How do you deal with chest tightness/suffocation feeling?

[Iseesky]

My panic attacks (I think it's a symptom of a panic attack?) consist of nothing but chest tightness. I'm sure some of you have experienced this, but for those who haven't, it's basically like someone is sitting on my chest not allowing me to get a full deep breath in. I don't get enough oxygen in and it leaves me with a headache. It doesn't last a few minutes...or even a few hours. For me, it lasts for days...Sometimes weeks if the anxiety is really bad. It's the most awful feeling and luckily I don't get it all that often anymore.

But, this is my first week back at college and I'm taking different classes. I take public transit and my main worry is seeing people I don't want to see on the bus. Today was good. I definitely saw someone I wanted to see. But, I'm worried that tomorrow someone I don't want to see will be on the same bus, or worse...In one of my classes. =/ I've gone through first semester as a sort of social butterfly. I had no problem talking to the complete strangers in my classes because none of them know that I hardly talked at all throughout high school. Nobody knows me and I love it! But, there's one guy who goes to my college and I think everything will come crashing down if he's in one of my classes and rats me out (he isn't very nice to me...). I will find out tomorrow, and hopefully if he isn't this tightness in my chest will go away! But, in case he is and for future reference...

How on Earth do you deal with this? I try my best to get a deep breath of air, but the more I try the harder it is and the more frusterated and anxiety ridden I become! Yawning definitely helps, but when I try to do it, it's the same as above...It doesn't work and I just become more upset. I try to just calm down and hope for the best, but I still have the nagging feeling. I got very little sleep last night due to this and spent today (my first day back to school) walking through the school like a zombie. :: Please help! It's much appreciated!

 

[206Raider]

I know what you mean about some of it, I don't get chest tightness but anxiety does overwhelm me and taking deep breathes don't help me much either, I am starting school myself but not til March and I found out a girl who is a real bitch that I used to know is going to the same school and it's a small school and I hope she is not in my classes. I can deal with it if she is but would rather not be around her becuase she is in a tight knit group of old "friends" I used to hang out with that ended badly. Just want to be around new people I have no connection with lol, becuase although I'm not too talkative I always make friends easily.

 

[freestylemonster]

That used to happen to me, I've kinda just grown out of them it would seem...hopefully you do too

 

[Iseesky]

I know what you mean about some of it, I don't get chest tightness but anxiety does overwhelm me and taking deep breathes don't help me much either, I am starting school myself but not til March and I found out a girl who is a real bitch that I used to know is going to the same school and it's a small school and I hope she is not in my classes. I can deal with it if she is but would rather not be around her becuase she is in a tight knit group of old "friends" I used to hang out with that ended badly. Just want to be around new people I have no connection with lol, becuase although I'm not too talkative I always make friends easily.

You sound like my twin! I come from a small town and I just want to forget everyone and all of the expectations everyone had about me. Very hard when you can't escape certain people!

That used to happen to me, I've kinda just grown out of them it would seem...hopefully you do too

I sometimes wish growing occurred more quickly... =/ I thought I had grown out of it as well, until a few days ago.

 

[206Raider]

That's how I feel! I want to close that chapter of my life but it's always there lol. I'm excited but now I'm like "greeeat, I can't escape these people!" Oh well I'm not too worried becuase I doubt I will be in the same classes and even if I am I know things will sort themselves out I just want a new beggining.