Holding my Breath

[zachgray93]

I notice when I am experiencing anxiety I tend to hold my breathe. Does anyone else experience this? I get so consumed in my thoughts and fear that I forget to breath and then end up having to gasp for air. This creates a whole slew of symptoms such as numbness and tingling. I also make myself burp a lot as weird as that sounds. I think its due to the anxiety. Is there any explanation to this?b:scared15:

[56degree]

Yeah I do it too. Especially when I am stuck on a thought. Totally subconscious.

[JamesM535]

Happened to me too, always 'credited' it to anxiety though.

[Pipkin]

It's very common with anxiety and I do it too.

It's the fight, flight or freeze response inherited from our caveman ancestors. Keep very still and hold your breath to be silent and avoid being eaten by a woolly mammoth. Not much use when you're out shopping or in a meeting though.

Easier said than done but try to learn to recognise when you doing it, relax your shoulders and breath deeply and slowly.

Pip