Health OCD/anxiety shortness of breath

Sounds like these two types of OCD, before I knew I had OCD I had a very long bout of feeling like I had to manually breathe I was also having panic attacks at the time and then it just went away now that I know I have OCD it makes a lot of sense how it just came and went Health OCD: The constant focus on symptoms, the fear of a serious health condition despite medical reassurance, and the urge to check (like oxygen levels) are key signs. This subtype is centered around obsessive thoughts about illness and compulsions like body scanning, symptom checking, and seeking reassurance. Sensorimotor OCD: The hyper-awareness of the breathing process, feeling like the breathing is noticeable or wheezy even though physically it isn’t, is very characteristic of Sensorimotor OCD. This happens when the brain locks onto automatic bodily sensations (like breathing or blinking) and the person can’t stop noticing them.

I can totally relate and struggle with very similar scanning issues with shortness of breath. One thing that helps me is attributing it to anxiety. If my anxiety makes my heart beat faster and makes my muscles tense from stress, then it seems logical that my breath would be labored. Of course, when we’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to convince ourselves of that. But trying to remind myself that anxiety plays a toll on the body and having a heavy chest that feels similar to shortness of breath is expected. I try to do some deep breathing to prove to myself I can in these moments. Sometimes meditation is the best possible practice because when you focus on your breath, you can see how you can get a deep breath. But I write all of this currently feeling that same kind of shortness of breath and it’s easier said than done. See if you can focus on something outside of yourself - like a tree moving in the wind, and breathe with the movement, see how deep your breath can go.

I struggled with shortness of breath and anxiety, but how I was treated by nurses and doctors when I went to the ER really helped. I went into the ER breathing really heavily, and the nurse checking me in seemed completely unbothered. She checked my oxygen levels, saw it was fine, and apathetically led me to a room. Every nurse and doctor that came in acted like nothing was wrong and this was all routine and just to wait it out. I was so distressed!!! I can’t breathe!!!!! Why don’t they care!!!!!!! I finally was able to slow my breath and start feeling better, then I laid down and felt like I was choking and started hyperventilating and absolutely freaking out. A nurse calmly went and got me an anxiety pill. They knew it was anxiety all along because my oxygen was fine!!! I realized that they are trained to respond like that for anxiety-related symptoms. When I would get shortness of breath afterward, I’d tell myself to act like the ER nurses. My watch says my oxygen is fine. This is just anxiety. Anxiety can’t kill me!! If I relax and wait it out, I’ll be fine. Eventually, I stopped having shortness of breath.

Yep!