Lived Experience Forum

[Former-Member]

is there anyone who suffers panic attacks and asthma attacks mine set each other off and looking for techniques to control it

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member. 

I can't help you much except to say I have an asthma attack when I have a panic attack. Mine only started 5 years ago and every time I had a panic attack i got asthma too which was weird because I outgrew my asthma 20 years ago. I haven't found a way to control either the panic attack or the asthma that comes with it but I have only had two in the past three years now (not had one for maybe 18 months).  I hope you find someone who can help more than this but just wanted you to know that someone else has experienced it. Good luck💜😊

[Former-Member]

hi @Former-Member,

thanks it good to know that im not the only on to get double attacks i get mine frequently my last just 2weeks ago and the only option the hospital had in the end was sedation just so the could just get me breathing normally again

[Patriot3734]

Hi AJ1,

I too suffer from asthma and panic attacks, and yes they tend to trigger each other. My psychologist has prescribed meds for the panic attacks, and doctor has prescribed asthma meds. Personally, I have found that my changing the way I breath normally has actually worked better. I breath slower normally, and this helps me to control the asthma attack, and lets me use my mindfulness techniques to help with the panic attack. 

There is a book, "The mindful way through depression" which you may find useful. It teaches techniques of mindfulness, and gives some good insights into the inter-personal relationships we have.

Hope this is useful.

Patriot3734 

[Former-Member]

hi @Patriot3734,

thank-you ill have to see if i can find that book and i do have meds but like you they dont work the best so i dont actually take my antianxiety meds any more because the side effects just isnt worth it when they dont work to the extent i was told they should and then my dr keeps changing my asthma meds so it makes it hard to keep it in control but i do do the breathing it just doesnt always work for me but my local hospital has got me in with a respitory specialist after my last visit there so hopefully ill be able to work on controling my asthma

[pip]

@Former-Member. Unfortunately panicking sets off the asthma. When you suffer asthma, what happens (if you're not sure), your lungs close partially. You then get congestion which in turns blocks the airways. This causes the panic. When you start feeling the asthma set in, try to concentrate totally on your breathing. If you can, close your eyes, listen to your breathing. Start slowly counting. Breathe in through your nose (slowly), out through your mouth again slowly. Try to get rid of the congestion as this settles on your lungs causing the panic. Suddenly breathing becomes laboured when the lungs are blocked. I used to live on a farm and getting medical help with asthma was not easy. I had to learn breathing techniques. If you have meds or an inhaler use it by inhaling the fumes into your lungs, hold your breath for a second, then slowly exhale through your nose. The meds for your panic should also be used to help control the breathing. It will take time to adjust to this method, but you have nothing to lose. Asthma can be an emotional problem caused by arguments, domestic situations, smoking etc. My dad was a chronic smoker, my home life was anything but harmonious. Once I got away from the problems at home, my asthma was more easily controlled. Have a look at your home surroundings, gardens, pollen etc, sometimes a long haired cat or dog can be contributing.

[Daisy3]

Hi I'm new to this but not to my anxiety and panic attacks I'm 55 and been having them as long as I can remember I've been on and off anti depressants but can't seem to ever be over if I worry about my health all the time and my dr has put me on antidepressants l which I've been on before but I'm scared to take it and I don't know why as I've had it before but when I put it in my mouth I take it out I just can't do it .. I am over feeling this way and just want to be happy .. I'm married to a wonderful man but he doesn't know how I suffer as he's not very sympathetic to this sort of stuff so when I have a attack I have to go in another room and get over it ..

[pip]

@Daisy3. Perhaps your hubby doesn't understand because he doesn't know what to do. What worries you about taking the AD's, is it the thought that the AD's are a type of emotional crutch? When you say your hubby is not a sympathetic type of person, he may be feeling out of his depth or 'comfort zone' with your MI. Anxiety/panic comes under MI. I think your anxiety/panic could be caused by the feeling of 'he doesn't understand'. You worry about how he seems unsympathetic to your health. The more you worry, the more anxious you become, then panic sets in because you want to hide your worry. Quite a vicious cycle. Are you supposed to take your AD at the same time every day? When you take the AD, is your hubby actually aware it is an AD? I would take the AD, tell hubby it's just for headaches, or it's a vitamin because you're vitamin deficient. If you were vitamin deficient, you wouldn't hesitate to take something. Unfortunately, the down side is you may take a while to adjust to the AD. During adjustment period, you may have to revisit Dr/psych whoever prescribed it. Once you've adjusted and the AD starts working, you may start feeling a lot better.

[Daisy3]

Last night I had the worst panic attack I've had in ages and had to go to hospital my husband to me at first he was angry as he thinks I didn't need it but he was really good at the hospital and has been good all day for some reason I feel very panicky when I go to bed .. I just had another panic attack but managed to calm down . I hope this gets better soon