them seem like they go on for days. If these are panic attacks you have several different treatment options including drug therapies and psychotherapy. When I was having panic attacks learning self-hypnosis techniques really helped me. I hope this information can benefit you.
Best wishes,
Rose
Sounds worthy of a Dr appt. asap. Could be panic attach, could be far too many things for anything other than a Dr's diagnosis. Do it tomorrow!
Hi, it does sound like anxiety attacks to me. And the swallowing is another symptom. I take antidepressants and i had been trying to reduce some of my medication earlier this year. It was successful for some months, but then i suffered some stressful times and was experiencing very bad anxiety, similar to what you have described. My doctor increased one of my medications again, Citalopram, and within a couple of weeks i felt much better. I would urge you to see your doctor, who could either refer you to a psychiatrist or start you on some medication to see if it helps... i hope you are feeling better soon!
I have Generalized anxiety, and sometimes wake up for no reason feeling like I can't breathe and even with my meds, will last all day till fall asleep and last ALL WEEK!!! Yes, scares me into more anxiety and feeling like I am going to loose it!!! Definetly want to rule out other things which I have done and very very common with anxiety problems.
Hi just joined this site have the exact same thing it driving me crazy the docs are saying I'm anxious but it feels worst it's like a weird feeling up nose as if its dry or something I have to try getting deep breaths hope you get the solution to your problem let us no take care
I feel like I can't breath and my mouth dry and I feel light head I feel real funny
Feels so good to know I'm not the only one. I suffered from feeling like I couldn't breathe for months , it went away, and now it's back again. The last few nights, I will doze off and then wake up feeling like I can't breahte, my mouth is super dry and I freak out. It's been going on for months daily. Some days worse than others.
I sometimes feel the same way when I'm away from home - work. However, when I am with my family, I don't feel any of these symptoms.. Is this anxiety?
I was diagnosed with Anemia 6 mos ago. I had my checkup last August and was advised that my hemoglobin is now stable. But I still get this feeling - am I overthinking?
Your inputs are appreciated. :)
So I know I am a few months late but I have been having this for the first time for 5 days straight now with no relief unless I am sleeping! I seriously cannot cope with this! Has anyone found a fix?
I have read everyone's questions here and I can tell you I have all the same symptoms.
I have worked as a nurse for years in emergency room and operating room then last February out of the blue I couldn't breathe and all the same symptoms everyone has talked about here I got non stop and still have it a year later. Did all the tests and all come back negative. I know it is anxiety and panic attacks but it's so horrid to live each day with this and have to fight your way through each day . Dr gave me oxazepam which I took for a while but the side effects can also trigger more anxiety so they gave me 2mg of diazepam to help me. Nothing really works and I've seen a psychiatrist too who says I'm perfectly fine. It's all so unfair to wake up and live your life like this everyday and all you really want to do is breathe!
I have found that the anxiety made me more aware of every ache and pain where before I had anxiety I didn't notice or bother with them. So I now am trying to not listen to every ache and pain in my body and just push myself through every day. I am just hoping for the day to come where I don't have to fight to breathe and get through each day and be able to enjoy life again like I used to do. Taking medications always causes more anxiety and also makes you dependant on them which I am trying not to be so I only take a tablet when my anxiety is severe otherwise I just keep plodding along this horrible path of anxiety. Hold on people there has to be some light at the end of this tunnel for us soon. I have also taken myself away from situations which make my anxiety even worse and that does help a lot too. But you also need something to concentrate on other than think about it anxiety. I find listening to music and doing some of the things I used to do before helps accept one big thing! I cannot seem to exercise like I used to as I dont like going out of breath that causes my anxiety to kick in. Have hope my fellow sufferers we will find the fix we need at some point I believe, when I dont know but I am a believer nothing can last forever the way it goes. And yes every time I see the doctor for anything now he says " it's your anxiety and it's in your head your not sick" so you become too afraid to go to the doctor and it makes you feel so lonely and unwanted and a burden to family when you have these attacks all the time. Well that's how I feel.
Hi there, I know I'm a little late, but I just came across this forum...
I've been having the same feelings, every day, it never goes away it just kind of gets manageable, but then really really intense ! Started about 3 weeks ago, I felt funny like in a dream state like nothing was real and I felt my heart pulpations, I was dizzy, brain fog, spaced out, my hands and feet went numb and I couldn't feel anything! My breathing got bad I felt like I couldn't take in a full breath! And with every breath the left dude if my upper abdomen hurt right under the heart, Scary!!
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Went to the ER 5 times in the past 2 weeks, been to the dr about 3 tines, they are all saying its anxiety/panic disorder.. I wasn't convinced as o felt there was something more to it I've asked for blood work, ct scan, ecg, everything, it all comes down to anxiety, thing is I don't feel anxious! Dr put me on mirtazapine 35 mg, I couldn't take it it made me feel crazy like haulicinations, and what not, so I stopped.
I'm now on venlafaxine 37.5 mg. only been on it for 2 days so I'm
Not sure if it works.
It's been more than a year since you wrote this let me know if you e found answers, or solutions???
Hope everything's ok !
When I become overwhelmed, I get full blown panic attacks. I start opening Windows, turning on fans, opening doors and shedding any heavy clothing like sweaters. I feel as if stale air has invaded my space and I can't breathe. I try reasoning with myself and trying to tell myself, it's gonna be ok, it's all in my head", but the air gets thinner, my chest gets heavier and I find myself in a tanktop and socks, in the middle of winter, on my porch looking for air. I wish I had a remedy or answer to tell you how to kick it, but I can't. I am left 2 choices, 911 or handle it. Twice I went to the ER, unresponsive, and disoriented, blood pressure-dangerously high. Suffered all my life. No one ever recognized this as, "a real, true to life" disorder. You can't fake technology so when the EKG is saying your heart is beat is too hard, it's because it's real, and the BP cuff says your blood pressure is too high, it's real.
