Constant Urge to Take Deep Breaths

[RickM78]

Hi,

For the last week I've had a constant urge to take deep breaths, and fill my lungs so that they feel stretched. The breath gives minor satisfaction, but then the urge returns.
Sometimes, I feel like I need to yawn, but the yawns are not satisfying like they should be. I don't have any problems breathing, nor do I have any other symptoms, like coughing, raspiness or wheezing. Just this persistent urge to breathe deeply.

A lot of posts I've seen on related symptoms seem to think this is anxiety, but I really don't think that I have a lot of anxiety right now.

Any ideas?


This discussion is related to urgency to take deep breaths.

[Elizabeth2018]

Hi,
I’ve had this problem for the last few days now, Most of my breaths are  unsatisfying and every once in a while I’ll have ONE good breath. The moment I noticed I was laying on my couch watching YouTube (nothing stressful about that). The first few moments after waking up I can take a few breaths but after that until I go to bed I am struggling. I’ve been to the hospital, had blood work, ct scan and x-ray for blood clots all come back normal so the doctors tell me this is anxiety and I’ve just worked myself up. At this point yes, I am stressed because I FEEL as though I am not getting enough air even though  oxygen levels are normal.

I am 21 and I am very scared at this point. If anyone has found something that helps please let me know, thank you.

[Steezy_moi]

Hi I don't know what's the cause to this but I'm going through the same thing as you recently, I just have the urge to take a deep breath and it can be quite scary well for me it is, makes me worry if there's something wrong with me,but just try to not focus on it an inhale from your nose, hold for a few seconds and let it out through your mouth slowly. I hope this helps decrease that urge to take a deep breath constantly. Just know that you're not alone on this:)

[lids789]

I have the same issue but I think that mine is from my Chiari malformation and I have brain stem dysfunction. It's really scary. I really need to try something to see if it helps. I feel like I have a lump in my throat, I can't take a full breath and it's so scary! I hope there is some way to repair it! I'm scared I'm going to die. I'm going to stop drinking wine and see if that helps. I don't know what else to do. I constantly use Peppermint oil to help me breathe and aromatherapy diffuser for relaxation. But sometimes I get so shakey I'm scared I'm going to pass out

[Douglas705]

Howdy folks, I have had this for over a couple of decades.  It would come for a month a at time, then leave and for the last 10 yrs it was constant.  Initially taking nexium and controlling the acid reflex helped, but then the breather issue came back.  

I have finally stopped all coffee.  The breather issue went away.  I have had it only a few times since and it has happened after I have taken a sip of my wife’s coffee - I still love the smell and taste of coffee.  So it has been a year since I have had even a hint of the breathing issue.  This past Christmas I was in the Dominican Replublic relaxing and thought I would have a cup of coffee - no response.  I didn’t try again.  My wife got a Nespresso for X-mas so I tried one cup - no issue.  So the next morning I tried another - my breathing issue kicked in.  So I figured that is it.  I accidentally got a chi latte rather than a chi-tea latte on Friday and my breathing kicked it quite strongly.  

After all the trial and errors, I figured I am allergic to the oils in coffee.  Just a few sips can cause the breathing issue and it kicks in with in an hour.  So probably not linked to my acid reflux.  I do drink caffeinated tea and no issues, but decaf coffee also leads to my breathing issues.  My actually breathing issues are identical to those above.  So for me - it appears to be an allergy to oils or some other components in coffee.  I am going to try coffee plus an antihistamine to see if that makes a difference.

I’ve been drink the non-coffee beverages like Akava and encore.

Anyway to me, for the past few years I have been doing the trial and error approach and so far it has been a perfect match to drinking coffee.  I do not miss the need to constantly take deep breaths.  Hope this helps you.  

[Ellesbells5706]

It’s hyperventilation syndrome. I’ve just been diagnosed with it and it requires breathing retraining. Will be a long road to recovery but I just hope the toad does lead to recovery as I can’t cope with this anymore.

[Anonu]

I haven't seen a doctor but I'm 99% sure it's anxiety-related. Most everything I've read about people going to the doctor turns up cold, anyway. Not saying you shouldn't get checked out, but for my part I didn't have the health insurance to afford a doctor. I tried my partner's Xanax but I didn't really feel it helped, plus I'm not crazy about pills, plus the last thing I want right now is a benzo addiction. Really, it started to get better when I started addressing my anxiety and relaxing about the whole "air hunger" thing. Just remember that--if it is anxiety-related--you're not going to suffocate or die. In fact, your physical health probably has nothing to do with it. It's just going to annoy the **** out of you for a while. It sounds crazy, but the more I got comfortable with the fact that it was just going to be there, the better it got. Another thing that helped was keeping busy, being around friends, being immersed in anything that distracted my mind enough to stop thinking about my breathing patterns. And yet another hurdle that you've got to get over is sleep. Despite the fact that this is going to interfere with your sleep--I sometimes couldn't sleep until I got so tired it was harder to stay awake--you've got to sleep. Once you do get to sleep, try to stay asleep for as long as you can. It was very noticeable that the less I slept, the worse it got. No medical background here, but if I were to give my two cents, I'd say just convince your mind that this is something you're simply going to have to live with--that way your mind stops freaking out about it--live a normal life as best you can and try to get some ******* sleep! Easier said than done, I know, but it worked for me.

[CliboX]

Did u ever find the answers im expereincing the EXACT same thing...plz let me no thx