Stress Center Peer Support

I have severe anxiety, does chest discomfort continue on? To explain, I always think I have trouble breathing. It goes away wehen Im with friends or in a "safe" zone..but stays all other times. The Dr. Says it anxiety nd not to worry about it. Does this make sense?

Makes sense to me. I was badly injured a couple years ago in a crash, and I was unable to walk much for stand for long periods of time for almost two years. I have the opposite problem--if I am at home or out somewhere alone walking around, I'm perfectly fine. But if I'm walking into work in the morning or otherwise around a lot of people, I start getting that panicky feeling--chest hurts and feels tight, and I start getting short of breath. I comfort myself and try and talk myself down by telling myself that I don't have that happen all the time--just at certain times. If it was an actual physical condition causing it, I'd have it all the time. The fact that you don't have it happen when you are with your friends or in a safe zone tells me too that it is just anxiety. So I agree with your doctor when he/she says not to worry about it. I hope that helps some...

Hi,

I have had a similar problem - where I feel short of breath and sometimes there's a tightness in my chest. Of course it feels like it always happens at the worst possible times like when I'm at work or even driving. Usually this is where my panic starts and attacks can begin. I do notice however that when I'm with friends or family I do feel safe and this panicky feeling kind of diminishes. I think that's part of the anxiety...feeling some sense of comfort in knowing that if anything would happen these people would take care of me.

What I have been doing lately when the shortness of breath things happen is to try to remove myself from the situation (i.e. going outside) and taking deep breaths and telling myself that this is just the result of anxiety and nothing more. Listening to music is also a good distraction. Hope that helps some...

Hey, I too deal with chestpain, like I have a ceiling in my chest and I can't breathe deep enought.I can still breathe, but I feel limited. Under the Find' button on top, I searched tight chest and can't breathe and I saw alot of old posts that helped me ALOT! One gal posted all the ways she overcame it, alot of positive self talk, "i'm fine, I CAN breathe, I"M NOT going to pass out, It's just tense muscles in my chest, it has NOTHING to do with my lungs. All our other muscles get tense, makes sense that our chest muscles might get tense, but it doesn't change our lung capacity. I also find lifting my arms above my head when my chest feels tight help to 'open up my chest'. Search it out, you'll read alot of feedback. Hope this helps! peace and prayers.

Thank you all!