I completley know what everyone is experiencing. About 3 months ago I experienced vertigo. I came home from work, sat down and the room started to spin, I was sweating, I couldn't see and I had to hold onto the wall just to keep my balance to get to the bathroom where I thought I was going to vomit. After that happened, I started to get so anxious about this happening again. What if this happend at work? Or if I was out to dinner? This fear of vertigo was diagnosed as general anxiety disorder and panic disorder. I would get at least one horrible panic attack a week, one of which lasted for 7 hours and landed me in the er because, as we all do, I convinced myself I was dying. I was prescribed celexa, which I only took for a week because it made me feel sick. I then got prescribed prozac. It made me crazy. I had constant horrible anxiety, my heart was constantly beating rapidly, my mind wouldn't stop racing, I was getting panic attacks daily...It was a nightmare. I was missing a lot of work and becoming agoraphobic. I didn't want to leave my house at all, even going on a quick errand by myself sent me into a complete panic. I couldn't even go out on my past birthday, we got to the restaurant and I convinced myself that I was going to faint or vomit and had to go home, and we did. Needless to say, against my doctors will, I weened myself off the prozac. Since then I have gotten vertigo about 3 more times and gotten through it. I just sit down close my eyes, wait a few minutes and it passes. Well now, 3 months later, the only symptom I still have is difficulty breathing, which I am learning to cope with using tai-chi, an ancient technique that greatly improves breathing. The only advice for everyone out there suffering with this is that you have to realize you are fine. These are all "feelings" and you have to learn to leave it at that. You may "feel" like you are going to faint or vomit or have a heart attack but you are not. In all of your lives how many times have you done something like that? Maybe once? So now why all of a sudden would it start to happen every time you are out in public? Distractions are necessary, they are what got me through the toughest of times and attacks! I didn't think I had any stress or anxiety in my life either but my body was telling me otherwise. Slow down, try not to worry so much, and try some yoga and tai-chi. Good luck everyone!

I am the same way!!!
I recently moved to virginia from massachusetts and left my family behind, and every now and then I get really sad, stressed out, and anxious. Every so often, in a really stressful situation, I have a hard time taking a deep breath. I breath fine normaly, but then feel I need to take deep breaths when my body wont let me. Its like my body is saying I already took too many deep breaths and cant anymore, so then I feel the need to yawn in order to catch a deep breath. It only happens in a stressfull situaton most of the time, and when im not thinking about it, I breath absolutly normal. There are no other signs or symptoms besides being a little depressed, and stressed out. I also get really nervous when I think about heath issues, which makes it worse because I get all worked up about it. I see what you all mean!

I know what you are all going through. Though my situation may be worse than some of your own because I have medical issues! Try checking out emdr on the internet (eye movement desensitization reprocessing)... It is like hypnosis but more effective... It focueses on trauma one has experienced and helps put that anxiety at ease! I haven't gone through it myself but I think I will... I just recently picked up a therapist ... On top of my pulmonary specialist, cardio specialist, gi specialist, etc! I have had troubles breathing for almost a year and a half now! Around a year and a half ago I was getting high (which was an everyday thing for me) and for some reason I had what seemed like a heart attack... I couldn't breathe, I was dry heaving, my chest was in serious pain... Well I never recovered from it... Im sure it was just an extreme anxiety attack but I cannot be certain... A week before the event I had passed out at a race track... I didn't smoke weed for a week and then when I did this is what happend! Not only did my breathing get out of wack but my digestive system became extremely affected... I ended up finding out that I have mitral valve prolapse, acid reflux, bile reflux, hiatal hernia, gastritis, colonic inertia, etc! I am still in the process of getting to the bottom of this! I am 23 and it is hard to deal with this... Everytime I try to take a deep breath I cant... I even try to yawn and most of the time I cant get a breath yawning either! I definately wont rule anxiety out... Its almost as if I programmed this breathing flaw into my brain the night I had the attack! Either way I wish everyone luck in here... It is horrible to be held back from oxygen consumption! I know alot of doctors like throwin out anti-depressants like they are candy... I myself haven't tried them! At this point in time im willing to try anything! Best of luck all!

Hey how's everyone doing? It's amazing because i've been sitting here the past week trying to diagnose myself because I find it hard to believe there's nothign wrong. I spent 3 hrs in the emergency only for them to tell me there's nothing wrong with my heart. But that left me to wonder, what about my lungs, or brething tubes. I have been bulimic for 10 years and feel like I might have damaged something. I stopped that for almost a month now, and this started about 2-3 weeks ago. Someone mentioned hormones, and the funny thing is, I havent started my period this month and a pregnancy test came back negative. So could they be related. This really sucks. I hate feeling like this and hate to think ill be living like this forever. I dont even feel like im stressed, nothing any worst then before in my life and it never happened like this. I get that rare occasion of a good breath as well....I have some relief seeing others describing my exact problem.

When ur trying to take deep breaths, does it eventually start to hurt below ur chest, in middle, by your ribs at all? Any other pains anyone gets for trying to breathe too many times at once?

