You are the first person i've known (and I don't know you) that had this happen to them too! I was so nervous, I went to the emergency room and then my doctor and they found nothing either! I do not know what it is, it did go away for me after a couple of months (after the summer was over)
at the time, I had an insanely stressful job. Maybe that was it. I even had chest x-rays done and everything, and they found nothing.
Spiritually, I think, it is literally like I couldn't breathe because I was being "smothered" by stress. After I left that job I haven't had it since. If it continues after the change of seasons, i'd have it checked out again.

I used to have this problem and it does pop back up now and again but I can usually get over it rather quickly now. I think it is quite common as several people in my cbt group said they had experienced breathing problems caused by their anxiety.

Hi, stress and anxiety absolutely affect your breathing rate, rhythm and depth. An excellent and simple method of relieving and preventing these kinds of problems is through deep breathing exercises. Of course, though, if your job or a bad relationship or similar is the root cause, then you need to address these issues as well.

With deep breathing for relaxation, the emphasis is on a slow, smooth exhalation and a natural pause before the next inhalation.

Exhalation calms / inhalation stimulates.



Try this very effective exercise:

1. Sit or lie down. Place hands on lap or by sides, eyes closed. During the exercise keep the tip of your tongue resting on the roof of your mouth just behind your top teeth.

2. Gently exhale through your mouth to empty your lungs. Inhale slowly and smoothly through your nose for a mental count of 4 seconds or you can count 4 heartbeats. As you inhale gently push out your abdomen - this pushes down your diaphragm and ensures a deep breath.

3. Hold the breath for a mental count of 7. Don't tense up as you hold.

4. Exhale slowly and smoothly through your mouth for a mental count of 8. As you exhale let your abdomen fall back into place.

5. Pause naturally before inhaling again - this may be just 1 second or several. The more you relax, the longer this natural pause will be.

6. Repeat the steps up to 12 or so times, several times a day and whenever you feel anxious or nervous or know you'll be doing something that might make you feel this way. If you have trouble following the 4/7/8 pattern, be patient - you'll get there. If at any stage you feel dizzy or lose your breath, just stop, take some slow, deep breaths and try again or later.

Summary: exhale (mouth) to empty lungs/ inhale (nose) for 4/ hold for 7/ exhale (mouth) for 8/ natural pause / rpt up to 12 times.

There are also many other equally simple and effective exercises including acupressure that you can do for stress and anxiety.

Let me know how you get on with this one.




All the best,

matthew

Sounds like great advice matt!

My doctor told me the same freakin' thing... And I don't feel like it's anxiety... Because I had nothing to be anxious about... And it started up again!! But the "not getting enough oxygen" thing is making me anxious! That's for sure... And it's upsetting... I feel like it's because i'm overweight.... ..Which my doctors keep yelling at me about, too... And it's getting ridiculous because i've all I could.. Nothing works.. Not my fault....