Hello there, after a while and a lot of convincing I had to accept that I had had a panic attack that remained on going at a very low level and anxiety on top of it. I don’t take anything for either and haven’t had an attack since but every now and then anxiety will build up which makes it hard to breathe so I take a moment away from everything and calm down. I never had panic attacks before this or any feeling of anxiety which is why I found it so hard to accept. But one doctor explained it quite well. When this all began, that year I had spent 5 months looking after my mother who had terminal breast cancer and sadly passed. Being the oldest child and my father having passed many years before meant that all her care during and arrangements for after fell on me. I was then getting married 6months after my mother’s passing which again was mainly up to me to plan and then honey moon a few months after that. Add on top of that a very stressful job and I can see how anxiety can sneak in there. But essentially doctor said once I was finished planning and doing all these things, which is when the attack happened, my brain sort of broke. because it had been working overtime at such a high level of anxiety and panic, when there was nothing to be anxious or panic about it didn’t know how to react and so it panicked! Enter my month long panic attack and anxiety that I still deal with. It may sound odd but I think it actually does make quite a bit of sense. Once I stopped fighting this diagnosis the breathing slowly got better.
I also have body dysmorphia which may be another reason this all began in the gym. By the end of that year I had lost so much weight from stress and not eating properly that I felt better in my appearance and now when I put on weight it does bring out my anxiety and I can feel panic seething under the surface. But again, I just have to step back and take a moment and a few deeps breaths ironically and it helps.
I hope you find a reason behind your breathing issue and that it can be handled quickly and easily. All the best