About a year ago when I could not get "deep breaths" I was very anxious about going to bed (thinking I would stop breathing during my sleep). I actually considered calling 911, but made it through the night, and my breaths seemed to come back again when the sun came up. I considered that it might be an allergy to mold, since I have a mulch bed outside my bedroom window and the fan was on, and that mold spores can be destroyed by sunlight.

After a few days I went to my Docter and it seemed like that was a reasonable conclusion, and did not have problems for a while...

I began having trouble getting "deep breaths" again lately and I looked on the Internet and found this sight and it was great.

If I'm busy doing something (even exercize) there's no problem, but if I have time on my hands, I make it worse by thinking about it and dwell on it continuously. I might be a Hypochondriac, but this thing sucks. Anyway, I'm trying "Saint John's Wort" to help with anxiety and it seems to help somewhat. I had used it previously during a bad time in a relationship, so I know it can't hurt, but it's not a Panacea.

Hey all,

I recently went to an allergist for the first time in my life and found out that I am allergic to damn near everything, so maybe a trip to an allergist would be a good start. I am now on immunotherapy and take benadryl as needed (rarely). Anyway, I had a very hard time breathing.

I also know that any little physical problem can start the adrenaline pumping and the "fight or flight" mechanism starts to kick in, so try to relax when you are worried about a physical symptom. I know that indigestion can cause me panic, so now I take some antacids with a large glass of water when I have a stomach ache and 9 times out of ten it does the trick.

Once the adrenaline starts pumping then you risk the possibility of hyperventilation which can be caused by rapid short breaths. The easiest way to fix that is, no lie, with a little brown paper bag. All you do is breath in and out of the little brown paper bag and it increase the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood stream and stops the hyperventilation.

I hope this helps,
OE

I'm 16 and i have the same problem. i cant get my satisfying breath. and when i pay attention to it, it gets much worse. if i try really hard i can get my breath but after a while it gets painful and annoying and it just comes back again. when it started happening i got soo scared. i went to the doctor today, spent 3 hours doing tests and getting x-rays but nothing could be confirmed. the doctor prescribed two inhalers that don't help and referred me to another doctor. its so annoying! but i feel sooo much better now that i know I'm not alone. i was actually worried i had some foreign disease. now im a little less concerned. my chest is really sore from trying so hard. i also noticed some weight loss, appetite loss, sensitivity [ meaning i cry really easy ] and irritability. it sounds so much like anxiety but i have less going on in my life than usual. last year i was had much more going on and i was fine. . . i guess ill just have to wait and see.

Check for allergens in your home or work place. Pets, dust and vegetation could all cause problems with breathing even if your just a tad allergic to them especially pets! Central Air can help quite a bit but not if you have a house full of pets running around. It will only blow the dander around.

My wife has two cats and they have to have their own room that I try to stay away from as much as possible. If they do come out for a while we usually have to caccum everything including any firniture they lay on.

Also you can buy a good heppa type vaccuum and air filter for your home and cover all you bedding with plastic to reduce dust mites.

If that doesn't help it's probably all inside yourhead like everyone's probably been telling you!

I have been with this problem for over 6 years.

It is what it is and it sucks!

Vicks inhaler help me come down from a panic attack related to the lump feeling in my throat. Other then that xanax and when I can't sleep due to this problem AMB10 (ambiem) works wonders. Sleep well and wake up relaxed.

Over the years I have seen this problem growing and with the way things are going in the world today I fear that this problem might become a very common issue for people to deal with.

Also don't think too much about the lump feeling, this would trigger an attack. Idle mind can be bad for you.

Take walks, go fising, biking, boating or anything else that makes you happy and reduces overall stress. Take sometime for you.

Just today I had a panic attack due to this feeling in my throat.


Cheers.

I've suffered with panic attacks for the past 5 years. it's been hell. its started when i was 17 and now i have terrible anxiety. I constantly have been yawning just to get a deep breathe and when i feel like i can't, i hyperventelate and get so scared i want to call 911. I'm so tired of this. I'm a happy person with a career and great family who supports me, but this has been getting in the way of everything including my social life. I don't want to take meds, ive had a bad experience with them. Can anybody throw me some relieve tips? I'm so glad im not alone, i really felt i was

hello all i am new here and i to suffer with these problems . i started having them 2 yrs ago after i had my youngest child. and i have been on meds. i was takeing paxil. i have found out that panic attacks do run in the family. i have 3 children who have them, my father and brother too. but i didnt like takeing meds. so i had to find another way. meds always made me tired and i cant do that with 5 children. heres what i do to control them. and i have showed my children this to and aslo helps them when in school or were ever. i sit and close my eyes. take a deep breath and when breathing out i calmly say relaxxxxxxxxxxx. i do that about 4 times and i start to relax. sounds crazy but sence my brain doesnt seem to know when to do it . i tell it when i do. i have now been off my meds for 1 year. and i feel better i am able to do what needs to be done and go to places i want to go.. still hard sometimes. my children and i have each other to take to but we also have couslers to talk to ..if we see one of us panicing then we help the other out. hope that helps others the way its helped me..

