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What Causes Breathing Problem And Sensitivity To Panic Attacks While Under Severe Stress?
Question: Hey gonna see if I have some privileges back. It's me, XXXX
Things have been going extremely well ion regards to my breathing. Have been able to divert my thinking so as not to fret about my breathing I still have a stressed out body so I am still physically stimulated with the hormones active during panic attacks.
To provide you with why still stressed, I am planning on leaving my spouse and asking for a divorce and moving back to my home 325 miles away. Only when certain events come to fruition like having a job are in line I have never been good in a conflict situation and have thoughts constantly going through my head on how ugly it will get. This is wife #3 but my first divorce with me filing for it. Not ready for it.
Anyway as I said, I have been doing great. Tonight I helped bring in goods from the shopping trip the wife did. I carried in 3 bags of softener salt and when I was done I had to take a few minutes to regain my normal breathing. My chest was tight and I felt like I couldn't take in a deep breath.
Using your comments and those of the pulminologists, I will assume that other than aging, I have not changed much on my breathing. Therefore, I am attributing this to three combined reasons. 1. I am out of shape. 2. I am still in panic mode sensitized mode. . 3 I am 25 lbs heavier than a year ago and my stomach is pressing against my diaphragm making breathing a bit more difficult.
Ok enough of that. I'll take your comments and feedback.
Next day or so, I'll see about analyzing moms death and what it did to me.
Bye for now.
Things have been going extremely well ion regards to my breathing. Have been able to divert my thinking so as not to fret about my breathing I still have a stressed out body so I am still physically stimulated with the hormones active during panic attacks.
To provide you with why still stressed, I am planning on leaving my spouse and asking for a divorce and moving back to my home 325 miles away. Only when certain events come to fruition like having a job are in line I have never been good in a conflict situation and have thoughts constantly going through my head on how ugly it will get. This is wife #3 but my first divorce with me filing for it. Not ready for it.
Anyway as I said, I have been doing great. Tonight I helped bring in goods from the shopping trip the wife did. I carried in 3 bags of softener salt and when I was done I had to take a few minutes to regain my normal breathing. My chest was tight and I felt like I couldn't take in a deep breath.
Using your comments and those of the pulminologists, I will assume that other than aging, I have not changed much on my breathing. Therefore, I am attributing this to three combined reasons. 1. I am out of shape. 2. I am still in panic mode sensitized mode. . 3 I am 25 lbs heavier than a year ago and my stomach is pressing against my diaphragm making breathing a bit more difficult.
Ok enough of that. I'll take your comments and feedback.
Next day or so, I'll see about analyzing moms death and what it did to me.
Bye for now.
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and thanks for your question as always.
I'm sorry you are experience a major stress in leaving your spouse. This will certainly test your ability to control your anxiety regarding your breathing. I will be here for you whenever you need me to help you. Don't hesitate to reach out.
I'm glad you were able to manage the situation with the groceries today. I do believe you are still sensitive to panic symptoms, which exaggerates the severity of what you are experiencing. It may be true that you are out of breath, but remember, this is not serious or life-threatening.
Please do tell me more about your experience of your mother's death. I think that is very important here.
Dr. Sheppe
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX and thanks for your question as always.
I'm sorry you are experience a major stress in leaving your spouse. This will certainly test your ability to control your anxiety regarding your breathing. I will be here for you whenever you need me to help you. Don't hesitate to reach out.
I'm glad you were able to manage the situation with the groceries today. I do believe you are still sensitive to panic symptoms, which exaggerates the severity of what you are experiencing. It may be true that you are out of breath, but remember, this is not serious or life-threatening.
Please do tell me more about your experience of your mother's death. I think that is very important here.
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
As one of many symptoms caused by panic and anxiety why and what exactly causes upper chest and rib cage to not expand?
For my mother. What comes to mind each time I think back was the gasping she did as she talked or as she just sat there. Her gasping for air is what bothers me most
I opened with the question on lungs because I used to chest breathe then somewhere I quit and now belly breathe. I'm told that's the best way which is fine but there are times I want to fill my upper lungs too but can't. Stranger yet when I am laying flat I can breathe either upper or lower. When upright I get lower.
I will think of more and let you know
For my mother. What comes to mind each time I think back was the gasping she did as she talked or as she just sat there. Her gasping for air is what bothers me most
I opened with the question on lungs because I used to chest breathe then somewhere I quit and now belly breathe. I'm told that's the best way which is fine but there are times I want to fill my upper lungs too but can't. Stranger yet when I am laying flat I can breathe either upper or lower. When upright I get lower.
I will think of more and let you know
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
Your chest and rib cage ARE expanding. Your anxiety tells your brain they are not expanding, but this is not true. Everything is actually fine.
