Stress Center Peer Support

I've been getting alot better from the tapes but I can't seem to let go of the obsessive thought of my breatjing. Its always on my mind. I worry that my breathing isn't automatic and I must controle it. I can't relax with it. My focus on my breathing stops me from participating in any sports. When I start to run I feel like I lose my breath very easily. Its constant with me. If I could get over this problem I would probably be well on my way to success. Has anyone here ever had this problem??? Any suggestions to overcome this??? I've had it for to long!

Dear Zach,

Boy can I remember that obsessive thought/symptom!!! It was even more obnoxious than not being able to swallow - I think.

The only things that helped were to do the daily basics (bec. it helped me wind down every single day and therefore I used up less of my coping fuel and had more left over every day/week and that helped me stop running out/stop running on reserves). I used the skills in 2,3,&10 diligently. I made myself brisk walk (my only form of exercise) even if I felt I'd run out of air...I would slow down a bit while slowing down my breathing and then speed up again. I also listened to educational tapes or marching music...I noticed that if I got my mind off my breathing I stopped worrying about it.

I am answering quickly here...I hope others who have gone through similar fears will give some more hints.

I can only tell you that it WILL pass- but in the mean time...keep showing it the door! 2-4 breathing with counting- Carolyn

Hi Zach-I had that problem and just recently with a growth spurt started obssessing about my breathing and feel like I am not getting my breath-I did chuckle cause I gave the heart a rest for a change. What has helped me is to do the abdominal breathing and find a distraction, My most recent episode has been stress related so I am trying to get my rest and deal with the issue that has been upsetting me so I do not get sensitized. It does pass and the great part is knowing where it is coming from as before I had so many scary thoughts about it all. Take Care Timber

ZachDT,

I can truly relate, as this has been one large aspect of my disorder for many many years. I�m doing better (thinking about breathing less) since finding this program. I think the following 3 things have been key for me. First�learning that I�m not the only person in the world like this. Now, this may sound clich� but it�s not for me. I�ve really used this knowledge as a base�a foundation to build some much-needed positive self-talk. I can now say over and over�I�m not crazy, I�m not alone, this hasn�t and isn�t going to hurt me and I really don�t need to be afraid of this because plenty of others dealing with this have lived long lives! When I recognize I�ve begun focusing on my breathing�these are the types of things I quickly begin to say�thereby replacing the normal scary line of self-talk I�ve been so use to using.

Next, have you tried eliminating caffeine and\or sugar? If not�give it a try by cutting back slowly as the program recommends of course. I�ve cut out caffeine completely and though sugar has been more of a challenge, I�ve cut back on it as well. I absolutely believe eliminating the caffeine has done wonders for me and has aided in getting this relaxation/breathing issue much more under control.

Last and perhaps most important has been the relaxation tape and the 2-4 breathing skills. Up until this program, and since 1996�I�ve lived in a constant state of trying to control and obsessing about my breathing. My routine at night was to �catch a buzz� from drinking because it was the only way I knew how to prepare myself for the torture of lying down in a quiet room in order to fall asleep � the second my head hit the pillow I had already begun messing up my breathing. Then in the morning after a few hours of sleep � sometimes before my eyes were even open�my first thought was breathing. More than anything in this program, I feared the relaxation tape�because I just knew some part of it would have me focusing on breathing�and the last thing in the world I wanted to do more of, was concentrate on my breathing while lying down with no distractions! Yet, this has become one of the most powerful benefits of the program for me.

The relaxation tape was very difficult for me in the beginning and I was anything but relaxed for the first 3 weeks�but then a wonderful thing happened�the tape and really trusting the 2-4 breathing gave me for the first time in my life�an actual chance to experience a restful state�a chance to feel calm and at peace. Really working on diaphragm breathing using the 2-4 method, instead of chest breathing, I�ve found immensely beneficial. Even when struggling and focusing on breathing, it�s just plain easier to get a deeper breath using the diaphragm. I�m not a doctor, but the following line of thinking has also brought me much needed comfort. The reason I was never able to get the deep breath I felt I needed was because physically, I really didn�t need that deep breath. My mind was telling me I needed it to feel okay�to reassure myself that I wasn�t going to just die right there, but my body and lungs were signaling to me that I didn�t physically need that deep breath because my lungs were already full, already filled with oxygen�and this was why I couldn�t get more air. I really believe when we obsess and get involved with our breathing, we inadvertently fill our lungs to near capacity and when we then become anxious and try repeatedly to get more air, try repeatedly to expand our chests�just so we have the sense that we�re okay�there just isn�t any more room in our lungs, because we just don�t physically need it. So instead of thinking that you don�t have enough air�flip that on its head and start telling yourself that you actually just have too much air. I think, the 2-4 breathing allows you to dissipate the excess oxygen you don�t need, and quite quickly�when you go to take that breath using your diaphragm, you find the experience of breathing is what you would expect�and once you feel this�the feeling of calm and reassurance takes place (helped by the positive self-talk) and before you know it�the episode has passed.

When I first started the program�I relied on the 2-4 breathing easily every 5 minutes of the day. Going on a year later, days pass in between my need to think about this�sometimes longer, sometimes shorter�but the difference is, now it�s only for a short period of time and I�m past it. All very good things that if are possible for me�I�ve got to believe they are possible for you as well. Someone else posted on this forum once, a condition called Hyper Ventilation syndrome (HVS). I�ve tried not to self-diagnose�but I think I fall into this category. From my understanding, it really just has to do with improper breathing, brought on by thinking too much about it and has nothing to do with any physical malfunctions or imperfections.

Best wishes
JOP

JOP-

I hope EVERYONE reads your post and makes a copy of it...very helpful and absolutely on the money.

Carolyn

Thank you very much Carolyn...you brightened my day!

I just hope it was of some benefit to ZachDT.

Thanks for the encouragement

Oh my goodness, when I read your post all I could think of was, "gee, if only I had read this a year and a half ago then that would have helped!" For four LONG years I suffered on a daily basis with my breathing. It was this constant obsession that had me fully convinced that I was suffering from asthma or some other life threatening lung disease that would get the better of me. I went for all sorts of test, went on meds., even homeopathy and finally decided it was time to get help. I went through the program knowing that I dealt with anxiety on a daily basis that was becoming crippling and figured that just maybe all my breathing problems were a result of that. A year and a half later after the program I am fully recovered-still relapse on occasion but what a world of difference!
The best thing that I do when I get an onset (because that's how my body responds to anxiety still, with the breathing problems) is tell myself that, "Ok, this has happened before but you know that it's anxiety so your not going to die from it! Just float with it, know that it needs to run it's course but that it will always go away" And just reassuring myself does indeed make it pass. It may last a couple hours or a couple of days but I know that I'll be ok.
It's great to be able relate to other people on here, it's amazing that dealing with something that makes you feel like no one else in the world has it is really not true. If you have any other questions feel free to ask, I've been through it all!

Hey, I had this problem alot when I was younger. I now suffer from OCD, does anyone know if the thoughts on breathing are related to OCD?