Hi @ianisnew, glad you found us too. Seems you're doing well to find answers to what might be going on. Though stress itself may not be the smoking gun, it can certainly contribute to the sensation of shortness of breath or air hunger. Do you have ways to managing and dealing with your stress?

You mention about straining while pushing out your breath as well as drawing in. That can indicate inflammation in the airways, like asthma would cause. Have you been tested for asthma or had any lung function tests done?