That feeling of shortness of breath is always uncomfortable, and this is especially true if there is no trigger or warning for this.
Many people wonder: How to tell if shortness of breath is from anxiety or if perhaps it’s a sign of a serious medical issue?
Breathlessness due to anxiety is a common condition, but knowing the symptoms, triggers, and dealing methods will help calm the nerves.
The Way Anxiety Can Affect Your Breathing
Anxiety is a condition that sets off a fight-or-flight response from the body that makes one breathe faster, have rapid heartbeats, and feel as if one’s out of breath.
In physical form, this mechanism is made to prepare one to face the danger head-on, but sustained anxiety in any form could lead to long-lasting breathlessness.
Can Stress and Anxiety Cause Shortness of Breath?
Indeed, stress and anxiety can make the body tense, and hence, stress breathlessness, and shallow breathing can result.
Therefore, as feeling short of breath intensifies, anxiety remains the only thing that makes symptoms worse.
Methods such as grounding, breathing control, and mindfulness exercises will be effective.
Can Anxiety Cause Trouble Breathing?
If you are someone who has found yourself in a situation where breathing feels as though the air is insufficient and you are about to faint, you are one of many people.
So, can anxiety cause trouble breathing? Yes, anxiety causes this by constraining the diaphragm, which causes the person to be short of breath and to breathe fast and brief.
Amid such anxiety, one may feel like the respiratory system is significantly affected, whereas the reality is that it is an outcome of anxiety.
Likewise, experiences of breathlessness and breath-holding are the most typical among people having anxiety-induced breathing issues.
Many people also ask, “Why do I hold my breath when anxious?” It can be due to natural human reactions regarding stress.
You can sometimes experience chest discomfort, followed by nausea if it continues untreated and untreated.
How to Know if Shortness of Breath is from Anxiety
Here’s how to know if shortness of breath is from anxiety:
You may have the overwhelming sensation that taking a deep is not possible
Hyperventilation—breathing too fast
Chest tightness without any physical exertion
A sensation of air hunger, even though oxygen levels are normal
Symptoms intensify when a person is stressed
For those of you who question, “How to know if shortness of breath is anxiety?” One of the things to be kept in mind is that one of the easiest ways to be sure that shortness of breath is due to anxiety is when, in most cases, the symptoms get better when one is distracted or tries to calm down.
The below points discuss the differences between the two breathlessness, that is, one being associated with stress and anxiety and the other being a medical concern:
Timing: Anxious patients complain about shortness of breath only in situations where they are having a panic attack or are overly stressed while having a medical concern with such symptoms will present even while you’re resting.
Accompanying Symptoms: If you feel faint, dizzy, or restless, then these sensations could stem from some form of anxiety, which might be the primary cause of your breathing troubles.
Relieving Techniques: Anxiety could be the underlying cause of your breathing problem only if after trying different breathing exercises and relaxation methods you are finally able to alleviate the shortness of breath.
In case you find difficulty in breathing on a regular basis or it becomes more intensive, consult a doctor to help you exclude other diseases such as bronchial asthma, coronary heart diseases, lung problems, and so on.
What You Can Do to Relieve Anxiety-Induced Breathlessness
If you think it is an anxiety factor, you can try these techniques to overcome it.
Practice diaphragmatic breathing: Start off by learning how to perform diaphragmatic breathing. It involves inhaling through the nose, doing a few second-long breath holds, and then slowly releasing the breath.
Engage in mindfulness: Meditation is a way of practicing mindfulness. You may also try the “grounding” exercises and focus on your breath which will promote breathing rhythm.
Maintain the habit of being active: Regular exercise is a very effective way to reduce stress and increase lung performance.
Get professional assistance: For the very reason that anxiety is the source, it will be useful for you to contact a mental health counselor.
Final Word
Anxiety-related breathing problems usually may be frightening, but being informed about the symptoms can aid you in management.
If you feel the symptoms are arising, the problem might get better with the help of relaxation techniques.
Nevertheless, it is advisable that you always seek professional help when such symptoms occur or worsen.
For those of you who may be struggling with anxiety and need support, our Synergy Behavioral Health experts would be glad to help.
Contact us today and let our professional team assist and support you in your anxiety management.
FAQs
How do I stop shortness of breath from anxiety?
Try these:
Slow, deep breathing exercises.
Mindfulness techniques.
Distraction methods to ease the symptoms.
How to really tell the difference between shortness of breath and anxiety?
Anxiety-caused shortness of breath usually happens when one is under some severe stress but one can be relieved of the problem by using relaxation methods.
But, the continued presence of symptoms, regardless of whether stress is present or not, is the result of chronic diseases.
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