Breathing Properly

[shimmerz]

I have been researching how to actually breathe properly. For all the times I have been told to breathe, nobody has actually taught me how. That got me into researching diaphragm paralysis, which is actually something that happens to me. Not sure if that resonates with anyone else. There is also much talk about frozen or spasming diaphragms and anxiety.

My back has been frozen solid most of my life. It only makes sense that my diaphragm is too.

So, I have been practicing my breathing (to counts of 5) using my diaphragm. I read that during exhale, if you suck in your stomach, then during inhale your your diaphragm will naturally get into sync. Which it is doing for me.

I realized during this exercise that:
1) I rarely even use my diaphragm to breathe (and apparently it calms the system very quickly)
2) When I DID try to use my diaphragm to breathe, I was doing it backwards. I was sucking in my stomach when I inhaled NOT when I exhaled.

Dead Link Removed

 

[ladee]

Ha @shimmerz, I do believe we are the only people on the planet that can live without oxygen !!! When I was in drug rehab a million years ago, they did relaxation and breathing exerciser with us...I did what you did !! I had everyone laughing because I ended up high as a kite with messing it up... I still don't breathe... that is just too damned weird for us... but thanks for the link !!!

 

[joeylittle]

A really great exercise: blow out all your air, really empty your lungs. It takes a little pushing to do so.

Wait, just past the point when you are uncomfortable - then wait one more second, and stop holding back your breath. Don't tell yourself to breathe, just release your holding.

You'll get a really excellent full-lung inhale; it's incredibly helpful for identifying how the diaphragm actually works. You are allowing your body to take a breath without your interference.

If you have low blood pressure, just do it sitting down. It isn't effecting lying down.

Diaphragmatic spasm is absolutely a real thing.

 

[seedling]

I worked on my breathing in for a year before I realized that I wasn't breathing out.

When I get panicky I "can't breath", it's all shallow, maybe my diaphragm is shutting down at that point.

Ive gotten to the point that a month or so ago I breathed through some heavy anxiety (where I was considering taking a Xanax), I was at work at the time. My friend texted me and reminded me to breath. It took about 10 minutes but amazingly (to me) I started to feel it ebb away. That was a big step forward for me.

 

[scout86]

And, just when I think (again) that my T is making stuff up, someone here posts something that explains the reason he's making such a big deal out of it..... :banghead:

 

[shimmerz]

There, there Scout..... it will be okay. You left brain will give in somewhere along the line. :yuck::nailbiting:

We'll be here for you. :clown: