Mental Breathing Problems

[Daxter8025]

Hi. I'm just wondering if anybody has had or is having this obsessive thought that you are not breathing in oxygen, but you know you are even if it still feels like you are not? This is the worst I've ever been. It's a constant worry that I am going to loose it and have no insight to reality and breathe myself to death. Any feed back will be greatly appreciated.

<edited by catjudo for basic grammar>

 

[Srain]

Is it like hyperventilation?

I know I have always been a shallow breather to the point of habitual breath-holder, however, there are times I have anxiety or panic and just can't seem to catch my breath. I'm not sure exactly which you are talking about or if this is it at all.

 

[Gamereign555]

I have that issue when my anxiety is very high. I highly recommend having an emergency stash of Xanax or Ativan to prevent you from having to go to urgent care, which is costly. I had expensive scans already and the low oxygen made the doctors think I had a clot in my lungs but it was all hyperventilation due to my anxiety which seemed to effect me 24 hours a day. It does get better though, though it took me months I have managed to whittle my anxiety levels way down and it is hardly an issue unless triggered.

Basically your muscle that stretches across your upper abdomen is tensed up and isn't letting you breathe out properly, the excess oxygen makes you feel like you aren't getting enough air which is false. Then to make things worse the feeling makes you panic that you are going to hyperventilate and pass out, and the cycle repeats in on itself. I went months feeling this way. I had some out of body experiences as a result, feeling as if you aren't in your head or are floating above yourself. I have tried breathing exercises but it only made me feel as if I was 'maintaining' myself.

 

[NIKI]

I get that feeling when I am having a panic attack. Thanks gamereign555 for explaining that! :)

 

[samuraisam]

Simple. Step1 concentrate on your tip of nose until breathing become comfortable

Step2 visualize a trinagle from two collar bones to your chest in between your nipples.

<Edited for capitalization>

 

[Gamereign555]

Interesting samuraisam, I haven't heard of that method before.

 

[LiamM]

Basically your muscle that stretches across your upper abdomen is tensed up and isn't letting you breathe out properly, the excess oxygen makes you feel like you aren't getting enough air which is false. Then to make things worse the feeling makes you panic that you are going to hyperventilate and pass out, and the cycle repeats in on itself.

Thanks for this, now I can have this bit of information floating in my head for when I have another attack. When I'm breathing like that, I'm too stressed and panicked to be aware of my body like that. :)