Is Anyone Good With Anxiety? What Is The Best Way Of Coping With This Sensation?

[Raidergal2022]

I don’t know how to deal with this

I do have anxiety in general which started over the past several months. However I experience a distressing sensation which only makes my anxiety worse and is hard to explain. I felt the anxiety was getting better (and this sensation was dissapearing) but last night the sensation came on and triggered it again

Basically I was in bed, feeling calm and looking for a film to watch in TV. Out of nowhere I developed the sensation which feels like I am not getting enough oxygen. My breathing rate was normal, oxygen sats normal, pulse was only 62, no dizziness so I must have been getting the oxygen. A feeling of doom and anxiety suddenly came over me because the sensation was so distressing- teh feeling of lack of air -I couldn’t tolerate it. Although I kept myself calm (my pulse stayed at 65) I was shaking and it took me 2 hours to calm down enough to sleep.

This is what occured on a frequent basis at the height of my anxiety months ago. Back then I was afraid of losing control and becoming hysterical because my breathing was not satisfying/I felt a lack of oxygen (though in reality I likely was getting enough)

I have seen my gp about this, had a chest x ray and ecg etc all was normal. I do have a fear of developing asthma as I am at high risk so am awaiting a spirometry test but the doctor/consultant don’t think it is asthma they are testing to reassure me.

I don’t know how to deal with the sensation when it comes on. It seems that the sensation triggers anxiety rather than the other way around, this is the odd thing

[Raidergal2022]

Just to add I don’t think it is due to hyperventilation, as I said I feel calm before it comes on and my breathing rate is normal

[sunny-dave]

My usual ways of dealing with anxiety attacks (many years ago now) may not be appropriate to your situation - my attacks were rather different to yours and usually involved high pulse rate and shallow breathing.

But in case it helps :

1. Don't be alone - tell someone - just knowing that help is nearby can be a great help

2. Breathing into a paper bag (NOT plastic) over your mouth/nose for as many breaths as you can may stabilise your symptoms - it increases CO2 in the blood and has a warming/calming effect. Don't keep repeating this though - if one or two sessions doesn't work, then stop.

3. Valium helped me - it has a terrible reputation, but used correctly for occasional brief interventions it can be a life saver.

4. Things will get better - the key for me was not hiding my problem - once I knew that people around me understood what was happening, then the attacks became much less frequent and easier to deal with.

Good Luck

Dave

[Raidergal2022]

Thanks, I could try the paper bag thing

Yea I do still get shaky, sweaty palms etc but it seems this is triggered by the breathing thing. It is hard to say for sure though maybe the breathing thing is part of the anxiety after all. As medical tests so far have been normal

[pastafreak]

What Dave said. My experiences were many years ago...but they always lurk in the background. Definitely hyperventilating...and it comes out if nowhere. Fine...then pow!! Yes...always proceeds the anxiety.
I found a series of books that helped a LOT. Google Dr Claire Weekes. She was an Australian physician who developed methods for dealing with anxiety and "fight or flight". Possibly a bit dated...written in the 60s...but she had such a calm way of describing what the body and mind do.

[anneasquith]

You give a classic story of anxiety. It’s time to get some help. Gp again give him your symptoms as you have above.
In the meantime seek out support groups ( plenty on the net). Good luck.

[sunny-dave]

Yes, Pasta - the Claire Weekes books are excellent - helped me a lot

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Barsel]

Has anyone suggested to you it could be a panic attack you are experiencing?

[Prudie]

This sounds like a panic attack to me and the sensation and anxiety are the same thing rather than being 2 separate things. It also sounds like you are particularly anxious about your health and also check all sorts of things when it's happening. This is very normal. I think if you let your GP offer treatments for anxiety it might help you on the road to overcoming these things occurring in the first place.
If it helps masses of people have gone though something like you. There are treatments and counselling to at least try, although they are not always successful.
When it's happening the main thing is to think you are not having a medical emergency and it's probably nothing physically wrong with you at all. Try to do something active to distract you rather than lying down waiting for it to go away.

[pastafreak]

Panic attacks go hand in hand with anxiety...tgry are part of the package.
I remember my first like it was yesterday...felt like I was going to die. And so began the anxiety.
That's the one Dave...along with 2 or 3 others.
I still have my old copies from the late 60s, early 70s.

[Raidergal2022]

Basel- is doesn’t seem to be in conjunction with panic symptoms though. What I mean by that is I can experience the breathing sensation on and off through the day and be relatively calm. I will have little spikes of a feeling of dread when it comes on but this is because I hate the feeling of lack of air. Sometimes the sensation comes on slightly and I feel happy/carry on with what I am doing it doesn’t present a psychological problem for me.

Then other times the sensation will be a lot more prominent (like last night). I can remain calm for minutes before finally caving in (as the sensation is distressing) and becoming anxious

..if this makes sense

It may well come on as part of a subconscious chronic heightened psychological state but it doesn’t seem to be connected to the anxiety/panic attack- it is more the cause for it

This is how how see things and I may well be wrong. It might be part of a panic attack but I really don’t know : /

[Zacs-Master]

There’s a simple breathing technique where you exhale for longer than you inhale. This tells your brain that you’re in a state of calm.

[Barsel]

Have you seen your GP, are you on antidepressants?

[pastafreak]

It's "chicken and egg", Raidergal. I can remember all too well how my thoughts went round in circles as I tried to explain the what and why that was happening to me.
You really would do well to read the book linked as it explains exactly what is happening to your body and why, and how your thoughts control it.

[Raidergal2022]

Thanks pasta freak I will definitely take a look. I have bought a book by a yoga man called sadhguru called inner engineering which is supposed to be good. I will have a look at Claire weekes too

Barsal - yea believe it or not I have been having CBT for a while, it has helped a little but I find my thoughts to be quite stubborn if I’m really honest.
I was prescribed propranolol and Citalopram but I really really didn’t want to take meds if I can help it (last night I was second guessing myself with this though). I was taking a herbal tablet thing called kalms I might try this again first

[Barsel]

Sometimes reading a book is not enough and there are prescription drugs that will help you calm down so you are better able to cope. Your GP might recommend talking therapy and there are also helplines that you can phone when you start to feel this coming on. By all means buy and read the book, but don't forget your GP can hopefully help you as well.

[Raidergal2022]

Thanks Prudie ^

I agree finding some kind of activity to do is better than lying and escalating the thoughts even more lol

[pastafreak]

Barsel...back in the dark ages I also had therapy and drugs. Believe me when I say that the books probably helped (me) the most. I constantly went back to them for the reassurance I needed when I felt as if my brain was going to explode with fear and panic. They acted like a security blanket, a soothing voice when there were no chat lines or anyone to call.

[anneasquith]

If you wish to be better, it’s always best to take any prescribed medication or literature. You may not like taking medication but someone thinks it will help your condition. Otherwise you just hope your situation will get better untreated .

[Patsy33]

Apparently, sipping ice cold water helps. Anxiety attacks are very unsettling. I thought I was having a heart attack years ago. Couldn't think what was happening to me. I was like a mad, hysterical woman on the phone to Doctors surgery! My doctor kindly came out to see me a couple of hours later, and explained it was a panic attack. Been on antidepressants ever since.

[Barsel]

Pasta, I think we all react differently and CBT was marvellous for me when I had it, but sometimes we forget what we are taught or read about and so although I didn't want to go on anti-depressants I relented, and although I don't believe they are the full solution, I do feel they help. I hope Raidergal finds a solution to suit her.