Breathe correctly WITHOUT obsessive focus on breath?

I've practiced pranayama though I was not ready for it and I didn't clear my mind completely doing it (amateur instructor). This autumn I've been diagnosed with anxiety and spasmophilia - chest pain, breathing problems though I don't have asthma. I suspect my medical problems have something to do with forcing my body with pranayama when I was not ready for it. I used to breathe alternatively through my left and right nostril, holding after inhaling/ exhaling. I stopped it in October but I still have the symptoms.Today I read about abdominal breathing on a medical site and I tried it, but after a sensation of relief in my chest, the pressure came back stronger together with a burning sensation.
Also, it seems that I am obsessively checking my breath all the time, which is extremely stressful.Should I continue abdominal breathing a few minutes a day and try not to focus on my breath the rest of the time?Or should I just let my body recover by itself, with good rest and long walks?

start taking some Licorice and see if that improves your breathing.

two-two has spoken

Funnily I came across this the other day in a book I have by the well knwon healer Betty Shine. She mentions to begin with donot force yourself & breathe naturally, your lower ribs should raise & then chest & donot FORCE anything becuase natural & simple is what works.
having said that, I wanted to add I once did a deep breathing exercise on an online radio show, by a well knwon author & doctor on spirtiual & alternative healing.
I must say it was really difficult to follow & I was in agony but I hadn't felt so relaxed for a long time & I felt really peaceful & blissful after.
If you're interested please email me or if you don't mind I'll email you with the details.
keep it simple as striving is actually the opposite as what this about.

xx

From my personal experience, one mistake I did in my life is trying to learn these breathing exercises. While it may help many, I guess it hurts many too.
Ever since I first tried pranayama, I could never stop focusing on my breathing and started hyperventilating to a degree, there were number of days I felt I was going to faint.
Slowly I got out of it, even now I have a problem, whenever I start thinking about the breathing i go into a mode where i can't actually breathe without trying. (Note: I am a very healthy individual :). Try keeping yourself busy and getting your mind away from breathing. It will go eventually.
Best of luck with it.