Anyone with constant air hunger and anxiety during stressful time?

Hi, I’m very sorry about your troubles with air hunger, I have been going through this for many years and trying to control it with breathing exercises is very difficult for me to manage properly..it’s like you’re going around in circles and nothing can make you more anxious than an inability to breathe properly. I am however concerned about you mentioning using Ativan to help relieve stress and I know only too well that it works very well, the problem is that when the medication wears off everything returns again and even feels worse. I’ve been taking Ativan for many years and I’m dependent on it for my stress problems, it only takes about 2 weeks to start getting a continuing need for it, please save yourself a lot of heartache and get another medication from your psychiatrist that will help you feel better without the risk of addiction, I speak from experience and if I can help you to avoid this problem then I’m happy that I contacted you, good luck and take care.

I might suggest Buspar. I take it regularly for anxiety and have for 9 years.

Does buspar rev you up? I tried it and I was bouncing off walls

In January, 2023, I quit taking the antipsychotic (Zyprexa) after using for ten years, in part, because I developed air hunger.

It went away almost immediately and hasn't resurfaced.

At the same time, I also cut way back on the antidepressant, Lamotrigine, which I'd also been taking for many years. So, I'm not certain which one was the root cause of my air hunger. I'd taken a mix of anti-anxiety drugs over that time period without any appreciable relief from the breathing difficulties.

My 2 cents.

Hi, I was wondering how you are feeling now, have you seen your doctor yet to get some help with your symptoms. I responded to your message a few days ago and expressed concern about the Ativan your psychiatrist was giving to you, I realize that I didn’t ask if you have any medical condition that causes this problem, you never mentioned that you have any health issues that could be the cause. I basically went on the assumption that you were suffering from anxiety because you’re in the care of a psychiatrist. I sincerely hope that you’re getting the right treatment and that the air hunger is improving.

Those were some pretty heavy medications that you were on and for an extended period of time. At best, I would suggest to anyone have a review with your PCP/Pharmacist yearly to see if there is a possibility of a dose reduction or even discontinuing a medication. Also, it is better to make one change at a time.....that way you will be better equipped to figure out which medication was doing/not doing to help your symptoms. The important thing now is that you are feeling better!

Trata de hacer respiraciones pausadas y largas centrándote solo en el ejercicio de respirar. Inhala y exhala lo más lento que puedas y trata de ir haciéndolas cada vez más profundas. A mí me ayuda mucho.

@jdbarr1 years ago I was referred to a mental health facility where I saw either a psychiatrist or psychologist - can’t remember which. Until then, I was like you, continuous anxiety attacks and the slightest exertion triggered air hunger. I would always have my hand on my bottle of Ativan, ready to pop one under my tongue when an attack merely started, and almost immediately I would feel breathing and anxiety slow down. This doctor told me that even though I believed relief with Ativan was almost immediate it was only my brain telling me so … that in actual fact, Ativan and all medications take at least twenty minutes to kick in! He told me I had to let go of my dependence on this and any other medication and learn to breathe properly.

He tried teaching me breathing techniques but my situation was so bad he couldn’t get me to give up my grip on my Ativan bottle. He finally had me enrolled in a Relaxation Therapy Program where I finally learned to breathe and control my anxiety - without the Ativan.

Learning how to breathe didn’t come easily or overnight, but with practice it has become my normal breathing pattern (belly breathing) and although I still do suffer from general anxiety I am nowhere as bad as I had been.

Hi @jdbarr1, how are you faring now? I too have an air hunger issue, though I've been able to manage it over the years so wondering how you're doing. I might be able to give you some pointers.

I was suffering air hunger issues that would lead to a severe panic attack. At first, I was sent to do a stress ECG, which I was unable to complete. This led to a lung X-ray and I was found to have Interstitial Lung Disease. Rule out any issues with your lungs as my blood/oxygen saturation was sitting at 81% and when I walked it was dropping to 61%. This had been overlooked for I am guessing a year or more as it kind of creeps up on you and you adapt.