Has anyone with anxiety had this happen?

Question:

I have had anxiety disorder and panic attacks for about six years now, and I have had it under control for the most part until recently. I have been experiencing these episodes of shortness of breath that only last for about a second. It feels like something has scared you and you gasp, or you have had your breath knocked out of you by a fall or punch. The first time I remember it happening I was standing outside doing nothing and then I just got this need to gasp for one breath of air. After that my breathing returned to normal. It happens about once a week now, but I have noticed that I start to panic after it happens. I asked my Dr. about it, and he just told me he thought it was the anxiety. I never really remember this being part of my panic attacks. I always remember being short of breath during the panic attacks, but this lasted at the very least a couple of minutes. I was just wondering of any of you with anxiety disorder or panic attacks have ever had this happen.

Answers:
Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. Shortness of breath is a very common sympton with panic attacks - it seems to come on suddenly, but is mostly caused by not breathing properly day to day. The following steps will eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) your panic attacks:

1.Breathe properly - if you control your breathing, you control panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better.

2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy! CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks, OCD and anxiety etc. It takes a bit of work, but it is super effective. (After 15 years of panic attacks, mine stopped completely). You can speak to your doctor about taking a course or you can take a course for free online at: www.livinglifetothefull.com

3. Try relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really help if you practise often enough. You can get free downloads online, e.g. http://www.studentservices.utas.edu.au/c...

With each step practise makes perfect. (i.e. practise the steps every day, not just when you are feeling bad). I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck!

Sounds like they are panic attacks as oppose to generalized anxiety. The best thing to do may be to speak to the doctor about a medication like zoloft, prozac, paxil, effexor xr, or cymbalta. They are approved for use in anxiety and panic attacks.

That happened to my daughter - she started having a panic attack and felt like she couldn't breathe. I took her to the emergency room and they gave her a small paper bag and told her to breathe in and out. It worked.

When she panicked she started breathing very shallow breaths. I don't remember why - but the paper bag turned out to be the right remedy.

Feel better. Take care.

Sounds close to hyperventilating.
Actually it has to do a lot with cholesterol. The inside Cholesterol. Even if you would be a vegetarian you need to watch cholesterol. There are foods & herbs to start breaking it down. But do get checked for low blood sugar also, these are symtems of that too. Drug stores have herbs or over counter pills to start getting blood stream back to shape.

They used to happen to me. I took Zoloft for a year or so and they stopped. They haven't started back up, but they are not something you can ignore.

They sound like your having panic attacks. I used to have the same experience then have the attack following. I'm now on Zoloft for the attacks and other disorders. The drug seems to be working out fine for me. the attacks are few in numbers and not so dramatic. Talk to your doctor about your options because that's no way of living.

. :)

I used to have very debilitating anxiety attacks to the point where I thought I was dying. Try getting on some type of anxiety medication like zoloft. It's really relieved my panic/anxiety attacks. If I feel myself start to panic I tell myself to breath in and out real slow and I tell myself everything is ok.

Has anyone with anxiety had this happen?

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