How to manage health-related anxiety in a 27-year-old?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 27-year-old male, and I have never smoked or vaped before. I was told my breathing sensations were anxiety, but I would love a second opinion. 27 days ago, I got a sore throat, which became inflamed, and I was placed on Amoxicillin. Two days later, I also got a cough alongside it with phlegm. Last week, I got a terrible pain in the left side of my chest, so I went and got checked out with my ECG, bloods, and vitals. All was fine, but the doctor heard crackles on the left side of my lower chest and said it was a lower respiratory infection and gave me Doxycycline and told me to see my GP as I may need an X-ray.

I saw my GP four days after, my chest was now clear with no crackling, they said I have good airways on both sides, vitals still normal, so no X-ray was needed.

Since the last two days, I have had an odd sensation where I am not inhaling enough air. I do not feel like I am out of breath, as if I have just done a run, but I just feel like my lungs do not fill up enough when I breathe in; walking, talking, and any other activity is not worsening it, but this is an odd and scary feeling.

I have a history of bad anxiety (health-related) and do get physical symptoms a lot. I spoke to a doctor again yesterday on the phone, and they said it is likely an anxiety symptom, as my oxygen levels are still 98.

My brain can not stop hyper-focusing on this breathing thing. I feel like I have been manually breathing for the past two days. Does this sound anxiety-related? With the cough and phlegm I mentioned that has pretty much gone now as well, I cough now and then, but nowhere near as much as I did. No fever, heart rate in the 60s when resting, blood pressure normal, no purple lips or tongue, otherwise feels perfectly normal. Is this likely anxiety? How long can this last?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Based on everything you have shared, your current breathing sensation is related to anxiety, particularly health anxiety. After your recent respiratory infection, it is understandable that you are more tuned in to how your body feels, especially your breathing.

However, the fact that your infection has resolved, your lungs are now clear, your vital signs are normal (oxygen saturation at 98 percent, heart rate in the 60s, normal blood pressure), and you are not experiencing worsening symptoms with physical activity all strongly suggest that there is no underlying physical issue causing this sensation.

What you are describing are the feelings that you are not inhaling enough air, needing to "manually breathe," and a sensation that your lungs are not filling up, which is a very common symptom of anxiety.

Anxiety can cause your brain to hyperfocus on normal body functions like breathing, which then makes you feel like you are not doing it right, even though your body is functioning perfectly. Muscle tension in your chest from anxiety can also make breathing feel more shallow or restricted, even when your oxygen levels are excellent. This can lead to a cycle where the more you focus on your breathing, the more unnatural it feels.

The good news is that this is not dangerous and it tends to improve with time, especially if you can break the cycle of focus and reassurance seeking (like constantly checking your oxygen levels).

Techniques like box breathing, distraction, gentle movement, and addressing the underlying anxiety through therapy or medication (if needed) can be very effective.

So, the sensation is anxiety-related and it can last days to weeks, but with the right strategies, it does improve. You are not alone; many people with anxiety go through exactly this, and it does get better.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.