What is respiratory neurosis?

Respiratory neurosis is a type of psychological condition. Its peculiarity is a violation of the breathing rhythm. This type of pathology is also called hyperventilation syndrome and dysfunctional breathing.

With this type of neurosis, the lack of air causes a person to feel suffocated.

The patient begins to experience severe anxiety, fear and panic. These feelings are so deep that it becomes impossible to control them. Frequent attacks aggravate the weakened psycho-emotional state of the patient, which leads to further development of the pathology.

Human breathing is controlled by one of the parts of the brain. Malfunctions of the nervous system under the influence of constant stress or dysfunction of certain organs lead to the fact that the brain begins to send more frequent impulses along the nerve endings, as a result of which the diaphragm and muscles begin to contract more often. More air enters the body than is necessary. Such hyperventilation disrupts the balance of certain elements, during which the carbon dioxide content in the blood decreases. This causes the feeling of suffocation.

Symptoms of respiratory neurosis

Physically, the breathing process is an alternation of inhalations and exhalations, which are accomplished thanks to the work of the respiratory muscles. Their movements are controlled by the respiratory center located in the medulla oblongata.

Symptoms:

• difficulty inhaling or exhaling (possibly both);
• increased breathing and its shallowness;
• shortness of breath (often called psychogenic shortness of breath);
• spasms;
• darkening of the eyes;
• feeling of a lump in the throat;
• increased heart rate;
• possible pain in the heart area, under the shoulder blade;
• “floaters” in the eyes;
• muscle tremors, nervous tics;
• muscle pain, cramps;
• feeling of lack of air;
• panic, fear of death;
• dizziness;
• there may be loss of consciousness (fainting);
• problems with the digestive system (bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc.); there may be an atypical manifestation of the disease, in which there are almost no respiratory symptoms, but gastrointestinal distress is observed;
• constant feeling of fatigue.

The danger of the disease is that it occurs in a vicious circle: the stronger the manifestations, the more they cause panic and fear of recurrence in the patient. This stimulates anxiety and other negative emotions, which only contributes to new attacks.

Causes and symptoms

Breathing failure can occur for various reasons. Often they are of a mixed nature. For example, the following processes can lead to neurosis:

• mental and neurological diseases;
• changes in psycho-emotional state;
• frequent stress;
• dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system;
• diseases of the respiratory system;
• influence of toxic substances;
• overdose of medications.

The attack of hyperventilation can be repeated under the same circumstances. This is due to the fact that the brain remembers the situation in which a person first felt shortness of breath and lack of oxygen. For example, if this happened in the subway, then during subsequent descents underground a pathological condition may be regularly observed.

Dysfunctional breathing can have 2 forms: acute or chronic. During an attack, a person cannot breathe evenly. He takes frequent short breaths, which are also characterized by intermittency. Then there is a short stop, after which the patient again begins to convulsively swallow air.

In the acute form, a person falls into a hysterical state and is overcome by fear that he will die from suffocation.

In the chronic course of the disease, the patient is bothered by shortness of breath, which occurs in situations when he experiences excitement. As the disease progresses, it begins to manifest itself in a large number of symptoms. The most common are increased body temperature and frequent dizziness. Pathology in the form of hyperventilation affects all functions of the body and can manifest itself in the following:

1. The functioning of the digestive organs is disrupted. Excessive gas, constipation, or indigestion occurs. Pain may be felt in the stomach or intestines. Appetite decreases, dry mouth appears.
2. The heart rate accelerates. Pain is felt in the lungs. Pain may occur in the area of ​​the left shoulder blade.
3. Weakness appears in the muscles. Trembling of the limbs may occur.
4. The appearance of goosebumps on the skin, numbness of the limbs.
5. Irritability, insomnia.
6. Cough, yawning, spasms when breathing. There may be a feeling of a lump in the throat.

Some, due to the characteristics of the body, have a predisposition to the state of this type of neurosis. Their body is highly sensitive to the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. As a result of its decrease, dizziness occurs and loss of consciousness may occur.

If hyperventilation syndrome is not treated, its attacks will begin to appear more often, and the symptoms will be more intense.

Causes

Most often, respiratory tract neurosis actually occurs for psychological and neurological reasons (usually against the background of panic attacks and hysteria). But about a third of all cases of this disease are of a mixed nature. What other reasons can serve for the development of respiratory neurosis?

1. Neurological diseases. If a person’s nervous system is already functioning with disturbances, then the emergence of new symptoms (in particular, neurotic shortness of breath) is quite likely.
2. Diseases of the respiratory tract - in the future they can also develop into respiratory neurosis, especially if they have not been completely treated.
3. History of mental disorders.
4. Certain diseases of the digestive and cardiovascular systems can “imitate” hyperventilation syndrome, causing the patient to feel short of air.
5. Some toxic substances (as well as medications, in case of overdose or side effects) can also cause symptoms of respiratory neurosis - shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, neurotic hiccups and others.
6. The prerequisite for the occurrence of the disease is a special type of reaction of the body - its hypersensitivity to changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Treatment of respiratory neurosis

When deciding how to get rid of respiratory tract neurosis, you need to understand the importance of an integrated approach in this matter. Drug treatment should be accompanied by a course of psychotherapy.

