Does anyone else experience rapid heart beat and shortness of breath when they want to say something to someone?
It's frustrating and I never knew before why this would happen. Years ago on a date we were walking and I was so out of breath it was hard to say anything. I noticed that the same thing would happen just sitting somewhere and talking. I would try to hide my shortness of breath and try to control my breathing to make it appear normal, which just makes it worse - a couple times I passed out. LOL
In team meetings at work, in Bible studies, school, where ever, I would spend most my time thinking "Please don't ask me to participate verbally" and when it came my turn to read or answer a question, it was hard trying to cover up my shortness of breath and do what they want. I walked out of a couple team meetings.
Now that I know about the autism, I pay more attention to what's going on inside. I still get short of breath when I want to say something and I've noticed that what I'm doing is holding my breath from nervousness before speaking (I think).
It's frustrating because I will walk outside to the shed where my son is working to tell him something - not really noticing that I'm kind of holding my breath as I walk out there and it's like I have to catch my breath before I tell him what I'm wanting to say (even if it's trivial).
But now I feel like they're all thinking my health is bad. I try not to do that but don't remember beforehand to do anything to prevent it. So everyone sees it as - walk upstairs, catch my breath then speak. When no one's home and I carry a load of laundry upstairs I don't get short of breath - but they don't see that.
I've also noticed that even when I'm alone and something has mildly stressed me out I have to catch my breath and realize after the fact that I had been holding my breath. I have tried a couple times to make myself breathe but then it's not a natural pattern and still end up short of breath.
I know it's anxiety but I feel like I'm doing it to myself and just haven't found a way to stop.
It's frustrating and I never knew before why this would happen. Years ago on a date we were walking and I was so out of breath it was hard to say anything. I noticed that the same thing would happen just sitting somewhere and talking. I would try to hide my shortness of breath and try to control my breathing to make it appear normal, which just makes it worse - a couple times I passed out. LOL
In team meetings at work, in Bible studies, school, where ever, I would spend most my time thinking "Please don't ask me to participate verbally" and when it came my turn to read or answer a question, it was hard trying to cover up my shortness of breath and do what they want. I walked out of a couple team meetings.
Now that I know about the autism, I pay more attention to what's going on inside. I still get short of breath when I want to say something and I've noticed that what I'm doing is holding my breath from nervousness before speaking (I think).
It's frustrating because I will walk outside to the shed where my son is working to tell him something - not really noticing that I'm kind of holding my breath as I walk out there and it's like I have to catch my breath before I tell him what I'm wanting to say (even if it's trivial).
But now I feel like they're all thinking my health is bad. I try not to do that but don't remember beforehand to do anything to prevent it. So everyone sees it as - walk upstairs, catch my breath then speak. When no one's home and I carry a load of laundry upstairs I don't get short of breath - but they don't see that.
I've also noticed that even when I'm alone and something has mildly stressed me out I have to catch my breath and realize after the fact that I had been holding my breath. I have tried a couple times to make myself breathe but then it's not a natural pattern and still end up short of breath.
I know it's anxiety but I feel like I'm doing it to myself and just haven't found a way to stop.