Psychological reason for physical issue?

Hey there

I have been struggling with this breathing issue on and off for years. A long time ago it used to happen occasionally and over the past year/few months it has come back, at least once a week. My chest isn't wheezy or congested, I'm not sick, I don't have high blood pressure or anything like that.

Out of the blue it feels like I can't breathe properly - like there is a huge pressure on my chest up to my collarbones. I obviously CAN breathe, but most breaths feel wrong, like I'm not able to breathe in fully. I end up yawning a lot because to breathe in fully it's like I have to consciously relax my chest and throat and only then try to yawn to get "enough" air (although pretty sure I am getting enough, but it's very uncomfortable).

I have asked a doctor about it (at a consultation for something else) and she didn't really say anything, apart from asking if it happens when I'm anxious. It doesn't, as far as I can tell. It'll just pop up, and then I get a bit anxious because I can feel the pressure. I do practise breathing exercises almost every day. Does anyone else experience this kind of thing?

You are not crazy I had this too. I can remember going to see the movie "About a Boy in 2002" and I couldn't enjoy it because this came on during the movie. It was difficult to explain to people.. it was like my body forgot how to breathe easily. I did a lot of yawning as well.

This happened at least 6 times where i had to go to the ER and the doctors just told me i was "anxious". This happened to me from about 2000 to 2006. I wasn't that severely off but I didn't feel I could wait for a regular appointment.

I do not know what it was but it was a real thing...

I do not know what stopped it but these are my only guesses..

Change of diet. Since the early 2000s I have removed a lot of carbs and eat more keto ish. The incident in 2002 also happened after eating popcorn at the movies. I know that such eating has been associated with less anxiety -- and even though I don't think it was an anxious condition I think it is possible that it could constant low level anxiety could have brought it on. Perhaps it dilates your airways in the lungs or something.

I was Vitamin D deficient prior to 2008 and I am no longer that.

Since it has completely gone away, I suspect it had to be something physical. I do not know what for sure has changed but I know I haven't had an incident since about 2006. I do not think it was in my mind as it would come on without anything being wrong with me.... but I also think it was a benign condition.

I can tell you though it was hell. No one understood.

@natalie - thanks so much for your reply. It is really hard to describe That's great it has stopped for you! Luckily I am pretty healthy and get blood tests for an unrelated reason every 6 months or so. My vit B is on the lower side so I am taking supplements, but everything else is good including my vit d.

I am in recovery from an ED so unfortunately can't embark on any kind of diet that restricts certain food, but I try to eat healthily in general... I am seeing my therapist tomorrow and am going to ask her about it.

I was going to suggest diet, too.

Well perhaps you could just try to go "low carb". Just replace one food for another. So instead of a bagel at breakfast have sausage and egg. Just maybe replace one meal. For dinner skip the potato and have more meat.

I am afraid I never got anyplace with the doctors. They just couldn't understand what I was saying and I admit, I didn't really understand it. I had myself convinced I had a bad anxiety or panic attack problem. But deep down I knew it wasn't that. It wasn't like I was hyperventilating... it was just like my body wasn't breathing properly. I was getting proper o2 there was just something off about the flow of the breathing.

There had to be a physical reason but I just don't know what it was.

My only other guess is something to do with hormones (not sure if you are a woman) but that is odd too because this didn't come on until about the year 1999 to about 2006 and it would seem to have been unrelated to any hormonal changes.

Panic attack?

Thanks for the advice, but I've learnt from years of past experience that restricting any food group results in ED symptoms such as overexercising, bingeing, purging etc. I do try to lean towards more protein but can't cut down on carbs at all right now. I'm not over-eating carbs.

Maybe it is hormones....
Thanks for the advice

That's the most logical explanation, but it hardly ever begins while I'm anxious or panicking.

Sounds like a symptom of anxiety. Its very common to feel this way and to have this reaction, when anxious. Your doctor is right, you need to work on the triggers that make you anxious. Whatever goes through your mind when anxious needs to be addressed and confronted. I listen to music when majorly stressed. I also listen to music because i love it.