How I Recover From Panic Breathing

By Jeffrey J Collings

Tips on how to recover from panic breathing include using a pulse oximeter, pursed-lip breathing, using a rescue inhaler, and more.

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Jeffrey J Collings Moderator
<inline-mention username="johnmarshall" user-id="2437967"/> <inline-mention username="Alesandra Bevilacqua" user-id="2402357"/> please pass along a huge thank you to I.T/Creative for giving my Video meme some muscular arms!! I'm living vicariously through this sketch now. HaHa 😉
me308699
I use music every night to fall asleep, only way I can.
1. Jeffrey J Collings Moderator
 <inline-mention username="me308699" user-id="2458964"/> that sounds great as this is common to have something for white noise. I use a thunderstorm with rain App for the same purpose. Thank you for adding to the conversation. Jeff (COPD.net Team)
mikern
thx
mikern
I do exactly as you describe, works for me. I have had anxiety attacks my entire life, long before my COPD. Just wasn’t sure if other ha@d@ the same reaction as I do. I am a gay man, I was reprimanded once in a forum on the COPD foundation site for saying I was gay and our support system is different. I was told this isn’t a sex sight, it was odd. So I left the support site and never went back. Saying your gay is not talking about sex, somebody has some guilt issues over there.
1. Janet Plank Moderator
 <inline-mention username="mikern" user-id="2453664"/> hello Mike, thanks for responding. First let me clarify, I usually say ‘I know somewhat’ to about everything. About the time I say, I totally understand or something similar, I’m reminded that I don’t know all. Lol For my daughter, mother of 3, this is ‘somewhat’ new to her too. I just tell her that I’m always here for them. It’s a blessing to have another adult daughter calling me mom. My stepdaughter and her family live quite a distance away and they have 3 boys between 9 mo to age 4. Next year they come back to visit. I can’t wait. I believe they have 20 some years together. I also have a transgendered 41 year old child. My hubby and I will be married 18 years in August. We are blessed with 18 grandchildren. Now you have heard part of my family life in 18 years. The main reason that I am sharing all of this, is so that you realize that we are here for you and we don’t judge. This COPD group, COPD.net is open to all. Invite your family and friends. Do you have any other advice for those struggling with panic attacks? I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to have them as a child, adulthood can be difficult. So many suffer from anxiety. I hope that you have a breath easy day. Janet (site moderator) 
2. Leon Lebowitz, BA, RRT Moderator
 <inline-mention username="mikern" user-id="2453664"/> Hi Mikern, and thanks for your candor. As my colleagues have said, I too am sorry you were treated the way you described on he other forum. That is an outrage! Please know you are always welcome here in our online community. If there is anything we can do to assist you - you will see, we have many team members, advocates, moderators and member peers all pitching in with support for one another. Wishing you well, Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow'>COPD.net</a>)
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Jeff, I am now "following" you. Do I go to Facebook for that?
1. Jeffrey J Collings Moderator
 <inline-mention username="nbsp" user-id="2416867"/> <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow'>COPD.net</a> has Facebook., Twitter accounts as well as the main website. If you go on your profile you can search the name of people you would like to follow and then be notified. So you can do whatever you like best to follow. Hope you have a wonderful day. Jeff (COPD.net Team)
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This was excellent, Jeff. I liked hearing from another COPDer, and the video format made it even more relatable. And I'll remember seeing and hearing you tell me that I will get through it will, I'm sure, be comforting when the next panic comes. Now if I could figure out how to tell my husband nicely that excessive "coaching" doesn't necessarily help. He means well, but sometimes I need a moment of quiet and a hand to hold. And I may soon be ordering Depends.
1. hogdaddy
 <inline-mention username="Jeffrey J Collings" user-id="2436114"/> Thank you so much for the informative instructions. Very kind of you to share such valuable information Jeff. I was diagnosed in 2015 and fortunately my doctor told me that my breathing is actually better than back then. May of 2021 I have been a non-smoker for 7 years. God bless you and I pray you have no more panic breathing episodes, I have experienced them too.
2. Jeffrey J Collings Moderator
 <inline-mention username="hogdaddy" user-id="2428874"/> thats awesome you are doing better and congratulations on quitting smoking. That is the first big hurdle for most of us to get past. It's totally up to you, but what are you doing that is helping your improvement would you say? We always love to hear success stories that help others through their journey. Thank you for the kind words today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Jeff (COPD.net Team)
mikern
So glad to hear I am not the only one that has that experience. I thought it was just me and my anxiety disorder, so beneficial Jeff, made my day.
1. Jeffrey J Collings Moderator
 <inline-mention username="mikern" user-id="2453664"/> that's awesome to hear your spirits have been lifted. When it feels like we can't breathe, the body dumps adrenaline into our system of nervous energy to fight or flight. So for us it turns into an Anxiety Panic Attack! We are never going to be able to stop them 100%, but if we have a plan of what to do, that always made me feel better. Together we learn and get stronger. Please let us know how your doing and I know you will get through the next one much easier. Jeff (COPD.net Team)
2. Leon Lebowitz, BA, RRT Moderator
 <inline-mention username="mikern" user-id="2453664"/> Hi again, mikern, and thanks for chiming in here as well. I think you'll find that one is rarely, if ever, alone in our online community. It's always beneficial to speak with others about shared experiences. I feel it contributes 'big time' to a feeling and sense of community. We value both your input and your feedback here. Warm regards, Leon (site moderator <a href='http://COPD.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer nofollow'>COPD.net</a>)