I agree with you and think it is cruel to tell anyone with a mental health problem to "pull themselves together", I've had bipolar and anxiety for years which I've got under control with the help of an understanding psychiatrist and GP and a good regime of meds. Curiously I also have asthma (not related to the anxiety in my case), not bad, but distressing none the less. I started with it as a baby in the 50's (that dates me ), the only thingh I would agree with Jay about is that you ashould keep your inhaler with you. I have one in my bedside table, anohter in the car and another in my handbag and even when I haven't had an attack for ages I still keep them to hand and especially, check that they are in date.
Unfortunately I only have one asthma pump and on occasions due to rushing around in the morning getting myself and my young son ready I sometimes leave the house without picking it up.
Sorry to hear you've had asthma for such a period of time but I'm glad you manage it - something which I'm hoping to be able to do in time.
Having had asthma all my life and also experiencing servere anxiety for a few years, I know the signs and symptoms can be very similiar, but a few things to consider:
- what came first? the asthma, or the panic? If you notice your chest is tight (or you are wheezing for example) and then you start to panic, it's likely that your asthma is playing up. If you start to panic for no reason and then notice asthma-like symptoms, it could be caused by anxiety.
- is there any wheezing present? if so, it's probably asthma. If not then the unpleasent sensations could be due to hyperventilation which is basically caused by overbreathing too much oxygen (VERY common in people with anxiety). Research it.
- it's possible to experience asthma symptoms and remain calm (but asthma it's self can lead to feeling very anxious, which confuses things)
- have you ever had a full blown asthma attack? Being diagnosed with asthma doesn't mean you are guranteed to experience one
- in my experience panic attacks last longer and are more fightening. Also if it's an asthma attack, using the reliever usually helps within about 10-15mins and everything calms down after then.
Judging from your comments, your problem here is the anxiety (dreading the day ahead, losing confidence, wanting to be normal etc). Are you getting help with this?
And yes, an asthma attack could potenially kill you. But it depends on how severe your asthma is.
I am a natural worrier which probably doesn't help and I don't recall ever experiencing any wheezing which I thought then meant I didn't/don't have asthma.
My breathing has been an issue for a while and I have started doing some breathing techniques to try and refocus my brain to breathe again correctly. I'm still practising this so hopefully in time things will get better.
Touch wood I have never had a full below attack. Tonight I did take my reliever though which left me slightly shaky and a racing heart - again I don't know if it was a side effect.
I have got a cough too which isn't helping matters.
I am currently having CBT to try and help me and am due to see the asthma nurse on Thursday.
Can I ask you a question (and apologies if it sounds stupid) but if I take the reliever - 2 puffs and it's still no better in 10-15 minutes can I take another 2? If so how long can I continue doing this before knowing that I need help?
Yeah a lot of the confusion with anxiety/asthma comes from the fact that poor breathing can cause both. On the plus side, breathing techiques can also help with both! Check out the 'Buteyko' breathing method. Have a go on the 'exercises to reverse mouth breathing' part, and see how long you can hold your breath.
Using your reliver can give you those symptoms, I get it if I have to use mine too much. And yeah you can use it again in about 10-15mins if you need to. If you are really struggling for breath and the reliver isn't helping (I believe they say you can use it upto 10 times (2 puffs each time), you should get medical assistance. However if the reliver isn't working, maybe it's not the asthma...But play it safe!
Unfortunately the link between asthma and anxiety isn't something all GP's are aware of. And good luck with the CBT, that should definitely help! Make sure you make the asthma nurse aware of your anxiety and see if she can advise further.
Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link as it was to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. Users can Google the term.
You can use an inhaler up to TEN TIMES x 2 ?? ARE YOU A DOCTOR kai86 ? My moderate use over the years of asthma medicaments has given me atrial fibrilation. Where is a moderature now to correct this lethal advice from kai86 ???
Hi tinytitch22, I have had asthma since I was 2 now 26. I hadnt had an attack since I was 12 until last year, I noticed before hand that I had pains in my chest, shortness of breath and found it difficult to do simple things such as walking up stairs without getting breathless. Then when I had the attack I couldn't breath at all and my chest felt as if someone was crushing my chest. I had my inhaler at the time and was able to get passed it with it. I have had an attack before and not had my inhaler, all I could do was try and remain calm and try my hardest to breath but I was able to get an inhaler quite quickly.
Thanks for replying and telling me your story. It's reasuring to know that even though I've been diagnosed as asthmatic it doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to have an attack, and even if I do, they don't have to occur that often.
I have started carrying my inhalers everywhere with me and have asked for a couple more so I can leave them places I.e at work in my drawer, in my handbag etc
Hopefully as times goes on, I'll become more conscious of the symptoms and less fearful of having it.
Having them handy in various places is good idea I always have one in the car and at work.
As I said before I have had asthma for years and have never had any issues controlling it still very able to continue play sports I enjoy, I've always been told swimming is good for asthmatics. The thing I have always noticed with my asthma any way is that an attack will not randomly happen you will always have signs maybe a day or two before it happens.
For example the last one I had I was having bad chest pains for weeks before and developed a really bad cough a found walking up the stairs would take my breath away. Turned out a had pneumonia and the attack was because of that.
I've always said take you inhalers when your meant to and go to regular asthma clUnicode appointments and you will be able to manage it easily.