The Latin word for “shortness of breath” is “dyspnoe,” which means “difficulty breathing.” This is a broad term that can mean a lot of different things, like breathing quickly, shallowly, having trouble taking deep breaths, feeling short of breath, or having a heavy feeling in the chest. The symptom could come on quickly or last for a long time. The doctor has a hard time figuring out what causes dyspnea because breathing problems can be caused by both the body and the mind.
How do I recognize it?
Breathing problems are a common sign of many mental illnesses, especially anxiety disorders (also called “neurosis”) and depression. The main sign of vegetative (neurasthenic) neurosis is shortness of breath. Even though it is a mental illness, there are physical signs of it. In neurosis, there are other signs besides shortness of breath:
- palpitations,
- tightness of the chest,
- tightness in the throat (” throat lump “),
- headaches and dizziness,
- dry mouth,
- blushing,
- nausea, vomiting,
- diarrhea,
- sweating,
- paresthesias , e.g. in the form of numbness, tingling in the hands, legs or around the mouth.
- irritability,
- anxiety.
People with neurosis often first see gastroenterologists or cardiologists, who try to figure out what is wrong with them based on these symptoms. If the test results are normal and the shortness of breath doesn’t get worse over weeks or months, it’s probably mental.
Causes of shortness of breath in the nervous background
Vegetative neurosis is a mental disorder that gets worse when a person is weak, stressed, tired, or has had strong emotional experiences. Fear of dying and panic attacks are sometimes linked to neurosis symptoms like shortness of breath. The patient is worried that his tight chest and trouble breathing will kill him. Luckily, this is not likely to happen. It is not possible for the body to stop getting oxygen for no good reason. Even if the person has trouble breathing for a while, his brain will force him to take a breath at some point.
Sometimes, as a result of neurotic dyspnea, there is also rapid uncontrolled breathing . This can exacerbate unpleasant symptoms such as dizziness, numbness and tingling in the extremities associated with hyperventilation.
Treatment of dyspnea in neurosis
First of all, you should know that having trouble breathing because of neurosis is not dangerous. It won’t make you suffocate or cause any other serious problems. You can frequently feel better and resolve the bothersome issue by realizing that shortness of breath is not a disease but rather a sign of stress and is not life-threatening.
If shortness of breath is the main symptom of neurosis, makes it hard to function, and happens often, the doctor may suggest antidepressants and sleep aids. Psychotherapy is helpful because it can help you figure out what’s making you upset and teach you how to deal with your fears. Try ways to calm down. There are several ways to relax:
- a walk in the woods,
- conversation with a kind, calm person,
- meditation,
- reading an interesting book,
- breathing techniques,
- playing with a dog,
- cooking, flower care, or other quiet household chores
- warm bath,
- listening to quiet music
- creating handicrafts (painting, embroidery, DIY, etc.).
A proper, healthy diet is also important, which has a beneficial effect on the entire body.
Other possible causes of shortness of breath
Difficulties in breathing are a common symptom of neurotic disorders, but they can also indicate many other health problems. Possible causes of shortness of breath include:
- bronchial asthma,
- pneumonia,
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
- ischemic heart disease,
- pulmonary embolism,
- heart failure
- foreign body in the respiratory tract,
- anemia (anemia)
- lack of physical activity, sedentary work.
It’s important to remember that shortness of breath caused by diseases like asthma or COPD can make you more likely to get depressed or anxious. It is a disease that can both cause mental disorders and make them worse when it is caused by a disease. Because of this, it is important to help a patient who has trouble breathing because of his condition. This affects his overall health and prognosis.
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