Short of Breath From Anxiety Attacks
One reason why shortness of breath is such a severe symptom is because it initiates a response of not being able to get enough air into the lungs. When your breathing is not correct, the adrenaline begins to over flood your body, which causes other symptoms including dizziness, lightheadedness and even fainting or feeling as though you may faint.
Before becoming short of breath during anxiety occurs, your breathing may become labored and forced. You’ll feel like you’re struggling to catch your breath and that if you don’t force the breathing, you won’t be able to breathe on your own.
The fear of dying may actually make it even more difficult to breath. This is what many anxiety attacks do to a person-make them fear they are dying or will die shortly. Another indication you may have that an anxiety attack is approaching is that you suddenly start yawning and can’t seem to stop.
Learning effective ways to breathe correctly is one of the most effective ways to combat shortness of breath from anxiety. You’re probably wondering how you can learn to breathe better when being short of breath in anxiety is your main problem. However, once you learn proper breathing techniques before you begin to feel anxious, you’ll be better prepared to deal with the anxiety. Once your breathing becomes better all the time, you’ll be less likely to become short of breath. Anxiety will be much less severe.
Once you learn how to breathe correctly, you’ll be ready for when the anxiety attack hits you. The first step is to determine the problem of shortness of breath before it comes. Everyone has different symptoms letting them know that they are about to have an anxiety. The key is for you to determine what your symptoms are so you’re ready before they come and can begin your new breathing techniques. New breathing techniques can make all the difference in not becoming short of breath.
Try closing your mouth and slowly inhaling through your nose. Hold your breaths for 10 seconds then slowly exhale, again holding it for 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise several times for a total of 10 minutes. By doing this breathing exercise every day, you’ll recondition your body to breathe correctly and more relaxing. Half the battle of being able to breathe correctly is to be relaxed. Once you’re more relaxed, your breathing is going to be more normal and correct, which will decrease the times you have shortness of breath.
It’s very important to determine that your shortness of breath is definitely from anxiety and not a sign of another underlying health problem. When you first begin going through being short of breath in anxiety, see your regular doctor so any other potential health problems can be ruled out.
