Breathing associated with anxiety
Breathing associated with anxiety
I was just wondering if anyone else out there forces themselves to breath as a way of their anxiety coming out? For the last year or so,I force myself to breath and sometimes have twitching of my eyes. My doctor has said that it is my anxiety taking on this form. I did at one point yawn alot. Was just wondering if anyone has had it and if they have had success with the program. I don't do it when I am sleeping so I know that it is the anxiety. Interested
Re: Breathing associated with anxiety
BJ,
Your doctor is right. Upper chest breathing can cause anxiety symptoms in someone prone to anxiety. It can almost be like hyperventilation. Most people with anxiety breath this way until they learn a better way to breathe. You need to practice belly breathing and learn to breath from your abdomen and not your upper chest. Get in a recliner or lay down and put one hand over your chest and one over your belly. Which rises when you breathe? You want the hand over the belly to rise. This will teach you to breath properly and will help relax you. One psychologist I read said to practice at least three deep breaths an hour each hour for two weeks, just to help keep yourself calmer. Also, do deep breathing every day until you get the hang of it and can learn to make it the regular way you breathe. Can't help with the eye twitching because I have never had it. I suspect it will lessen as your anxiety symptoms lessen.
As to whether the program works, that depends on how consistently you work at applying what it teaches you. If you just listen to it and don't do the homework and practice what it teaches you, then you won't benefit much. However, it is a sound cognitive behavioral therapy program and if you really apply it, you will improve. It may take you a few times repeating it, just to reinforce it. I learn something new every time I go over one of the audio sessions, or reinforce something I need to practice more, and if you "want it bad enough" as Lucinda says and apply it, it will work for you. Also you will get some good information on this forum and people will try to give you helpful advice.
Your doctor is right. Upper chest breathing can cause anxiety symptoms in someone prone to anxiety. It can almost be like hyperventilation. Most people with anxiety breath this way until they learn a better way to breathe. You need to practice belly breathing and learn to breath from your abdomen and not your upper chest. Get in a recliner or lay down and put one hand over your chest and one over your belly. Which rises when you breathe? You want the hand over the belly to rise. This will teach you to breath properly and will help relax you. One psychologist I read said to practice at least three deep breaths an hour each hour for two weeks, just to help keep yourself calmer. Also, do deep breathing every day until you get the hang of it and can learn to make it the regular way you breathe. Can't help with the eye twitching because I have never had it. I suspect it will lessen as your anxiety symptoms lessen.
As to whether the program works, that depends on how consistently you work at applying what it teaches you. If you just listen to it and don't do the homework and practice what it teaches you, then you won't benefit much. However, it is a sound cognitive behavioral therapy program and if you really apply it, you will improve. It may take you a few times repeating it, just to reinforce it. I learn something new every time I go over one of the audio sessions, or reinforce something I need to practice more, and if you "want it bad enough" as Lucinda says and apply it, it will work for you. Also you will get some good information on this forum and people will try to give you helpful advice.
Re: Breathing associated with anxiety
Breathing issues are one of my biggest problems. I know exactly how you feel.
The program has helped me. I first went thru the program in 1996. I have since been thru it about 20 times or more. I still have anxiety and related issues, but I am not sure where I would be if I did not go thru the program.
Terry
The program has helped me. I first went thru the program in 1996. I have since been thru it about 20 times or more. I still have anxiety and related issues, but I am not sure where I would be if I did not go thru the program.
Terry
Re: Breathing associated with anxiety
Me to breathing problems have always been a major set back for me . I am hypo chondriac by nature so I always think I'm going to die when it starts. It's very scary but it is totally anxiety related and it comes and goes but it really does help to learn to belly breathe cause it slows everything down. Best of luck it will get better!