I'm sure a lot of you have heard this before, but if you are suffering from anxiety and you drink coffee (or otherwise ingest caffeine in any other form) do yourself a favor - STOP! Gradually wean yourself off caffeine over a 30 day period and I guarantee you'll feel better.

I have suffered with anxiety (along with many other symptoms) for several years. I recently came across some info on caffeine toxicity (something I had never heard of before) so I decided to give it a try and give up the coffee (I drank 2 large cups a day - 1 before work, 1 after work) Guess what? My anxiety and all the other symptoms are gone.

Yes I have the same problem as you have...I suddenly find myself catching my breath and my chest aches when that happens... My Doctor says that sometimes the oxygen inside my body couldn't circulate will, that is why I suddenly couldn't breath.

So what I do is that, I just rest myself for a while and smell a scent of a Lavender Essential Oil for me to relax.

Hope you find a way to relieve you from that situation when that happens again.

Take care always and God Bless!!!

the way i can describe how i feel is like i am trying so hard to yawn just so that i feel satisfied. it makes my neck feel stiff and my jaw feel as though its locked and my eyes water. sometimes il take a breath and it is such a huge relief when the air goes down properly, then other times il take the same kind of breath but i wont feel satisfied and i know i have to get that breath in at some point to feel relieved again. once i get the satisfying breath in it will be a couple of minutes before i have to go through the same performance all over again, and it makes me feel dizzy and so exhausted, and the worse thing is everyone looks at you and thinks your pulling weird faces and that your always tired and this is very off putting when you are trying to struggle to catch breath. Ive been to the doctors for it and they say anxiety, but im not so sure, I have it now and this is after going in the steam room at the spa last night or I get it if i go swimming, or if im in a place where im nervous, e.g before an interview. unfortunately i dont think there is a cure, just learning to cope with it the best you can. I find going in a room on my own and focusing on trying to get that breath, the brown paper bag option, take lots off small slow shallow breaths for around 1 minute and then trying to get that big breath in at the end seems to help.

I have the problem almost exactly as described by some in this forum. I sometimes spend all day and night trying to catch my breath, many times by yawning. I have always pictured a yardstick in my mind with two thermometor-type gauges on each side. As I take my breath, the gauge goes up one side but does not have the strength to catapult over the yard stick. Only when I have that heavenly deep breath does it finally do so.
It is a very annoying and scary problem that leads me to believe occassionally that I have a heart problem. Many on here believe it is anxiety; that is something I have considered but I don't know what to think. The shortness of breath is occassionally accompanied by back pain and even pain in my arms, especially, my left. It is also easy for me at times to have that numbness and tingling feeling in my legs or hands. This only contributes to my worry that it is a heart or circulation problem.
Like one person on here put if before, I twist and turn to relieve the back pain while taking deep breaths and try to hide the problem even from people I am closest to. I am also a smoker but remember this problem occuring even before I smoked. Has anyone on here received a diagnosis that helped their understanding? Does anybody have all the problems I described? I certailny hope not but I appreciate the help and hope everyone feels better.

I like, suprisingly so many other, too have trouble obtaining a quality deep breath. I yawn intensely to get that final gush of air and now my jaw continuisly aches. I breath in and out with feriocity and feel like I can't get enough oxygen. The more i think about it the worse it gets.
This problem has been growing over the past month. But lately the intensity is increasing.
Called my docter to see if he could see me on monday; there were no openings untill friday, so he called me back. He thought that it might be anxiety. He told me to go to my club and exercise. Breathing difficulties engulfed my existance that night just as they had for days now.
I hope that it is anxiety. My plate is full; live in Manhattan, have a stressful high volume sales position, another year of schooling, 1 Four year old child, and a pregnant wife due with my second child during the begining of August.
So if it is anxiety as my doctor and so many others say: What can be done? Meds, meditation, shrink?????? My doctor seems rather unhelpful and I what this issue to disappear...

I used to get that alot. No not so much. The biggest changes that helped my breathing were yoga breathing exercises and to cut way back on the caffeine and alcohol.

wow, I had no idea so many others were having the same problems. Everytime I went to the emergancy room the doctors looked at me like I was nuts. They diagnosed asthma even though my oxygen was 100%. I started having these issues after my first pregnancy and then when I got pregnant again. They have not gone away. Inhalers do nothing. I'm only better when I'm having my period. I feel like it's hormone related.

I am so relieved to finally have found other people with this issue. I am only twenty years old, and I have the exact same dilemma! Last year I started getting really bad panic attacks for a while. I ended up in the hospital and the doctors said I was fine but that I had anxiety disorder. I had never felt anxious before in my life!!! But anyways, occasionally now I feel like I am not getting a satisfying breath. It has been going on the last few days and I feel like I absolutely have to yawn to get a satisfying one in! I sit there trying so hard, and when I can't yawn I gag and it sucks. I don't know how to fix it but it is annoying and sometimes scary. It causes me to get more anxiety I think! What a cycle.