Treatment with drugs

Drug therapy is determined after a series of tests, since the signs of neurosis are similar to the manifestations of other diseases. Based on the complexity of the pathology, the degree of its development and the characteristics of the patient’s body, the doctor prescribes the necessary medications. A patient with a severe form of respiratory neurosis may be prescribed the following types of medications:

• herbal based sedatives;
• tranquilizers and antidepressants that relieve anxiety and stabilize the patient’s psycho-emotional state;
• antipsychotic drugs that block areas of the brain that affect the occurrence of neurological shortness of breath;
• vitamins B and D, some types of microelements (magnesium, calcium);
• beta blockers.

A complex of sedatives is often prescribed to be taken during all stages of the disease, including during the recovery period.

You cannot prescribe therapy yourself, since a number of medications have contraindications. Improper use can lead to worsening of the condition and even death.

Treatment with folk remedies

You can relieve the symptoms of respiratory neurosis in children and adults using traditional medicine. The effect of most decoctions is sedative.

For example, mix crushed chamomile flowers, caraway fruits and valerian root in a ratio of 3:5:2. Take 1 tbsp. l. mixture and pour a glass of boiling water. Then let it brew for 20-25 minutes. Drink to reduce irritability, anxiety and excitability.

Herbs such as hawthorn, motherwort, mint, chamomile, etc. have a good effect.

Psychotherapy

Sessions with a psychotherapist involve identifying a problem that disturbs a person’s calm and leads to psycho-emotional disorder, as a result of which respiratory tract neurosis manifests itself. The work is carried out in several stages:

1. Awareness that a problem exists and needs to be solved.
2. Understanding that some circumstances cause a strong negative impact on the patient’s life and because of this, its quality greatly deteriorates.
3. Recognizing the cause that leads to stress. This is a long process, since it does not always lie on the surface and can be realized.
4. Gaining the skill to look at what is happening around you differently. A person tries to change his habitual thinking to a positive one.
5. Developing the ability to manage and overcome an anxious state independently.

It is important for a person to understand to what extent his fear is justified and what steps he can take to avoid it.

Respiratory neurosis: causes

The disease can be caused by a number of factors. In addition, it exists as a separate ailment or pathology in another disease. In addition, the human body is able to “remember” the reason that led to breathing problems. If those circumstances are repeated, the disease may make itself felt again. Most often, hyperventilation syndrome occurs due to a whole set of factors:

• constant emotional and mental turmoil;
• being in a stressful state for a long time;
• disease of the respiratory system;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• poisoning with toxic substances;
• drug overdose;
• problems in the digestive system;
• autonomic dysfunction;
• unstable psychological state;
• depression.

In most cases, the disease occurs due to physical factors, such as lack of sleep or increased fatigue. Difficulty breathing syndrome can also be provoked by alcoholic drinks, narcotic and psychotropic substances.

To recognize the disease, you need to know its main signs. Symptoms of dysfunctional breathing are:

• breathing problems;
• dyspnea;
• dry cough;
• belching;
• eating disorder;
• muscle pain;
• pain in the stomach and abdomen;
• constipation;
• panic attacks;
• headaches and dizziness;
• problems sleeping, insomnia;
• severe pain in the heart and chest;
• fast fatiguability;
• trembling in the body;
• sensation of “goosebumps” on the skin.

The above symptoms may appear depending on the situation. The most common and characteristic signs of respiratory neurosis were and remain psycho-emotional disorders, chest pain, lack of air, and shortness of breath.

As soon as you notice several of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for advice. Timely diagnosis and treatment will help to quickly cope with the disease, as well as avoid the appearance and development of various pathologies.

Correct breathing for respiratory neurosis

If the pathology is observed in a mild form, the doctor may prescribe special breathing exercises. It should be used at the moment when a person begins to breathe heavily. It will help make breathing measured, ensuring the necessary level of oxygen in the body.

The purpose of gymnastics comes down to the following: a person needs to control the depth of inspiration and the level of carbon dioxide in the exhaled air. To be able to use this method before a panic attack occurs, you should practice proper breathing regularly.

Diagnosis of respiratory neurosis

With all this “bouquet” of symptoms, the patient most often first sees a general practitioner. But the truth is that only a small number of doctors in clinics can suspect a mental disorder and advise you to see a specialist. Most often, therapists say that “this happens with VSD,” since vegetative-vascular dystonia is still considered in Russia a disease of blood vessels and nerves that has nothing to do with the psyche.

In fact, you need to see a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. But before that, real respiratory diseases must be ruled out. For this purpose the following studies are prescribed:

• General blood and urine analysis;
• Fluorography or x-ray of the lungs;
• Blood test for hormones.

If the tests do not reveal any real problems, the doctor concludes that the cause of the “breathing” attacks is neurotic, and should be treated by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Unfortunately, treating such disorders exclusively with folk remedies is, as a rule, completely ineffective, so in this case it is impossible to do without professional help.