You know youre about to experience shortness of breath.
The more you attempt to avoid it, the more anxiety ensues.
What Is Air Hunger?
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Heather Ann Voyer knows this all too well.
In her mid-20s, she was diagnosed with anxiety.
When I cant breathe, I panic, she says.
“Sometimes I feel like I cant catch my breath.
Sometimes its like pressure in my chest.
My fingers go tingly because I hyperventilate to compensate.
She became a therapist after years of her own struggles with anxiety.
Her first panic attack occurred during a doctors visit in 2010.
Why Does Air Hunger Happen?
Interoception can become dysregulated with anxiety disorders.
In these cases, the brain may misinterpret normal physiological sensations as dangerous, says Strawn.
However, Strawn says doing so can actually make the symptoms worse.
Instead, he suggestsslowing your breathand engaging the parasympathetic (calming) system.
Nowak also finds breathing techniques helpful.
Nowak usescognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)to help her clients with anxiety and panic.
She says CBT is helpful for learning how to manage air hunger.
This approach has helped her personally, too.
I had to get to some acceptance and stop struggling against the anxiety.
Can Medication Help Prevent Air Hunger?
This suggests important differences in underlying biology of a disorder like panic disorder, says Strawn.
Weve also learned that people with panic disorder are especially sensitive to inhaled carbon dioxide.
I have tried medications aplenty.
In spite of this information, I still struggle quite a bit.
She also sought help fromIntensified Outpatient Therapyprograms.
Counseling and meditation for me is critical.
Having lifelines is crucial.
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