Anxiety and breathlessness

Someone please help.
For the last few days I’ve been feeling almost constantly out of breath and winded with the feeling of a faster heartbeat any time I move at all, standing up or walking around, even some when I’m just laying down.
My family says it’s 100% my anxiety and they’re not worried at all.
I’m not wheezing, or panting, or turning blue. But I definitely FEEL out if breath and it’s scaring me. Should this sensation be happening for three days in a row? Is it cause for concern? I’m 20 and in decent health, no real past of any major health problems, but I have severe panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder so it’s hard for me to tell if it’s anxiety or something I need to go to the hospital for.

Its's good that you wrote back.

You said in your latest post, that you had been diagnosed with:

“GAD, Panic Disorder and Depression for 8 years now, and just in the past couple weeks it’s spiraled out of control.”

And, “My family says it’s 100% my anxiety and they’re not worried at all.” And “It’s getting to the point where I’m at a loss for what to do. I feel rather hopeless.”

And “Should this sensation be happening for three days in a row? Is it cause for concern. I’m 20 and in decent health, no real past of any major health problems, but I have severe panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder so it’s hard for me to tell if it’s anxiety or something I need to go to the hospital for.”

As for myself, I have bipolar and have had anxiety attacks. I would wonder, if you’ve been diagnosed it would seem that you have been to a psychiatrist or a mental health center of some kind. Can you go back to that?

I went to the net (mayo clinic.org) and one of the things it said was, sometimes mental health issues can be inherited. I was having a lot of emotional problems but only realized it was bipolar when a lay counselor told me, “I knew your uncle, and he had manic-depression, and you probably do, too.” So, does anyone in your family have mental health issues? This can sometimes be a tip-off and a help to know that.

As to if and when to seek help, I went to the net for panic attacks and the same mayoclinic.org said:

“A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.

“Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you've had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.”

“If you have panic attack symptoms, seek medical help as soon as possible. Panic attacks, while intensely uncomfortable, are not dangerous. But panic attacks are hard to manage on your own, and they may get worse without treatment.”

“Symptoms of panic disorder often start in the late teens or early adulthood and affect more women than men.”

“Left untreated, panic attacks and panic disorder can affect almost every area of your life. You may be so afraid of having more panic attacks that you live in a constant state of fear, ruining your quality of life.”

“A form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you learn, through your own experience, that panic symptoms are not dangerous.”

This website, healingwell.com, also recommends CBT in treatment of ailments such as panic disorders, and has a list of readings where it talks about that. This list of resources is found above the list of people, such as yourself, who are writing in about their problems.

It stresses positive thinking that you can deal with this, which I firmly believe also. This is very important, because I've found that if I go into any problem feeling defeated, it greatly increases the chances that I will be. But if I feel going into the problem that I can solve it, that greatly increases the chances that I will, for I will have programmed myself to be looking for ways to win.

The Mayo Clinic website also said there are several medicines that can be used for this condition.

Hello and welcome!

I am sorry that you are experiencing these symptoms currently, and that they are increasing your anxiety. It is a vicious cycle!


You have been advised well above, so I will just add that we have wonderful self help links in our Resources at the top of the main forum page. Working these techniques can really help manage the anxiety and lessen your symptoms.

If you continue to struggle, seeing your doctor for a treatment plan whether it be with a therapy referral, discussion of medication or both, would be a wise step in order for you to feel your best and start to get some help for managing your anxiety.

Post with us anytime. We understand, care and support is key!

Scaredy Cat