Unable to take a deep breath - anxiety or something else?

[Anton711]

Hi - I've just joined this forum and hoping someone can help me. I've been unfortunate to have had a series of medical issues during the last 5 months starting with a pacemaker op, an angiogram (clear) and two cataracts ops. I was really anxious and worried as I also care for an aged parent and all during this time I cold not eat or sleep well. Often I would wake during the night thinking the worst. I developed stomach bloating and wind and it became such an issue that I had to make sure to eat within the hour - if not my stomach would bloat. But I also noticed that I could not take a deep breath. The gastro specialist did a colonoscopy and endoscopy and everything was clear - no IBS or anything. Also did a stomach ultrasound and that was clear. GP did a chest x-ray - clear. They finally all said it was stress and anxiety related given my recent medical episodes and sent me to a psychiatrist. He prescribed medication for my anxiety and depression.

I am able to sleep better now but the side-effects are not good - lethargy, sleepiness, dizzy and quite bad constipation. I've been on half a tab for the last three weeks. I continue to have this difficulty in being unable to take a deep breath and sometimes I feel like I can't breathe fully. I've developed this habit where I try to exhale and then take a breath and it seems to work at times but not always. I walk around exhaling most times! I tried a nose spray to unblock my nose and also a puffer but the breathing difficulty persists. I'm not a smoker and don't have asthma.

I've tried deep breathing exercises, meditation, grounding exercise, going for a walk, etc but I really feel helpless. I know that the fact that I now have a pacemaker makes me fearful of doing anything in case I get a heart attack or something although the cardiologist has said that I can get back to my normal life - I don't know what that means and I just don't know how to get that into my head. The least thing makes me jump and I feel afraid often. I don't know a lot of people so I am quite isolated and often get melancholy thinking of my previous life.

Please - if someone out there has experienced something like this and has some advice on what to do - I would be really grateful if you could share. I'm sorry that I have rambled on, but thank you.

[Anton711]

Thank you again. There is so much wisdom in your response. What do you do to counteract sad thoughts? I find the weekends and times when the weather is grey to be the most difficult time as I get sad and melancholy. Also - you say limit caffeine - is one cup of coffee or tea ok or should I cut that out completely. My questions seem trivial in comparison to the depth of your response but I have a lot of them and my isolation hinders me from any meaningful interaction. Thanks much.

[TheOracle]

Hi Anton. No question is trivial. More than likely, the question is a reflection of a more deep seated question, issue or state of mind lying beneath the surface, and part your role going forward, and your professionals which will guide you, is to bring the larger issues to the surface. With respect to diet, if you combine this with mindfulness, my recommendation is to try and tune into the biological and psychological impacts of what is consumed. Whether it is one, two or no cups of tea or coffee, ultimately it is your decision, but base your decision on your biofeedback. If you are experiencing mini panic attacks when you hear a door bell or the phone rings, I can only speculate that caffeine is probably not something you want in your system. Your biology changes over time also. For instance, my own experience is that I have discovered that if I consume, say, more than 2 or 3 lollies, I can feel my blood pressure and heart rate increase. Previously I never had an issue with this. Now I do. Clearly, my own biology is saying that this is a 'no-no'. But the key is detecting that you 'are not feeling right' and that the trigger was 'abc.' Cold and wintery weather can be a challenge for people with a depressive disposition. How do we counteract this to restore the balance? Can you book a holiday or an activity that you can look forward to. Can you get out and explore the museums and galleries or go to the movies? Are there friends you can talk to? Look for friendship groups to join. Look for hobbies of interest. Small steps though. Focus on just a couple things. I am not entirely sure what is causing you the isolation to which you refer, and what this actually looks like for you. Is it the fact that you are caring for a sick parent? You need to look after yourself also and acknowledge your own needs. Have a think. I note that we are delving into other areas that you want to explore. I would recommend that you open up a new discussion under a new heading to tackle some of these other issues and allow other people a chance of sharing with you. However, if you see parts of discussions that resonate with you, for example, parts of our recent dialogue may have introduced some ideas or philosophies for you to explore, capture these on paper and refer back to them regularly and build on them. Best wishes.