What causes the feeling of air hunger during anxiety?

Anxiety triggers the "fight or flight" response, altering breathing patterns and increasing attention to respiratory sensations, creating the feeling of air hunger.

How can Seeley Lutz manage air hunger?

Seeley Lutz and others can use techniques like cold exposure, the 5-4-3-2-1 method, mindful breathing, and cognitive reframing to manage air hunger.

Is air hunger a sign of a serious medical condition?

While air hunger can be distressing, it is often a symptom of anxiety. Seek professional help if it's frequent, intense, or accompanied by chest pain or nausea.

Home / Health / Feeling Suffocated? It Might Be Air Hunger

Feeling Suffocated? It Might Be Air Hunger

29 Nov

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Summary

Air hunger, or dyspnea, is the feeling of not getting enough air.
It's a common, yet rarely discussed, symptom of anxiety.
Simple techniques can quickly calm the body and mind.

Feeling Suffocated? It Might Be Air Hunger

Air hunger, a term coined in 1892, describes the profound feeling of not getting enough air, medically termed dyspnea. For many, this sensation is a frequent, though often unspoken, symptom of anxiety, directly linked to the body's "fight or flight" response when it perceives a threat.

This sympathetic nervous system activation can lead to rapid or shallow breathing, creating the sensation of suffocation. Ironically, focusing too much on breathing can worsen the cycle of anxiety and air hunger. Fortunately, this discomfort is typically short-lived and manageable with practical coping skills.

Techniques such as cold exposure, the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method, mindful posture, structured breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 method, and cognitive reframing can effectively reduce anxiety and alleviate air hunger, restoring a sense of safety and calm.

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