 Disclaimer: I do not have physical breathing problems and I’ve been doing sports since I was born.

Hello there,

My issue is just explained in the title: it's ONE whole year since I stopped breathing regularly. Do you know manual breathing? That's what I'm talking about. I'm constantly breathless. I can't find a way to come back to breathe normally and this is becoming exhausting. I tried to just live with it in the past months, but now I'm so annoyed that I decided to write here. Even though none of you have the magic potion for me, I really hope you have. These are the things that I can't do normally anymore:

1. Talking for long periods. My talking now mainly consists of short phrases. It’s also embarrassing, a lot of people tell me: “Hey, why are you talking like this? Were you running?”.
2. Sport: Last week I decided to quit training because it's becoming a pain and not enjoyable anymore. **NOTE: training is anaerobic, so I’m not forcing my breath in any way.**

I just play padel now, as I'm focused on the ball and I do not often think about breathing. Strange fact: during the past months I could train (more or less), even though I could not talk to anyone the next hours after the end of the training. My breaths were always long and deep. After the training, I had difficulties eating as well. This is one of the reasons why I decided to quit training: my breathing was KO after the session.

3) Stairs. Please don’t laugh at me. When I climb the stairs, I already know I’ll arrive at the top breathless.

**BUT I realized that this problem does not occur in some circumstances (or it happens fewer times):**

1. For example, when I ask a question to my professor, I can talk for long periods (but not always). So, in all contexts when I **must** behave normally!
2. Simply when I just do not think about breathing. But as soon as I realize it, I start breathing in a weird way and I have the necessity to cover my forehead (don't ask me why) with a tissue, my hand, something.

On the other hand, when I'm at home this problem is almost a constant. Sometimes I’m feeling so breathless that I can just say one word at a time!

I’ve already read posts here about the same problem, but unluckily they didn’t help me. Some of you may answer:

1. &lt;&lt;It’s just anxiety&gt;&gt;

But anxiety for what? Why should I be anxious when I talk to my family?

1. &lt;&lt;Contact a therapist&gt;&gt;

I’ve already tried them for other things in the past and my final judgment is: they are useless and expensive. Totally useless. And so expensive. So therapy is not a solution, just a waste of time and money.

1. &lt;&lt;It may be a physical problem&gt;&gt;

It is not, as it does not happen when I do not think about it.

1. &lt;&lt;Then just DO NOT THINK ABOUT IT&gt;&gt;

It’s totally impossible.

I’ll repeat it again, it’s just a mental thing, my body is ok. But I can’t get rid of thinking that I have to breathe. I’ve already talked with my parents about it, but we didn’t find a way. And at the same time, I’m aware that strangers on the Internet can’t help me concretely, but I do not know what to do. I want to come back to speak normally again. A lot of times I keep silent even if I want to say something because I know that I do not have enough breath to say it.

:(