Chronic hyperventilation Syndrome

[rawstrength]

I think I may have chronic hyperventilation syndrome :( . Lately I have felt dizzy sometimes. I also feel like I just can't catch my breath, like I can't breath deeply enough, and I want to yawn all the time.
Breating into a paper bag seems to bring temporary relief.
I think this was brought on by anxiety about living away from home. I have been dealing surprisingly well, considering that because of my learning disability I find transitions and change very difficult.

I just wish I could breath!! It is so frustrating to constantly feel like I am suffocating. This has been going on mildly for about three weeks, but for the past few days it has been way worse.

[jacsam]

I've never heard about this syndrome......sorry, it's bothering you. How long have you been living away from home? Are you enjoying yourself......I'm sure it's a big change and sometimes change just needs to be given time. I hope it starts to go away soon for you.

[rawstrength]

Thanks for the condolences, jacsam. I went for a walk outside and I'm feeling better, now.

[WendyLouWho]

I'm sorry you are dealing with this :( I don't know if it would apply since you are raw, but those are also symptoms of acidosis. Do you also sigh a lot or just yawn?

I dealt with the same issues years ago before going macrobiotic. For me it was acidosis. Stress and anxiety can also cause an acid system.

I hope you find relief.

[Zaphirah]

Wendylou-are you serious? I sigh CONSTANTLY. People point it out to me all the time. I do have a somewhat stressful life....huh. What is acidosis? :confused:

[Sugar Snap Pea]

Hi Rawstrength! My first thought was anxiety too, since you've gone off to college. But Google 'acidosis yawning', and it certainly sounds like this too!! Who knew!!

[WendyLouWho]

Acidosis is just an acid body ph. There are many causes, foods being one, but most fruits and veggies are alkaline forming. The SAD is very acid forming. Obviously that part doesn't apply to raw foodists :p However, stress could be a major contributing factor.

Try upping lemons in your diet. Though acid, they are alkaline forming in the body.

[rawstrength]

Thanks for the help, everyone.
I do believe that whether this is acidosis or hyperventilation syndrome, it is stress-induced.
I am making an effort to divide up my daily excersize routine into several smaller bursts instead of one long session, because nothing helps my anxiety and my breathing quite like excersize.
I also spent 20 minutes lying in bed doing deep breathing last night. This morning, I feel much, much better. I guess I just have to take extra special care of myself right now and make sure that I stay relaxed.
Also, I bought myself a new bra, because my current ones are getting tight and constrain my breathing. For some reason raw keeps making my breasts bigger?! Wearing the wrong size bra also makes my back achy, which further makes it difficult to breath. Also, tight, achy back muscles certainly don't help with anxiety.

[Sugar Snap Pea]

Here's something that always helps me with worrisome thoughts that I don't want to be thinking, and I taught my kids this, too. Every time one of those thoughts comes into my head, I immediately cancel it out with "Only good can come from this!" I keep doing it every time that thought comes into my head. And believe it. You can actually change those worrying feelings into good feelings with this technique. The funny thing is, whatever I was worrying about turns out good! Try it, it works!

[rawstrength]

I knew I'd get good suggestions on this board!
Thank you so much Sugar Snap Pea, that sounds like it works really well.

[Eva]

Don't throw tomatoes at me for this, anyone!

But -- have you thought about taking a computer break for a few days? I know you're a student, but there must be some way to work that out. I think that too much time in front of the computer (I'm one to talk! My job is with the computer full time!) can be really harmful to a person's well being.

I can't remember the name of it, but this woman (Dr. Lisa Nagy) on Martha's Vineyard told me about it. She specializes in the health problems people have that result from too much time with the computer, cell phone, etc...

I recently did not "allow" myself to be in front of the computer for two full days and found that I felt a marked improvement in the way I felt. (That was a tough two days too! LOL!)

[Eva]

OK!!! I just looked up the doctor I mentioned to see if she had any articles or anything on the internet, and I found her website!

You're never going to believe this... On this page, http://lisanagy.com/content.php?id=9
she actually lists a tight bra as being related to this problem.