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I don't need validation from anyone to know that I suffer. You are not alone! You are not faking it and you don't need to be on 13 different psychotropic drugs to prove it. Maybe what you need is some understanding, delicate voices, love, patience, attention and you might be able to lessen PA severity. I am here for you. You are a good person capable of functioning. I wish the people I loved would have said this to me. It was easier to leave. It was like erasing me. But I am still here, alone but thriving because I am determined and hopefully one day PA will stop stealing my life!
This is not an anxiety attack.
This is caused by the muscles around your lungs being tense and not relaxing. These muscles are supposed to relax with every exhale. This can be caused by stress, anxiety or something as simple as a slightly stuffed up nose or from suckling in your gut, trying to look thin.
The key to making this sensation, of not getting enough air, to go away is to relax those muscles in your chest every time you exhale. This is easier said than done. Sometimes concentrating on breathing with your diaphragm instead of your chest helps but what I have found works best is breathing through your mouth and concentrating on the exhale, not the inhale. When you exhale relax your chest muscles like your are making a big relaxing sigh. Also relaxing your jaw will help and try not to puff up your chest.
I hope this helps you and anyone else who reads this.
I know this is really late but ive just had a look at this forum sorry. ive been feeling like this for a couple days too, I suffer with anxiety really bad and im on Zoloft and murelax for it but even that doesn't help right now, I constantly feel like I have to take a deep breath, I find it hard to breathe through my mouth so im breathing through my nose all the time and now my nose feels sooo dry and sore.. I had the ambulance come out to me they checked my lungs and said they are perfect and they said my oxygen is good at 98-99.. I totally understand how you feel, and its good knowing all these people are trying to help, all this does really make u think you are alone but your not. I really hope you have found a answer to your problem, I am going to the doctors tomorrow cause im sick of this, I go to sleeo feeling like this and I wake up feeling like this .. :(
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I Just want to say thank you for your input ... I just don't understand how this feeling can last all day and night for three str8 days I even wake up with it
I've been suffering from constant anxiety and panic attacks everyday all day for 3 months each day that goes by it gets worse with newer symptoms
They gave me buspar for the attacks I took it once and had a strange reaction so I didn't take it after but ever since then is when I've been having this feeling of not being able to breath
I just wanted to say I've had a similar problem. I went to the hospital because for 3 days in a row I felt like I couldn't breathe. They did blood work, x ray, EKG the whole work up. Finally said I was having a panic attack. That was in November. It is now January and every day I wake up all day long for two months I feel like I can't breathe. Its very scary. What do u do when u feel like this n it feels so very real but they are telling u its n your head?
Hi merrian,
Panic attacks do feel really intense sometimes. When I was having them I was freaking out because I thought I was developing schizophrenia or had a brain tumor or something. Feeling like you're having a heart attack is also common among those that have panic attacks.
If you want to use drug therapy for treatment I'd definitely recommend seeing a psychiatrist. General physicians can prescribe meds but a specialist will be much more familiar with the disorder and different therapies. Going to psychotherapy and learning breathing techniques can be beneficial as well. It takes some practice for them to work but focusing on taking very deep breaths when you're having a panic attack may help you.
Best wishes,
Rose
Thank you Rose! It makes me feel better to know I'm not all alone in this. After a while u feel like you are the only one in the world that feels this way.
I have similar experiences, but mine's occurs once a month. I fall asleep then wake scared seconds, after i fall asleep, but when i do wake, i feel like im not getting oxygen in my brain body feels heavy and im trying hard to breath oxygen back into my brain
There is nothing without cause. If this is something you haven't experienced before, then check for hidden mold allergens, dust mites and look to environment. I have had work ups and felt horrible being a fit healthy person. They kept telling me it was all in my head and I was so frustrated. That I had anxiety and panic. Not true, I had mold in my blender I was drinking. It make me so sick, and it wasn't in my head. All my workups were normal. Many things can cause shortness of breath. Allergies, hormones, MOLD, keep looking and don't dismiss how you feel. I through my blender out and problem went away for 3 years until now. ITs back out of nowhere. Things that may be able to help manage problem. lorazapam, inhaler, singular, try anti histamines and teas. good luck
Omg! I am going through the same thing ... This has never happen to me... I think all this started since the 9-11 incedent... Everytine I see a plane in the sky that could actually see its windows or tire coming out i get paniky. ..hearing the sound of a plane fly by gives me anxiety or panic attack... its kinda scary cause I never felt like this... my new thing is that only at times I wake up breathing hard cause I think I am not breathing right...
Hi am experencing the same symptoms I feel like it's going to be my last breath I also feel I if am loosing my mind my chest feel like it closing in on me what are the best way to stop that feeling
I had a upper respiratory flu and was not able to breathe because of panic attacks for 4 days went to the hospital and they told me I was having a heart attack. This was diagnosed wrongly. If I was having a heart attack why was I in the waiting room for 2 hours. I told them it was panic attacks because once I relaxed myself and stayed in one position the Panic would subside comma I still had the upper respiratory flu. The doctor argued with me back and forth telling me I am having a heart attack they went in and gave me a angiogram and said that my heart looked wonderful there was no blockage now when I go to the doctors they tell me that I have had a heart attack and I can't get up off my medical records.