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panic attacks..trouble breathing

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Posted 4/30/2007 12:49 AM (GMT 0)

hi my name is Dawn im kinda new here, Ive been having problems lately my panic attacks have gotton so bad due to stress that i cannot go one day without haveing one, I have trouble breathing everyday all day long, i need some help, please any ideas on how to relax....or breath better, thanks for listening.

Dawn confused

Posted 4/30/2007 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
i know, i heard about the breathibg techniques. you know breath from your stomach. take hot baths, chamomile teas. if you dont try to relax then you are not going to be able to breath
Posted 4/30/2007 12:15 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Dawn, Welcome to Healing Well we are so happy you found us here and hope you find this site informative and supportive for you :-) .

I too have had a difficult time trying to get the breathing thing under control with my anxiety and panic attacks.  My counselor has said just like vdaloka76 here mentioned that learning how to breath from your stomach and not your chest is big help with this.  If you have ever watched a baby breath then you will see that their stomach rises and falls, not their chest.  So, somewhere along the line as we grow into adults we adjust to breathing from the chest and end up taking in less oxygen.  When you go into an A/P attack your O2 level is even more restricted as your heart is racing and your gasping for air, it is so difficult to concentrate on breathing at these times I know.

I have a few links on breathing techniques that I have practiced on and will post to you below.  It isnt something that will help over night...at least it didnt for me but, if you keep at it you should be able to start to control some this I hope. 

Also, exercise is wonderful for helping with anxiety I have found...whatever you can do and I listen to a lot of meditation music when I start to feel an anxiety attack coming on (I have my iPod loaded down with it) it has really helped calm my mind and nerves quite a bit.  Just to add a few to what vdaloka listed for you.  Take care and keep posting to let us know how your doing.

http://www.chinese-holistic-health-exercises.com/anxiety-breathing-techniques.html

http://panicdisorder.about.com/cs/shbreathing/ht/breatheproperly.htm

Posted 4/30/2007 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,
My name is Meaghan and im new here to healing well. Heres my situation. I have had p/a attacks for about 3 years now. But for the past week I have developed some new symtoms. I have this feeling like something is constantly stuck in my throat so I feel scared that I am just going to stop breathing and I am constantly thinking about it. I also feel like I am dizzy often. Almost like I have something in the back of my head and I am off balance. I went to my doctor last week and he is going to do an MRI just to make sure everything is okay. I was prescribed Xannax but I am one of those people who is afraid to take medicine so I know it is there if I need it , but yet I am afraid to take it. And to top it off I am a nurse so I think well it could be this or that. So I know I make it worse than it is and I think everything is wrong with me. Any advice to get these things off my mind?
Thanks!
Posted 4/30/2007 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
I brought up the Thread that Victoria had posted on Relaxation and Breathing techniques
Please have a look at them........... some very very good techniques in there

Welcome to HW I am glad you have found us here
I too am a nurse but retired and I have found that I sometimes am over analytical with my illnesses but ya just cant help it lol .......

M.T.

I really suggesst that you read thru many of the old posts and I am sure you will find them helpful .......
Also look for existing threads on subject I believe there is one about the feeling you are talking about

Health Anxiety is SO commom amongst A/P er's so know you are not alone .......It is not HYPOCHONDRIA.....there is a difference ........IMHO

Stay with us both of you and you will come to find this is a great place for support and empathy
Posted 5/1/2007 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Meahgan,
Health anxiety has been a huge challenge for me as well. The best thing I've found for it is to have full, regular checkups - annually at least. Of course you being a nurse, you know the value of exams.
A lot of us know EXACTLY what you're experiecing relative to the fear of taking the Xanax. But the Xanax can help you do what your mind can't - break out of the vicious anxiety cycle.
It's time for some trust - take the Xanax whether you want to or not. It's not poison - and it's not like Cocaine where you can be addicted after one dose. You may also find that one tablet won't be enough, depending on your level of arousal. You may panic if it doesn't alter your mood after taking one tablet thinking that "Gosh, if this stuff doesn't work, it's hopeless, I must really be going insane!". You learn after awhile how to regulate your dosage.
When I sense that I'm going into anxiety mode, I'll take one. If I still sense something is out of kilter after an hour, or begin having full blown panic, I'll take one or even two more. Ask your doctor exactly how many you can take. For awhile you may need it everyday, but as things come together, you'll probably taper off.
I promise you that the fear you have of the medication is evidence that you could benefit from it. Your doc prescribed the med. Take it so that you can make good decisions about treatment options (including the use of meds)!
JD
Posted 5/1/2007 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Great input JD

God Bless
Posted 5/1/2007 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
well thanks everyone for your time, I just went to the doctors and he put me on kolapin(cant spell here) 2mg twice a day and prozac, 40 mg twice a day hopefully this helps I will keep you all updated, again thanks so much for you time, I think this is great that everyone can come on here and talk about things like this, it helps, its a great site, thanks all
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