Why do I have breathing anxiety?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 25-year-old, weighing approximately 140 pounds, and 6 feet and 1 inch tall. I have a question regarding anxiety and breathing. I often experience breathing anxiety and have a fear that I might stop breathing. I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety and have been following the advice from an excellent book called the Dare Response, which has been beneficial. The author of the book mentions that you would not stop breathing due to breathing anxiety, but I would like to seek confirmation from a medical expert to be certain. My specific question is, is it ever possible to stop breathing solely due to severe anxiety, assuming there are no underlying medical problems aside from the anxiety itself? I do have well-controlled asthma and eczema, for which I have medications, and I occasionally experience hay fever, also managed with medication. I am not concerned about breathing issues related to these medical conditions because I have appropriate treatment for them. My primary concern is the possibility of stopping breathing as a result of anxiety. Kindly provide your insight.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern. Firstly, I would like to inform you that, a lot of individuals have anxiety with breathing problems. It is very common. You have asthma and allergy, which increases the risk of breathing issues during anxiety, even if these are controlled. To get relief from this, you must understand the anxiety response of your body. First, you have to learn why you are having symptoms. Anxiety is a learned behavior, and behavior therapy can help reduce the symptoms. Breathing exercises or yoga, too, have roles. If you have the will to take medicines, I would suggest drugs like Escitalopram or Sertraline to help reduce the anxiety. However, I would also suggest you avoid taking drugs like Propranolol or Atenolol, which are beta-blockers and worsen asthma and, thus, breathing issues. Try to identify the triggers, and then by breathing exercises, try to control the response. I hope this has helped you. Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern. Yes, even if an individual has no other breathing issue and only anxiety in that case serious breathing issues can be seen in panic or severe anxiety. But breathing will not stop completely, he or she might feel severe difficulty in breathing and at the end they will have their respiration. It is not possible to stop breathing completely in anxiety. I hope this has helped you. Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.