How did you feel when your mother was gasping? What emotions did you experience? Exploring this will help us understand your current anxieties.
Dr. Sheppe
Followup
Detailed Answer:
Your chest and rib cage ARE expanding. Your anxiety tells your brain they are not expanding, but this is not true. Everything is actually fine.
How did you feel when your mother was gasping? What emotions did you experience? Exploring this will help us understand your current anxieties.
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Emotions, watching her gasp made me want to cry, still feel that way when i think back.
We both quit smoking about the same time, I was first and about a year later she did. She was a feisty lady, making sure she attended her grandkids events. She would show up at volleyball games and sit with me. Other than her showing up, my memory brings thoughts of her huffing and puffing to get up the bleachers to the top where she felt the most secure with no one behind her. Then the repeat as I escorted her to her car to leave. This was 6 years before she died. After that year she more or less stayed home 24/7, leaving only to be taken to Dr visits or when I would take her to hospital for her exacerbation attacks. There were a number of them, most of the time the exacerbation was anxiety driven. The consultation from the drs always mentioned that people with COPD had a high incidence with Anxiety and panic attacks.
So yes I could say my mind has a image set in it of Mom gasping for air and the suffering she went through. If COPD was a quick terminal disease, I may not fret about it but it is not quick. Locked in my head is the thoughts of what if.
I took my first pft test in 2001 and two more within 18 months. Then I took nothing for 12 years. During the 12 years I never thought about it. Around year 8 I started getting a number of events that over stressed me and brought my stress levels up without coming down. In this order they occurred, Mom and her health, A Divorce and all the fomalities of house refinance and apartment refinance, then a girlfriend that pressured, then managing the apartments, a job that stressed and then a failing new marriage.
I know that all the stress and panic has given me symptoms and noradrenaline release that is going on 6 years. I think what keeps me having a hard time releasing this issue is the problem of shortness of breath when doing some physical work. I have my upper chest tight a feels like it does not fill the upper lungs and only the lower and the lower area only expands slightly. Not sure how much is caused by anxiety and panic. I know that too much P and A will do a number of different things in the flight or fight mode. I wonder if the slowed digestion has added body fat to the abdomen that presses on the diaphragm to keep it from moving as it should down. Last summer I went to the hospital for a whole other incident and the dr put on his observations, "DIstended Abdomen" I assume that has pushed up to.
Enough for now. you can make observations I would like your thoughts on the lower lungs and distended abdomen and limited inhale. I know that if I allow that to be my focus I will not get much better.
We both quit smoking about the same time, I was first and about a year later she did. She was a feisty lady, making sure she attended her grandkids events. She would show up at volleyball games and sit with me. Other than her showing up, my memory brings thoughts of her huffing and puffing to get up the bleachers to the top where she felt the most secure with no one behind her. Then the repeat as I escorted her to her car to leave. This was 6 years before she died. After that year she more or less stayed home 24/7, leaving only to be taken to Dr visits or when I would take her to hospital for her exacerbation attacks. There were a number of them, most of the time the exacerbation was anxiety driven. The consultation from the drs always mentioned that people with COPD had a high incidence with Anxiety and panic attacks.
So yes I could say my mind has a image set in it of Mom gasping for air and the suffering she went through. If COPD was a quick terminal disease, I may not fret about it but it is not quick. Locked in my head is the thoughts of what if.
I took my first pft test in 2001 and two more within 18 months. Then I took nothing for 12 years. During the 12 years I never thought about it. Around year 8 I started getting a number of events that over stressed me and brought my stress levels up without coming down. In this order they occurred, Mom and her health, A Divorce and all the fomalities of house refinance and apartment refinance, then a girlfriend that pressured, then managing the apartments, a job that stressed and then a failing new marriage.
I know that all the stress and panic has given me symptoms and noradrenaline release that is going on 6 years. I think what keeps me having a hard time releasing this issue is the problem of shortness of breath when doing some physical work. I have my upper chest tight a feels like it does not fill the upper lungs and only the lower and the lower area only expands slightly. Not sure how much is caused by anxiety and panic. I know that too much P and A will do a number of different things in the flight or fight mode. I wonder if the slowed digestion has added body fat to the abdomen that presses on the diaphragm to keep it from moving as it should down. Last summer I went to the hospital for a whole other incident and the dr put on his observations, "DIstended Abdomen" I assume that has pushed up to.
Enough for now. you can make observations I would like your thoughts on the lower lungs and distended abdomen and limited inhale. I know that if I allow that to be my focus I will not get much better.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
It is very clear to me that you loved your mother and watching her suffer has been incredibly difficult for you. Your symptoms mimic hers when you are stressed even though there is absolutely zero evidence that there is anything wrong with your lungs.
