Shortness Of Breath!

Hi FL, this is a really common complaint with anxiety suffers...yes I have had this struggle, and yes, the more you focus on it the worse it can get.

If you practice daily breathing exercises it will help you when this symptom occurs. There are some good ones in our Anxiety Resource Guide. I have a favorite one that I will share here as well...



The Divided Breath:

Think of your lungs as having 3 equal parts: the top third, middle third, and bottom third. In one continuous breath, but divided into 3 parts, fill first the bottom and pause, then fill the middl/pause, and finally the fill the top third and hold if possible for a second or two. Exhale in the same manner, but reverse. Let out the top, then the middle, then the bottom third of lungs-remember to pause slightly after each part-finally pushing all the air out of the bottom third of your lungs to complete the cycle. Don't worry if you can't manage the whole cycle at first, it will get easier. The pauses will get more controlled, and you may be able to hold the breath for 3-5 seconds before the exhale, eventually.

This will prevent rapid/shallow breathing (hyperventilation) and put you in control of your breathing again, until your anxiety levels drop, and it becomes normal/automatic again:)

This has helped me through a lot of breathing episodes. Remember that breathing is an automatic response...until our anxiety gets in the way! Practicing these techniques will really help get it back to normal.

I hope that you are feeling better soon!
S.C.

Hello guys :) thank you for the great responses as usual hehe!

You know what hazel? I have been getting a pain under my left rib cage, after I eat... and the fast heart rate (not in the last few days, I have been a bit calmer! :D) It is like a pressure, I think I have acid reflux! I have had this nasty cold for about a month, which I am thinking might be from GERD, so it is not a cold! After I eat I usually freak out a bit more, I think because that is when my symptoms come!

I am for sure going to ask my FD about this. I have been doing good this weekend :) the shortness of breath has been better, I have not been focusing on it and I don't even notice it, although I am sure I will now because I am now thinking about it haha!

Other than that all is well, I have not had any stress lately so I have been alot happier :) I am a very happy person all the time so my Mom especially hates seeing me like this, stupid anxiety!
but I am getting one step closer to being completely fine! haha! Yesterday my pulse literally was normal, but all day I kept saying (its slow!) and it stayed slow LOL. Today I was a bit more conscious, but I know I am fine.

I hope you are all doing great :D thank you again