Dealing With Chest Tightness and Feeling Like You're Short of Breath?

[Lady_Valkyrie]

Hi,

First-time poster here looking for some advice. In the past couple days I've started experiencing a lot of chest tightness, which makes me hyper-aware of my breathing. I put this down to anxiety as I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression for around ten years now. I also recently decided to defer my studying at uni to get a job. However, the chest tightness has just been there constantly, I wake up with it. When I'm distracted, I don't notice it as much but when I'm showering or trying to go to sleep, doing stuff that occupies my brain less, I become super aware of the tightness and start breathing really fast. It's just awful and makes me feel like I'm going to die when it peaks. I've tried the 4-7-8 breathing technique but I think distraction ultimately serves me better than just focusing on my breathing as then I'm hyper-aware of it again. Last night, it got really bad so I decided to go to my GP. I got an ECG/spirometry done and that ruled out any cardiac/respiratory issues, confirming my issue is likely just anxiety.

I understand that the decision to defer studying and leave uni may have tripped me off but I honestly don't feel anxious when I have these attacks/chest tightness. I don't think I've ever had chest tightness like this before in my life.

My GP recommended exercise and distraction as methods of trying to control this but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this before? Chest tightness without feeling like you're anxious? If so, how did you go about managing this feeling/not being hyper-aware of your breathing and did the chest tightness go away?

[blondguy]

Hi Lady Valkyrie

Welcome and thankyou for being a part of Beyond Blue too!

I understand what you are going through as having the 'tight chest' and (sometimes) the feeling of not being able to take a deep breath can be an awful experience to have. I agree with you where distractions are concerned.

You are very proactive with your health and I understand your symptoms as I used to have them in my 20's into my 30's and it was horrible LV. I had these tight chest feelings in traffic as well. Tightness of the chest is a very common symptom of anxiety.

Even without feeling anxious we can be oversensitised (for any number of reasons) which leave us prone to having these awful feelings that you mention Lady Valkerie

Having frequent counseling is an excellent way to make us less prone to the tightness of the chest. I hope some of this is helpful to you. Any questions you have are always welcome LV

The forums are a Safe and non judgemental place for you to post too 🙂

my kindest thoughts

Paul

[Monkeysss]

I rarely experience chest tightness with anxiety, but I have experienced symptoms without feeling anxious. Such as shortness of breath and aware of my breathing , and my skin has a burning sensation, and usually when I get like that distract myself or I meditate. There would be a lot more symptoms I get without feeling anxious but can’t point them out; only what I’m feeling right now.

Maybe download a meditation app and see if that works for you? My favourite is ‘relax melodies’ and some nights it works, some nights it doesn’t. But if it isn’t something you’ve tried before it might be worth giving it a go.

Hope things get better for you.

[Lady_Valkyrie]

Thank you for your input. I also think I experience chest tightness more so when I'm less aware that I'm anxious than when I am conscious of the fact that I'm anxious. It's reassuring to know that other people experience chest tightness without feeling actively anxious.

I haven't tried Relax Melodies but I will check that out. When I got really bad last night, I ended up just listening to some soothing music on Youtube and that helped lull me back to sleep.

[Tori_nawec]

I can 100% relate to you.

It started for me two months ago, my first anxiety attack. Since then, I cannot get rid of my chest tightness/short of breath.

im hyper aware of it also, it seems to occupy my mind all the time - because it’s such a scary symptom to have.

when I’m distracted I get relief depending on what I’m doing. But it starts when I wake up and I go to sleep the same way. I feel best when I’m relaxing in bed watching tv.. anything else and straight away I’m attempting to breathe normally and it’s super tight and actually hurts sometimes, probably due to the fact I’m constantly trying to deep breathe for relief.

im currently looking into calm breathing exercises and will practice everyday and see if I can break this vicious cycle.

just know you’re not alone.

x

[smcg10]

Hi Tori nawec.

Hopefully you'll see this, I would like to know how you're going.

I'm experiencing exactly what you said, and am generally curious about if the methods of calm breathing exercise have worked. 🙂

[blondguy]

Hi Lady Valkyrie

Just for your info a member 'Annabay' started a thread recently on what physical symptoms we experience including 'chest tightness'.....I have provided the copy & paste link for you below to her thread 🙂

www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/what-physical-feelings-of-anxiety-do-you-get

Thanks for being a part of the forum family too!

my kind thoughts

Paul

[monkey_magic]

Hi,

I too experience chest tightness and pain. I'm not sure if it's got something to do with the nerves but it was mentioned to me before. My hearts fine as well so that's been ruled out too.

This doesn't go away for me and ive had it for a few years. It's scary. I'm glad im not alone, thanks everyone for sharing.

[blondguy]

Hi Lady Valkyrie...and a wave to MonkeyMagic!

Excuse I for hijacking your post for a moment LV

After been given the 'all clear' by a doctor tightness in the chest is a very common symptom of anxiety as we produce way too much adrenaline which in turn restricts our breathing as we in an oversensitised mindset.

Our digestive system is also very quick to react to anxiety as well

my kind thoughts

Paul