hi, ive been having the same problem since i was 11 and im now 15. nealy every 30-60 seonds i need o take a deep breath or yawn but I can't get it to satisfactory. it is getting very annoying. i do a few sports like soccer, cricket and golf, so i get a fair amount of exercise. help me out.
ps. as i was writing this i had to try and take two breaths, :/
This started for me 3 months ago - came from nowhere. Nearly every comment on this post I could have written myself and I thank you all for sharing. In 5 weeks, I had the chest x-rays, CT scans, 3 different phases of antibiotics, acid reflux medication, and finally Xanax. After negative test results and no progress from the prescriptions, my physician said he truly believes it's stress/anxiety. I can't argue with that now. I am glad I found this thread so I can start to explore some anxiety/stress options instead of chasing the medical/physical solution. This post is also somewhat concerning since a lot of the comments mention they've been dealing with this for many years - certainly not something to look forward to when there doesn't seem to be a solid solution. Some suggest to simply not think about it or to just reduce the stress in your life. I'm not sure how easy that it is for most of us - but I've heard that advice before and just don't understand how anyone makes it sound so simple. This irregular breathing and feeling of not being able to get enough air is compounding the problem - creating stress from something that is fed by stress. I'll keep returning to this post hoping for more suggestions (and posting any that I think might help).
Key phrases I completely identify with from the posts in this thread include:
-"like my lungs are constricted and can't fill to capacity"
-"some days my breathing is better but I know it's still there, other days I'm struggling to take deep breaths to be satisfied"
-"it's really bad when I CAN'T achieve a yawn."
-"when i do yawn it feels like i actually can breathe properly but then then they continue"
-"tight chest, really deep breaths about ever 20 seconds or so, and this got worse and brought high levels of anxiety with it"
-"I have to keep taking deep breaths until I can "breath all the way"."
-"It's worse when I'm aware of it."
If you haven't gone to your physician yet - make an appointment now, print this entire thread out, and take it with you. It was difficult for me to actually explain what I was feeling when I went - this would have really helped me going into it. Thanks again for sharing. Keep posting.
I can only tell you what has worked for me. Unless you have a physical condition, what I've done is just keep breathing. I started telling myself that I'm not going to die--to just keep breathing as normally as you can. I would do this as long as I could until I "needed" to take that deep breath. It works 100% of the time. Don't get me wrong. It was tough at first because your first instinct is to take a deep breath when you feel it coming on. Again, if it's not a physical condition, it's only your brain playing tricks on you. Yes, I believe stress plays a huge factor. When my episode started, I was under a lot of stress from home. Next time you feel an episode coming down, when the urge is there to take a deep breath, don't. Hold out as long as you can and eventually, you'll get that deep breath. You have to tell yourself that you're not going to die and that by continuing to breath in and out, your lungs will get the air it needs. As the brain begins to catch on, the ability to not react when the feeling comes on becomes easier and easier. My problems have not gone away. Matter of fact, I had a bad attack the other day after leaving the gym. It kind of caught me off guard and I had to force myself to just keep breathing, think of something else, sing a song, try to take my mind off of it. And eventually, I caught my breath and the anxiety went away. It's a battle of the brain and I think we are capable of overcoming it. It just takes work.
Give it a try and good luck.
KBB you are right i have the exact same problem as urs, ive googled it alot whenever i get this breathing problem, but most people who reply have seem to have the same problem. i get it between 1-3 times a year, i really struggle with my breathing and have to yawn/force myself to or get in a good position or stretch i dont know why but ye, i re googled this today cause im havin the problem now, and i saw urs witch really matched mine. how do u get rid of it wats the trick i know when i forget about it i brethe probably but when i tend to do nothin i remeber it n it hits agian. so wat is the secret haha, ohh and im 17
Have a look at Hyperventilation Syndrome: psychologically based syndrome, completely related with anxiety etc...
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I'm glad that you wrote this post. I sometimes have the same problems with not being able to yawn properly, or getting to breathe in deeply to that capacity, once I cannot get it out I become restless. Other times My breathing is so shallow to the point where a feather won't move if you put it close. I don't know what the problem is. I'm now in my mid 30's and I have been having similar problems since in my teens. When I explained the situation to anyone, they say I may have Asthma, which is not so. I believe its a bit of anxiety syndrome or something to do with fatigue, or, low blood. It seem to trigger, when the body is stress out somehow whether it has to do with lack of proper sleep, over worked, things that bothers you for a while etc. Taking good blood tonic or iron tablets that improves the blood do helps; Along with plenty of rest. Taking a boat trip is a good way of helping to relax the mind. I was feeling unwell for the past few days but after taking blood tablets that I bought from the drug store today, I am feeling better.
I just want to tell of my trick since I have the same symptoms. I have no trouble inhaling/exhaling air, but it feels like my lungs won't absorb the oxygen and so I have to breath harder and harder to try and force it until I finally yawn. And when these episodes creep up and last for days, I actually become exhausted from constant forced yawning, which may or may not achieve the breath I'm hoping for. Its so frustrating and tiring. I know what you mean about stretching and twisting to get the right breath. I just discovered a position that has helped me achieve this breath every time. Standing, knees bent slightly, I place my hands on my knees and fold my torso over, so my glance is down at my toes and my chest is parallel to the floor. This has helped almost every time within a couple of breaths. I've also learned this condition, besides anxiety, could be caused by a hiatal hernia, when your stomach is pressed against your diaphragm. A kinesiologist or chiropractor may be able to physically pull your stomach down into place. Of course, this fix is temporary too. There are also specific yoga poses advised to avoid if you feel you have a hiatal hernia because they put pressure on the abdomen and may aggravate the condition. Google "yoga poses for hiatal hernia" and you'll find them. Hope this helps.
I'm having the same problem at the moment, although i do smoke, it only started last week on the same day builders started working on my house, i'm normally a late riser so my sleep has been thrown off as i'm getting up earlier than i normally would, i was worried sick but reading these comments kinda makes me feel that it is stress/ anxiety.
That is EXACTLY what I am going through currently. Mind you i just noticed it the last couple months, and it is much worse this last two weeks. I went to the Dr. He didn't run any tests at all, just listened with a stethoscope and asked what I thought it was. Well it could be a ton of things, so he upset me by that question. So he has referred me to a heart specialist and I guess we wait to see what is going on there. I still really wish the dr. would have put in more effort in helping me as I have never experienced this before and it is a bit scary....
I am just glad i am not alone
dude i hav the exact same problem and im FOURTEEN!!!!!my body just forces me to try and breath but it doesnt!
Hey all. Im looking this up because my 8 year old son is having this. I had forgotten that I suffered with the same thing as a preteen/teen, but I must have outgrown it because I haven't thought about it for years. Reading these posts also has reminded me that i have never been able to donate blood due to hypoglycemia/low hemoglobin/low iron. Could be related...? Also have two other children that see an endocrinologist (type 1 diabetes and Turner's syndrome) which may be totally irrelevant but maybe not. At least now when I take jr to the pediatrician I can relay some of your stories to him too.
Im in love and i got this..YOU f*****g GENIUS
I too have trouble breathing deeply on a daily basis.Having done quite a bit of research, there seems to be some evidence that caffeine is the cause... worth investigating for some people