this is no life for a 19 year old girl! well gonna be 20 4/28! something has got to give!

Crystal, Have you seen a pulmonologist, a lung specialist?  This should be your first step to get an appointment with a lung specialist who knows a lot about asthma.  Most PCPs really don't know the ins and outs of  prescribing the right inhalers.  You should have lung function tests to see where you are with asthma.  It sounds like you need a long term inhaler.  You have probably been using a rescue inhaler like a type of albuterol - Pro Air is the most common.  Rescue inhalers are not meant to be used every day.  That is why you need tests and a long term inhaler if your asthma is bad.  I have bad asthma and I use a long term inhaler called symbicort.  I use it twice a day.  I only rarely have to use my rescue inhaler.  The symbicort started working for me the first day I took it and I now breathe freely all the time.  Being unable to breathe well can certainly get you feeling depressed so finding a therapist would be a good idea.  If you need meds for depression you can see a psychiatrist just for medication prescriptions and then you can work with a therapist such as a psychologist.  Psychiatrists are very expensive and they are willing to work with you on meds as long as they know you are being helped by a therapist. Also, when using an inhaler do you use a spacer?  Using a spacer with the inhaler gets the medication in your lungs and not just sitting at the back of your mouth or on your tongue.  The spacer allows you to release the inhalent into it's chamber and then you breathe it in and the med goes straight to your lungs.  The dr. can explain it to you. You can buy a spacer at any pharmacy. Also, if you are panicky when you can't breathe you make it worse on your breathing so if you are having an asthma attack try to stay as calm as possible and stay still.  Sitting in an upright position helps as it keeps you lungs more open.  I hope this has helped you.  Please do get treatment and post how you are doing.  If you have any other questions I will be happy to answer you.

Aurora