Breathless...I think hypoventilating is just that. I don't think it causes attacks, but might be ralated to them. Learning to control your breathing is the key to keeping this at bay. Too much oxygen in your lungs and simply breathing into a paper bag eases it right away. Its probably a sign on the onset of a panic attack, but don't relate to everything that happens negitively as a panic attack. Call it anxiety or hyper-tension. But avoid always referring to these things as PANIC attacks. I know they all relate to the same thing, but always calling these actions as PANIC ATTACKS can eat away at your mind-set and you'll never get a grip on things and how you relly feel.Its nice to have atag to put on every reaction you have, but not all of them are 'panic attacks'. I'm sure you know what a real full blown panic attack is. You loe complete control of yourself and the ATTACK takes over, and then you need outside help to get thru it. Try to catch things and feelings as they start to happen, and don't blow them out of proportiion. This morning, I was having a real bad time for awhile, and trying to deal with anger, which is raarelya problem with me, but it was caused by my smoking quit..not having sigarettes and no patches. But I just thought about it for a few minutes, and had a talk with myself..self, this is not you. You know why you're angry, so don't take it out on others. Deal with it the best you can, and explain your mood, don't just go thru it blindly and make it work....it worked, and I talked my 'self' out of that anger. It can be done with Anxiety Disorder too. That's what I prefer to call it. Lots of panic attacks are not just that.They are depressed thoughts, and CAN be controlled and worked thru. I'm sending you (((HUGS)))) and hope you're feeling better. Keep an UP attitude and we'll all work together to keep our lives happy and under OUR control.
LUV, SUZY.