RE: Hyperventilation

April 25, 2006

Diane,

It sounds like she may have developed a panic disorder, which is much

more common in girls, something like 7:1. People with panic disorder

may hyperventilate more easily than others, are often more

psychologically sensitive to breathing difficulties, and this, along

with the thoughts that often accompany this, cause panic attacks.

Many people with chronic hyperventilation appear to have an abnormal

respiratory response to stress, sodium, lactate, and certain

emotional triggers. As you have noticed in , people with

panic disorder tend to rely on thoracic breathing rather than

diaphragmatic breathing. This leads to a high residual volume in the

lungs, and then they are then unable to take a normal tidal volume

with the next breath. Proprioceptors in the lung and chest wall

signal the brain with a " suffocation alarm " that triggers release of

excitatory neurotransmitters that are responsible for many of the

symptoms such as palpitations, tingling hands, sweating, dry mouth,

etc. I would not advise paper bag rebreathing even if she is willing

because CO2 itself may be a chemical trigger for anxiety in people

with panic disorder. Breathing retraining helps, as does stress

reduction therapy. You might also want to try to supplement GABA, or

better yet, a supplement that raises GABA, such as l-theanine. You

can get that in most health food stores. If I remember correctly,

Dougherty from our list has a teenage daughter () and I

believe she had some good results with l-theanine. Maybe she will

read this and post her experience with it.

Hope this did not ramble on excessively and that it was helpful to you,

> has been having increasing episodes of hyperventilating

> lately and I was wondering if anyone had tips on how to control or

> stop it. I've used the paper bag but she doesn't really understand

> how to use it and I can't always be holding it on her face for her.

> I've also tried to explain about belly breathing, but she doesn't

> understand that either. She's had episodes of hyperventilating in the

> past but they always resolved quickly. This time around, maybe

> because of puberty, she can't get a grip. The more she worries about

> not being able to breathe, the less she feels like she can breathe.

> I've also talked extensively with her and there's nothing going on in

> her life to make her anymore stressed out than at any other time in

> her life (no bullying, school tests, etc.,) that I can tell. There's

> also nothing going on at home to cause it either but the episodes

> always come at home. When she's in public, she's too involved to

> worry about it but when she relaxes at home it happens.

>

> I'd appreciate any thoughts on this before I call her developmental

> pediatrician.

> Thanks, Diane ('s Mom)

April 26, 2006

, thanks for the information. I won't push paper bag breathing now

that I know not to. Do you know what dosage of l-theanine to give her

(she's 80 pds)? Also, would this be okay to take with her meds (mellaril,

buspar and small dose (5 mg.) Adderall)?

Thanks, Diane ('s Mom)

Re: Hyperventilation