I’ve been feeling it all day. Shortness of breath, that is. I also feel my heart beating through my chest, and my hands have been trembling a lot. Could this be anxiety, panic stress, etc. I got in a bad car wreck about a week ago, but walked away uninjured. Could it be linked to this? I am going to the doctor on tuesday, should I go sooner? Please just tell me anything, I just want to feel better.
Best reply by Reggae Mariah:
Yes! It is called an anxiety attack… and it can be serious if you are not in control of them.
Tuesday is soon enough, because you are probably just suffering from some anxiety after your traumatic accident.
Read the original question on Yahoo! site
Can extreme panic and anxiety cause shortness of breath?
Hmmmmm if you were fine up until now then it’s probobly not anxiety. Although this may sound scary, you could be having a heart attack. I would seek medical attention right now!
I think it is entirely possible that you are sort of reliving the accident, and your anxiety is manifesting itself in the shortness of breath, etc.
Even though you have a doctor’s appointment already scheduled for Tuesday, I think I would call tomorrow and describe these feelings you have been having to see if they think you should come in sooner.
Good luck to you. I’m sure it will take some time to get over the trauma from your accident.
Yes it certainly can, but in my experience it doesn’t last all day as you are describing. I suppose it could, but it is also weird that it is happening a week after the accident. Was the accident just the straw that broke the camel’s back?
If I were you, I would go to your doctor on Tuesday as scheduled. Your doctor is going to know you better and take the time to understand your problems unlike urgent care doctors would. In the meantime, try to relax and get your mind off of the accident. I like to exercise to clear my mind. Aerobic exercise might also make you breathe more deeply. Whatever you end up doing, make sure you aren’t thinking about the accident or your symptoms, as this can do nothing but worsen them.
Good luck!
Your problem is most likely connected with the incident, I think its called anxiety attack, my cousin had the same problem during spring break when he and his family got into a car accident. He just couldn’t stop shaking. so he went to a doctor as soon as he could. But I think your fine going on Tuesday.
All of the answers here are really great. I hope reading them helped you relax a bit. shortness of breath and trembling are two of the most common anxiety attack feelings. By the way, I answered this question assuming you have anxiety not some kind of heart condition… Anyway, I think by now (a few days after you asked this question) you would know if you had a heart attack.
A car accident is a very scary event, especially if it was really bad. This can definitely lead to anxiety even one week later. The mind is a very complex thing. The stress we have to deal with on a daily basis is really astonishing when you think about it. Our minds have to do amazing things in order to keep us from going off the deep end. In some cases we might not realize how intense a situation was until a long time after. My theory is that anxiety and panic attacks are a way for our bodies to distract us from something unpleasant (like thinking about a horrifying experience or dealing with an person who is very negative and brings a lot of negative to the environment)
Definitely keep the appointment. Realize that anxiety can not hurt you so you don’t have to go sooner. If you are visiting a general practitioner try to get a referral to a specialist who can help you with therapy. Or if you are one who can work through their own stress and anxiety try to do that.
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it sure can! seems like your nerves are shaken up… did you have any symptoms before the accident such as anxiety attacks? or only after?
The trick is to do breathing excercises and open up your internal channels to allow breath, blood and chi to flow through without blockage. I guarantee once you do some simple time tested breathing techniques and stretches you won’t have shortness of breath or trembling.. you will be in control because you will be in control of your breathing.. remember, breath controls everything!!! everything!