DD 12 keeps feeling like she can’t breathe

[Shnook]

First happened the other night in bed. She wasn’t gasping for air or anything - she just said she felt like she had to keep thinking about her breathing or it would stop. My immediate thought was anxiety so I talked to her for a bit and she was fine.

It happened again the other day and just now in the car. She said she wasn’t really thinking about anything and she just got the feeling again.

I don’t think there’s anything particular she’s anxious about but she is at an age where hormones have really kicked in, schoolwork is getting harder so I think she’s got a lot going on her mind at the moment iyswim.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? How can I help her and reassure her it’s mental not physical (which I’m pretty sure it is?)

My youngest had this wouldn’t be able to catch their breath. I thought it was nerves. Turns out it was Pleurisy!
Im also the Mum who would send the kids back to school when they’d be unwell and we’re seemingly better and back to their normal loud selves running around etc only to get calls to say they’d vomited in class and we’re looking terrible

I remember having a similar feeling around the same age. The doctor prescribed beta blockers but I never took them, I think once I knew that I could take something to make it stop, it sort of subsided on its own, if that makes sense. Definitely psychological but definitely a real feeling.

@MadonnasKebab oh gawd, that’s worrying!! Hope your DC was ok? I’m probably the opposite - always jump to the worst case scenario immediately so I’m trying to be measured about this. She doesn’t actually appear to be struggling for breath, she just starts becoming hyper aware of her breathing and then feels like she’s consciously controlling it and if she stops thinking about it, she’ll stop breathing.

@tb4122 that’s reassuring. Was there anything in particular you were worrying about? I’m trying to avoid the dr if possible as I feel like I’m always quick to go to the GP but of course I will, if I need to.

This has also happened to my daughter at the same age. Beta blockers prescribed but we are trying some counselling first.

When my son had issues (getting anxious, couldn't sleep, aware of own heartbeat etc) I did breath-work with him and it seemed to help. Basic stuff, in through the nose for a certain count, out through the mouth, belly breathing etc. apparently it stimulates the vagus nerve which helps, but I'm a bit hazy on the details because it was a while ago now, but might be worth googling.

I also gave him essential oil roll-ons to help him be distracted from unwarranted internal bodily worries/focus by external pleasant smells. (I'm not saying your child's worries are unwarranted, just my child's were). Have to be careful with those in case of eczema etc. but several companies make them, sometimes they're advertised as pulse point roll-ons, I think M&S do one too.

Has she had covid lately? Best to consult a GP to rule out anything physical first

Feeling anxious can make you hyperventilate. It’s a useful adaptation if you then need to use the flight of fight response. It’s a pain in the arse if you just need to stop your brain going a bit mad over something that isn’t an immediate threat to your safety. When you hyperventilate, the ratio of CO2 in your system decreases too much. You can correct it by slowing down your breathing. That’s what breathing exercises do, they increase the level of CO2 in your system (or decrease the level of everything else, crucially including oxygen). An easy one - breathe in as you slowly count to five, breathe out as you slowly count to five.

My son is 10 and has been saying this alot recently and about if his heart it still going! He goes to play Therapy and also mentioned this to her. I know going back to school in two weeks is going to be a real struggle now 😔😔

I had the same thing around that age then it happened again early in all three of my pregnancies so I’ve always assumed it’s hormonal.

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress/
Here’s the NHS approved version!

@Schnook

I sometimes get random supraventricular tachycardia and ectopic heart beats and I think I'd had both at the time and just become really aware of my own heartbeat. Since been checked out and all fine cardiac wise but it was the anxiety causing the feeling (and making my heart more likely to do funny things!). Agree with a poster asking if your daughter has had Covid recently. I got dreadful anxiety after having Covid recently, I thought it was my pregnancy hormones but I've since heard it's quite common.

Thank you all. She did actually have Covid mildly recently. However, it’s only happened once since I posted and I really feel it’s psychological. I tried breathing exercises with her when it did happen and that helped. I will of course take her to the GP if it keeps happening.

Dd was getting this but was actually heart palpitations caused by anaemia from heavy periods

Maybe worth asking for a blood test if she's menstruating

My son had a similar thing and chest pains with it was diagnosed with pre cordial catch. Wasnt anything to worry about and he has ASD so is particularly anxious. I would keep an eye on it but if it doesnt settle it cant hurt to get it checked out.