Anxiety cough

[itsalearningcurve]

Never appeared to have anxiety before but this pandemic caused me to be become anxious and fearful of me catching covid or one of my loved ones.
Had cold few days ago which made my anxiety worse.
Appear to have developed an anxiety cough. Goes away when sleeping and if fully relaxed doing something fun or even if talking to people (fearful of coughing incase they think it's covid and so appear to be able to control it)
Those with anxiety how do you get it under control and those with anxiety cough how do you get that under control.
Thanks

Hi I can't help with an anxiety cough but to get my anxiety under control I have to take the best care of myself I can. Not always an easy thing but early nights, eating properly, exercise even if it's just a daily walk and also finding someone to confide in about my feelings. Seemed hard at first but now I tell friends when my feelings of being overwhelmed or anxious are interfering with my day to day life. Its OK to not be ok. And also ok to speak to your gp about your feelings or cough.
How are you doing today @itsalearningcurve?

Thank you for replying.
I had a nice long hot soak yesterday and good sleep and feel a bit better today. If I try to focus on things other than the pandemic and how so many have lost people etc I've noticed I don't cough!
I think I'm just a bit down, I lost my job earlier this year and don't really do anything now so allowing my mind to worry to much.
I've just messaged someone about something else and mentioned how I'm feeling and strangely I feel a bit better at the moment.
I think it all honesty I've too much time to think about things at the moment and need to find something to focus on.

Well done for mentioning how you're feeling to a friend. That was the hardest thing for me. Keep on with the tlc and being kind to yourself, but if you eel things getting worse or becoming more difficult don't leave it too long to seek help or further advice. X

Oh my goodness, this is me. Honestly, I'm absolutely terrified of getting the virus and suffering really bad anxiety with depression. I definitely have an anxious cough. Every morning. If I'm busy then it stops, but mornings are terrible, then im so worried that I'm sick. X

Justsmileandcarryon only just seen your reply. I'm terrified too and don't ever remember being so anxious.
Doesn't help that OH is relaxed and we have so many different views regarding this pandemic and so are arguing more.

I've just seen this thread and I also have what might be an anxious cough, I'm finding it so difficult to figure out. It started on 20 December, the day after the terrifying tier 4 / new strain announcement, which itself is suspicious. I got tested on boxing day and it was negative but the cough just won't go away! Like you I can control it so I don't cough on Zoom. It does also seem better when I'm distracted which unfortunately isn't much of the time!

Not helping with the anxiety is that I'm also 27 weeks pregnant in a high risk twin pregnancy situation with weekly scans. I'm ringing ahead to all my scans now to tell them about the cough even though I've tested negative, I just feel so terrible I might be putting people at risk. I can't shake the feeling my test might have been a false negative.

@itsalearningcurve, @Justsmileandcarryon, @mrsdiddlydoo did any of you find your cough went away eventually, or figure out anything that helped?

(And sorry for the rant, I'm just really struggling with this.)

@RosettaR unfortunately my cough is still there. Usually morning time and when I'm busy it still stops. I've been tested a few times and each time is negative. I've just starting counselling and increased my meds. I hope you're okay x

I totally have this! Except I didn't work out anxiety was causing it for the longest time, doesn't help that I am prone to actual coughs too. For me just distraction is the best thing. Also, if I feel out of breath then start thinking about it then that can start it off so if I am feeling anxious sometimes I will avoid getting out of breath (for some reason it doesn't bother me so much for actual intentional exercise, more something like if I need to go up lots of flights of stairs quickly). Sounds like you could maybe do with being quite conscious about how often you check the news at the minute as well? Easy to get sucked in but no need to check it more than once a day.

My cough disappeared but I wonder if some of mine was related to acid reflux because I started to eat better but now I've been eating rubbish for two weeks I'm noticed a little niggle but then it could also be that schools are back tomorrow and I'm a little worried about that.

Woke up with cough again!!

Schools closed but come to conclusion some of my cough is definitely anxiety related. I was anxious about schools opening but now very worried how long they will be shut and stressed about attempting to be a teacher. Before anyone shouts at me, I'll be monitoring it and will go for a test if any different than the last few times.