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Anxiety and physical symptoms

Flower88Senior Contributor04 Sept 2016, 12:03 pm AEST

Anxiety and physical symptoms

Hi everyone, I have anxiety and have had some anxiety attacks. Has anyone ever experienced the following?

Feelings of laboured breathing even when not having anxiety. For me it started as a drip back of the throat and I went to doctors, they told me my lungs were clear. And gave me stuff for drip but I feel like laboured breathing is still there and it doesn't feel like asthma it feels like something is blocking my lung. I'm scared I have lung cancer.

I'm sick of the physical symptoms, even when I take my inhaler it doesn't seem to help. 😞 any advice please?

5 replies

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In response to: Anxiety and physical symptoms

utopiaSenior Contributor04 Sept 2016, 6:42 pm AEST

Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

@Flower88. When I used to have panic attacks, my main symptom would be the sensation and fear of not being able to breath. Bloody scary. Of course the reality was I could breath. But during an attack, my breathing pattern changed to super fast. Then shen I wasn't having a panic attack, in the back of my mind, I was always fearful of when the next one occurred. Yes. Even during no attacks my breathing seemed change & I use to worry about lung cancer (but still not enough to quit smoking).
But as I learnt breathing and relaxation techniques, my breathing settled into a normal relaxed rhythm. I had to practice twice a day & it took about a month before it got better.
Why not download a relaxation ap from the internet - just focusing on noticing your breath. Breathing in & out. it really worked for me. I hope you have the same success. I believe you will.

In response to: Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

Unknown userMember04 Sept 2016, 7:21 pm AEST

Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

HI @Flower88

I'm sorry you have this annoying feeling! I often have a lot of physical anxiety symptoms. i just can't relax, i feel so tense and i clench my teeth so my jaw always aches. I sometimes feel as though i cant breathe but thats usually due to flash back stuff. I'm not sure how to make it all disappear, i wish i knew that answer for you. Ihave been trying to do more exercise and relaxtion stuff but it is really hard.

There is a thread called the coping box that might give you some extra ideas on how you can manage the awful feelings/physical sensations.

Good luck,

In response to: Anxiety and physical symptoms

Flower88Senior Contributor04 Sept 2016, 7:58 pm AEST

Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

Thanks both, it's nice to know I'm not alone with this. I'm sorry to hear what you are going through @Former-Member. I'm seeing a phycologist and have been taking remotive which is natural which has been helping :). Been exercising which has helped too. Anxiety symptoms feel like the worst is happening, I've started saying to myself " this is uncomfortable not dangerous" which seems to be helping.

In response to: Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

Unknown userMember04 Sept 2016, 8:19 pm AEST

Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

Hi @Flower88

That's a great thinking strategy - well done! Often with anxiety & panic attacks, the heart is pounding, breathing is restricted and it feels like something is terribly wrong. By reassurring yourself that "this will pass, it will be ok" etc, these symptoms do subside or reduce eventually.

Exercise enables your body to discharge that extra energy brought on by your adrenaline response, and releases endorphins and dopamine (feel good chemicals).

There are also some great strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Youtube clips if you can search them. Russ Harris is the founder and therapist and I really like his work, easy to understand and implement. Take a look at the Struggle Switch or Happiness Myths clips.

You're on the right track, so keep going. Great that you have the support of a psychologist too.

Regards,

Frog

In response to: Anxiety and physical symptoms

MatthewContributor04 Nov 2018, 10:55 am AEDT

Re: Anxiety and physical symptoms

I am actually going through the same thing. I have had weird breathing sensation as well for the last two months. I’ve had my lungs checked three times and had an x Ray. I think it is just an anxiety symptom as all tests have come out negative. I am going to a throat specialist now but I expect to have the same result. It totally sucks what you are going through. Does it get worse when you think about it more. Anxiety seriously sucks and the truth is that symptoms can persist as long as there is stress. I know all this yet I am still freaking out.

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