When I was 8 I asked my best friend’s mum who is a Psychiatrist about my breathing problem. I tried to demonstrate it to her and she said she didn’t think anything was wrong. I’ve asked doctors over the years about it and they all think it’s nothing and I kind of agree. It’s nothing bad but it does make me wonder, why do I have this coughing/breathing problem? 

This cough flexes the abs for a split second. It’s not necessarily a cough; it’s more like an exertion of air that’s very silent and very unnoticable. Sometimes when I’m at the gym and it’s really crowded or I see someone really attractive that gives me butterflies, or even when I’m laying down in bed at night alone I get it. Just when I start thinking about it I get it. I always get it on the days leading up to a flight. 

I’m wondering if anyone else has this. When it gets very severe, i.e. when I’m at the gym and see a group of guys who used to bully me I can’t breathe properly. It’s like I’m suffocating. I’m trying to catch my breath but I can’t. This has been happening the last few nights when going to bed. It’s like a silent gasp for air and it won’t let me get the air until I do my silent cough. I have a flight tomorrow which is why I think it’s gotten bad.

Does anyone relate to this? Would this be some kind of anxiety or tic?