Watchful - Not Breathing Properly

[blackpearl]

Some of my symptoms and behavior is harder to change, the body movements are something I've had with me since 30 years now so it's not strange in that way. The problem is that I don't always are aware of that. But I'm an expert on sneaking around and concentrating on the smallest sounds around when it's quiet. That means that I don't breath properly to make any noise at all to disturb or wake up someone. My intellect knows it's OK to make noise, there is no need to this anymore but still I'm doing it automatically. The problem remains at night time when I happen to be awake. I've tried to tell my self over and over again that it's alright to walk and breath, but then I forget about it as I said.

I just came to think that this is more difficult to deal with than the anxiety and stuff... there you just let it go when you get tired enough, this shit won't go away. It's not that bad it's just that it's important to breath in right way to avoid brain stress.

Maybe I have to have listen to Ipod at nigth time to stop sneaking ? *LOL*
What do You say ?

 

[Deleted member 541]

I believe that it's just another aspect of anxiety. I too, notice when I am even slightly anxious, I tend to hold my breath, or not breath properly. I have done this for years also.....

 

[kers]

I believe that it's just another aspect of anxiety.

That's what I've been told, too.

As hard as it is in the moment, I try to take some deep breaths when I notice I've been holding my breath. I learned it in some relaxation training. Holding your breath causes a vicious circle; we hold our breath because we're scared, and without proper oxygen, our bodies stay in a terrified state. Breaking the cycle with deep breathing can help. It doesn't take the fear away, of course, or the hypervigilance, but it can take the edge off.

 

[blackpearl]

Yes, I think the half job is done if you know what causes your inner stress to be able to know also why you hold your breath sometimes. I didn't mean when you have obvious anxiety, but of course then you really are not breathing well. In my case I already know and it is not any anxiety, just a bad habit that remains from those times I was forced to move like I did. The breath holding can cause anxiety concerning this to me.

My thought was that one has to do something to stop that bad habit and relax more when you do not have to be watchful. It was something that was important for long ago and my body thinks I'm still living those days.

 

[Iam]

Funny....I have no idea if I hold my breath or not. I notice I sigh a lot when anxious. I think that breaking any "habit" takes focus, recognizing when you are doing it and forcing yourself to do something different when you do. Maybe the ipod is not such a silly idea LOL!

 

[blackpearl]

I didn't notice my problem with it either when I was worse. It comes in a later phase.

Oh no, I wrote 'have' twice ! :-O
Yes, ipod I'll try next time and hope that my neighbor don't mind if I mess around at nights.

 

[anni]

Hi Blacckpearl,

I'm just browsing this morning due to that anxiety you're speaking of. That breath holding thing sometimes I don't notice until I'm light-headed-did it all morning. The best thing my T ever gave me works across the board, when one remembers to us it. Like you, it tends to be automatic it's so ingrained. It's going to sound ridiculous because so simple but think it wildly distracts your head and must break some cycle or something since it sometimes works for not being able to sleep, also. It's that thing where you breathe in through your nose 5 counts, hold 5 counts, then exhale through your mouth 5 counts, a few times. Maybe repeating it sometimes when you're really stuck is helpful-everyone is different.

There's probably good reason why it's good for some people. Everyone really is different, though so perhaps might not be at all helpful for you. Just in case, I thought to throw it out there. :)

 

[blackpearl]

Hi Anni,

Finally I'm able to answer ! :-)

Thank you for your tip. I may test that too if I need to.
Yes, the tricks are really simple, but very useful. I went to someone before to learn some techniques, but I wasn't able to focus during that awful therapy so we decided to do a long break until my situation around is more stabilized. Actually I think the time has come now to give it a second try now when my hell with therapists and that torturing is over. Maybe I will wait just another four weeks just to be sure...

For example I was told to clench (not sure of the word) ones hands or focus on balance just standing on your entire sole, concentrating on connection with the floor or ground. It feels kind of silly in the beginning before you start to actually understand your body (feelings/thoughts) again.

Pjuh... I'm so relieved to be able to write this.

 

[Cynthiatoo]

I have this 'holding my breath' and shallow breathing also. I have found that I cant make myself breath in, I get a mind block. So I make myself breath out. I figure that the air in my lungs must be stale or have carbon dioxide building up and not enough oxygen, so I have to get this out. I focus on that. Getting it out. Sometimes when I am sitting I bend forward and squeeze my tummy muscles and push the air out. Then of course, I Have To breath in and it usually happens naturally. Just a way to trick my tricky brain.

 

[sassyfras]

I can relate completely to this problem and it is SEVERE. I was choked over a 100 times and strangulated to near death. I was told that "air was a privilege," and would even stop breathing just when I would hear that snarky sarcastic voice saying, "air?"

Sometimes I am afraid I will stop breathing altogether. I am able to control it to an extent though, once I feel myself not breathing. I think it's pretty automatic to breathe, it just sucks. Breathing techniques help, but haven't had any conclusive results from them so far.

 

[tinythen]

HELP!!
How do you get yourself to remember breathing while sleeping? I breathe erratically, mostly shallow or start-stop in the early hours before waking up--and I wake up with my neck and back muscles so weak they wobble, and disoriented and fuzzy-eyed for about 2 hours, during which I begin to panic, and the panic lasts about 5 hours. Unless I nap in the PM and it starts all over again. I don't have obstructive apnea, so what do I do? It's become a vicious circle.

 

[seedling]

Maybe, even though you don't have apnea, you could still use a CPAP machine with good results. Can you talk to your doctor about this?