Chest pain and breathing troubles

[BirthdayRainbow]

I've checked my oxygen levels and they are fine so I'm trying to ignore the pain in my chest and the fact I feel I am not breathing properly.

I am feeling anxious as my stbeh might appear at some point for his post. I've got the curtains open so when I see his car I can get upstairs.

I feel so silly but the pain is real and I feel like I can't breathe properly but my inhaler hasn't helped. Tbh I knew it wouldn't as this isn't an asthma attack.

Has anyone got my suggestions to help me please ? TIA.

Ok, so you know it's anxiety and this is how it's manifesting. Have you felt like this before with anxiety?

I suggest you do something to distract yourself, or talk through what might happen, to stop yourself catastrophising.

Deep breathing exercises might help, or meditating. Or try 54321 - name five things you can see, four things you can hear, three you can smell, two you can touch, one you can taste.

Good luck.

Thank you. I'm sure it's the worry about seeing him. I don't find knowing why helps as I'm still struggling. I think I will try and read a book for a bit. If he's not here in the next ten minutes then I just need to get to 8.30 and then he probably isn't coming today. I'll be worrying tomorrow day instead.

I have had this before and it is nearly always because of him.

It's awful when you get physical pain with anxiety. It just gives you that little bit of doubt where you think "but what if it's actually something wrong?"

To be fair, there is something wrong. Probably not with your heart or breathing, though.

What's wrong is that you're in a situation that makes you feel scared and out of control. That's valid.

But your body is treating the situation like you're a wildebeest running from a lion, which is (hopefully) overkill.

Deep breaths, and hang in there.

Thank you so much. You've explained that so well that I no longer feel silly for how I feel. I'm scared to see him but haven't worked out why yet but at least now I understand more what is happening. Thank you. I'll read this again tomorrow as I'm sure I'll have the same worry when I remember he might come over.

He may come today but I've shut the curtains and I'm just going to ignore what day it is and deal with it if he comes.