It seems you are really latching onto a few things that you feel are real physical problems, and this is preventing you from truly accepting that this is a psychiatric illness. You are focusing on a "distended abdomen" and thoughts about your chest not allowing enough air in when you are doing exercise.
Of course you are breathing harder when you exert yourself. This happens to everyone, because when muscles are straining they need more oxygen, which makes the brain create a sensation of shortness of breath, and we breathe harder. This is 100% normal. You should not worry about this being pathologic.
Furthermore, PFTs are able to show when fat is pressing down on the lungs and creating a problem. This is called restrictive (rather than obstructive) lung disease. You do not have it, as your PFTs are normal. So do not worry that your abdomen is doing anything wrong here.
I think it would be helpful for us to really nail this down. Do you still feel like there is something physically wrong with your lungs?
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
It is very clear to me that you loved your mother and watching her suffer has been incredibly difficult for you. Your symptoms mimic hers when you are stressed even though there is absolutely zero evidence that there is anything wrong with your lungs.
It seems you are really latching onto a few things that you feel are real physical problems, and this is preventing you from truly accepting that this is a psychiatric illness. You are focusing on a "distended abdomen" and thoughts about your chest not allowing enough air in when you are doing exercise.
Of course you are breathing harder when you exert yourself. This happens to everyone, because when muscles are straining they need more oxygen, which makes the brain create a sensation of shortness of breath, and we breathe harder. This is 100% normal. You should not worry about this being pathologic.
Furthermore, PFTs are able to show when fat is pressing down on the lungs and creating a problem. This is called restrictive (rather than obstructive) lung disease. You do not have it, as your PFTs are normal. So do not worry that your abdomen is doing anything wrong here.
I think it would be helpful for us to really nail this down. Do you still feel like there is something physically wrong with your lungs?
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
10 years ago when I stressed on my heart after being diagnosed with collateral circulation I learned to tell the difference in psychosomatic symptoms from real ones. Eventually I was able to separate them and overcome.
As to your question if I still think there's something wrong with my lungs I wonder. To affirm your statements and to correct my explanations I don't know how to describe an example of what occurs and if it is a result of panic or anxiety or lung issue. It falls hand in hand with distention issue.
I understand that with exercise we use more oxygen and we breathe harder. That does not bother me. What is bothersome is what I will try to give best description example. I used to inhale feeling like my lungs were a punchball going up and down now it's like a inhale would be that punchball trying to inflate from inside of a beverage bottle it gets started then hits dead end. The feeling is of the bottle is my ribs the distention part was pushing up into lungs. And I notice if I "suck in my stomach" I can expand my breath further.
As to your question if I still think there's something wrong with my lungs I wonder. To affirm your statements and to correct my explanations I don't know how to describe an example of what occurs and if it is a result of panic or anxiety or lung issue. It falls hand in hand with distention issue.
I understand that with exercise we use more oxygen and we breathe harder. That does not bother me. What is bothersome is what I will try to give best description example. I used to inhale feeling like my lungs were a punchball going up and down now it's like a inhale would be that punchball trying to inflate from inside of a beverage bottle it gets started then hits dead end. The feeling is of the bottle is my ribs the distention part was pushing up into lungs. And I notice if I "suck in my stomach" I can expand my breath further.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
My understanding is that you still believe there is something physically wrong with your lungs. You are bothered because you feel like your lungs are contained somehow, "hitting a dead end," and you believe your stomach is in some way contributing to this.
This is psychosomatic. There is nothing at all dangerous or pathologic about what you describe. How do I know this? Because your extensive PFTs do not show any evidence of restrictive lung disease. Furthermore, my psychiatric experience lends me many dozens of examples of people with panic and anxiety describing exactly what you are describing, that is feeling like you are not able to take a full and complete breath.
The time has come to close and rate this question thread. For the next thread, I want to focus on this question: why is it hard for you to accept that this is psychosomatic? Why would things be easier if this was a physical illness, despite all the evidence showing us it is not?
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https://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70684
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
My understanding is that you still believe there is something physically wrong with your lungs. You are bothered because you feel like your lungs are contained somehow, "hitting a dead end," and you believe your stomach is in some way contributing to this.
This is psychosomatic. There is nothing at all dangerous or pathologic about what you describe. How do I know this? Because your extensive PFTs do not show any evidence of restrictive lung disease. Furthermore, my psychiatric experience lends me many dozens of examples of people with panic and anxiety describing exactly what you are describing, that is feeling like you are not able to take a full and complete breath.
The time has come to close and rate this question thread. For the next thread, I want to focus on this question: why is it hard for you to accept that this is psychosomatic? Why would things be easier if this was a physical illness, despite all the evidence showing us it is not?
tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
OR
https://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70684
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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