Breathing issue due to anxiety? - Anxiety Message Board

Dark Stranger · 05-06-2008, 08:21 AM

The title is a little confusing, but let me try to explain what I'm getting at.

I have had breathing issues for the last year, approximately. My only symptom is difficulty breathing. I have been tested for asthma (test was negative), pulmonary embolism (CAT scan was normal), and hypothyroidism (my results came back "acceptable"). It's not pneumonia or bronchitis either, and I have researched numerous respiratory problems, including collapse of the lung(s), and none of them seem to fit how I feel. I feel no pain either. My heart rate is on the higher end of the normal range (100 bpm) and my oxygen levels are around 98 percent.

Considering my lack of symptoms, I am wondering if perhaps I suffer from anxiety. My doctor suggested at one point putting me on medication to see if it would help me. The thing is I am pretty mellow most of the time. When I stress, I would say even at my worst, my stress levels are mild. So, if I am not stressing, how could I have anxiety?

My breathing issues remain pretty constant, with the occasional instances of somewhat heightened difficulty breathing.

I don't know much about anxiety, but under the circumstances I have described, does it sound like anxiety might be a cause?

stimi3ak · 05-07-2008, 08:40 PM

Hello! You and I are in the same boat. I have been tested for every breathing issue known to man. I have been to every specialists and some of them twice. They have found absolutely nothing. Finally I was given the "anxiety" talk.

I had this issue creep up about 5 years ago and was put on Zoloft which after a year my symptoms mysteriously vanished. Thinking I was better I came off of Zoloft 4 years later after the birth of my son. Within 4 months my symptoms returned tenfold. Unfortunately Zoloft did not work for me the 2nd time around as I was told by my doctor that SSRI's can do that if stopped.

I am now on 12.5 mg Paxil CR and am getting ready to go up in dosage. Sometimes I have to take an Ativan because my anxiety gets so out of control.

Like you I never thought I stressed but I noticed my heart rate was always on the high end (around 100 - 105bpm). I also noticed most of the time my jaw was clenched and I would get emotional over things very quickly. Not in a "sad" way but in an "angry" kind of way. I'm hoping the Paxil works this time because I am only 29 and my son needs his mother to be a little more active than I currently am.

I just wanted to answer you and say that I have been told the same thing. Although I feel the sensation of shortness of breath my oxygen levels are always 98% and above. My complaint is always met with concern from my specialists but after complete work ups they all come to the same conclusion...anxiety. And a psychologist told me that "shortness of breath" can become a chronic anxiety symptom for people who hold most of their stresses in for long periods of time.

Hope this helps!

Dark Stranger · 05-08-2008, 04:19 PM

stimi3ak,

Thanks for the response. I had no idea that holding in one's stresses could cause the problems I have. I have a really hard time opening up to anyone, even my closest friends, about things that bother me. I guess it's because I don't want those whom I care about to worry about me or to see me upset, so I hold everything in and then when I can't take it anymore, I end up crying for about a half hour. I pass out and I wake up and feel great afterwards.

I think a big cause of my stress - what little I have - is getting told every single time I go home what I need to do with my life. My mom's BF is constantly telling me what he thinks I need to do with my life and I am sick of it because I tell him I don't want to do what he says I should and he just keeps talking and talking, as if the more he says it, the more I'll want to do it. I'm also harboring a little fear in terms of my relationship because I am no longer sure if me and my dear BF have a future together; I love him so much, but he wants kids and I do not. I also am worried because my best friend is graduating next semester and I don't know what will become of he and I, and I think I may care for him as more than a friend, but I don't know if I'd rather stick it out with BF and see what happens or to pursue my friend. Lots of issues, on top of the standard class stressing. Always fun

My big concern is whether or not I would be able to afford anxiety meds. I know medication used to treat anything of a mental nature are often exceedingly expensive, and I am officially off my mother's insurance when I graduate, so if I were to go on something very soon, I would most likely have to go off it when I graduated because I would no longer have that insurance and there's no telling if any job I work at would offer medical insurance.

prettyfish13 · 05-09-2008, 11:17 AM

A couple of years ago I had a similar problem. I felt short of breath (always sighing or yawning) for about a month and a half, and then the symptoms randomly went away. I've been experiencing this again for about 5 weeks now. I've had all sorts of tests run, and I seem to be pretty healthy (I'm pregnant, though, so this could be causing the shortness of breath this time around, I'm not sure). The doctors have all told me that anxiety is probably the culprit. Now I'm just hoping the symptoms will randomly clear up again. So yes, I think shortness of breath is definitely an enxiety/stress related symptom, but one should definitely get checked out for any other causes first.

I started taking Zoloft about 2 and a half weeks ago, but my breathing problem is still the same. I'm goign to give the meds a little longer to really work, as I know it can take some time with SSRIs. Actually, stimi3ak, I had a question for you because you said that Zoloft helped your shortness of breath - how long did you find it took for the Zoloft to really kick in and erase that symptom?

stimi3ak · 05-09-2008, 11:26 AM

Hi Pretty Fish,

It took about 6 months for me to really notice I had no more symptoms whatsoever. And I was on 100mg when all was said and done. I was about 148lbs and 5ft 10inches tall but I've known a lot smaller people than me who have taken the full dose of 200mg. I worked up to that dosage gradually and can honestly say I was fine. No issues, problems or panic attacks. I would still worry about things but not to the point of a panic attack or shortness of breath. I was stupid to get off of it because like any good SSRI will do once it works for a person it will make you think that you are all better when it's really just the medicine working. I remember my doctor telling me not to get off of it but I made the decision to do so anyway. Stupid decision. Keep that in mind when you start feeling great.

Good luck!