Feeling very strange - Anxiety Message Board

DonaldRamsey · 06-23-2005, 07:46 PM

Hi,
Thought i'd post because im feeling very weird lately.
I posted a while back about a strange breathing problem i had. I couldn't feel myself breathing. Well it went for a while but now it's back , and really bad. Basically I will take breath but it feels like nothings happening. There's no satisfying feeling at all, ever. It just feels like im breathing into nothing. Today i have spent almost every minute feeling myself breath and it's just getting worse and worse. I also feel very light weight and sometimes i feel like i can't control my arms, like i can't feel them. There's no other symptoms though and i havn't fainted or anything . Part of me thinks it all points to anxiety/over obsessing about breathing, but the part thinks i have something wrong, like a collapsed lung or an air leak

Anyone have any thoughts? apart from thinking im a looney

Im not taking any meds btw
Thanks.

retrochick · 06-23-2005, 10:10 PM

i would try and focus your mind on something different so you arent thinking about "breathing" all the time and let your body just naturally breath

but i DO know how you feel, sometimes when i have a panic attack (rarely) i feel like i take a deep breath and its like it just doesnt feel like that breath satisfied me enough so i try and breath again and i feel like i cant catch my breath...its a freaky feeling and that brings on the anxiety and panic.
if your strong minded enough just step outside of what your going thru and read a book or watch a dvd or go for a walk or call a friend to take your mind off of it.
if your really worried about it then you could always call up your doc to have them check your blood pressure and listen to your lungs

That will definately reassure you!

santo · 06-23-2005, 10:24 PM

i am going through the same thing, obsessing over my breathing. breathing is so subtle that to focus on it doesn't make you satisfied because it's not an action that takes a lot of effort as it is natural, so its understandable that you're feeling this way. i agree, go to the doctor if you're comfortable just to rule anything out (although i believe it's anxiety) and if your health is fine, then do things to distract yourself from your breathing. exercise, keep yourself busy, and try to focus on something else. good luck, i know how you feel, you are not alone.

DonaldRamsey · 06-24-2005, 12:34 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.
I am going to just try and not think about it and see what happens