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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (3412)Comment receiving replies
@steveso Thanks for sharing your experience. It's very difficult, but one thing I wanted to to discourage you from is saying that 'nothing will help.' Though we haven't found a cure yet, I'm confident that there's an answer out there somewhere, we just haven't found it yet. 🙂 It's difficult to have the positive mentality when we've been suffering for so long, but I feel like having hope and knowing that there is an answer keeps us going and always gives us hope. So don't lose hope my friend! There is an answer. I think being positive about it contributes to feeling a bit better and eases the suffering a bit; we just have to be persistent!
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@gabrielm - Great answer. One thing that is so frustrating about SOB is that whatever causes this also causes stress and anxiety which makes this a two edged sword. Two edged because both can cause the other, so you get a double whammy. Let me give a basic understanding of the differences between stress and anxiety. I'm sure that most of you will know this, but just in case. Also this clarification might help you manage your SOB.
Stress is basically a normal response our bodies have to any change. Such changes can be either positive or negative. The less control we have over the situation, which is creating the stress we are experiencing, the more intense the stress reaction will most likely be. We experience stress as a response to even positive changes in our lives; but the stress reaction, itself, is also positive at times.
Anxiety can be a result of prolonged stress, along with depression and panic attacks. But stress is not, necessarily, anxiety; nor does it automatically, or consistently, result in anxiety in all people. Stress and anxiety certainly share some common characteristics, which may account for why they are confused at times. So one is physical and one is emotional.
I believe that that there is a cause for every reaction and action. And I strongly agree with @gabrielm that there is an answer, somewhere. I know that this is very scary and frustrating. There really isn't much scary than not being able to take a breath and find that you can't, at least not the way you expect. Unless your fingernails and lips and toes aren't turning blue, you are getting enough oxygen. If you have any new symptoms hop over to your ER so that you can stop the lack of oxygen as soon as possible so it won't cause any damage.
@steveso- Have you found anything that helps you manage your anxiety?
@mario1966- Welcome to Connect. I am so glad that you have found us. What have you found that works for you?
@krisv- Welcome to Connect. I hope that all of you have read this person's post!