new to the site

[Blanes]

Hi all - I am new to this site and I wanted to start by saying hello.

For the last 9 months or so - I have been focusing on my breathing. Not so much focusing on the breathing itself, more focusing on the fact that I cant stop thinking about it. - seems a little silly even to write down

Not all the time, it comes and goes (sometimes going for weeks at a time). The severity changes and from time to time it sends me into a panic. When this happens, I get that tight feeling in my chest for a while and it fades away slowly.

Im sure like most of you - it only gets bad when I am bored or have nothing to do. So nights can be bad - last night I didnt sleep at all.

I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest that this is purely anxiety related - but even though I recognise this fact, I dont seem to be able to rationalise or logic my way out of it. And every time I think I am getting much better - I seem to sabotage myself and think the worst possible scenario and send myself right back to where I started.

Sorry for the long intro - but my question is this. Even though I seem to have this under a certain degree of control - it still seems to be everlasting. I would like to get over it for good.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to cast these thoughts away for ever - or is this something that I should be seeing a therapist about.

Thanks for your help.

[bananas13]

Hey! I'm fairly new as well... I know exactly what you mean by focusing on your breathing... trust your body. Your body will breath itself, it's automatic. I know I used to be afraid that I was in control of my breathing and that if I stopped thinking about it, I'd stop breathing... that's not what happens! Your body breaths on it's own, so learn to just let go and trust it. =)

I also know what you mean by trying to rationalize your way out of things... I CONSTANTLY over-analyze everything and it drives me mad. I'm working on just stopping my thoughts and letting everything be. A booked called "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle helped me sooooo much! I'd definitely look into reading it...

Know that you're not alone and I'm right there with ya!

[Blot]

:flowers: Welcome to the site! Hang in there & keep sharing your thoughts & experiences as we all help each other by being open with our feelings!

xxBlot

[Blanes]

Ok all -

This is going to seem quite odd, but after months of dealing with this, I am CURED. And the answer was staring me in the face the whole time. I feel stupid for not realising this earlier, but now that I have realised this I feel on top of the world.

I feel so great and I want to share how my thoughts on this breathing thing in a hope that I can help others as well.

My problem was originally that I was thinking about my breathing - I was thinking about every breath. Those of you who deal with the same thing would have felt a little out of breath just reading that sentence.

I had come to realise that there was no physical problem with my breathing. I spoke to a doctor, and he assured me that there was nothing wrong with my lungs. He also assured me that there is no way your body can forget to breathe - as soon as you stop thinking about it your body will just take back over naturally. Here in lies the problem - when will I stop thinking about it.

This is what became my obsession. It wasn’t me thinking about my breath or breathing - It was me thinking about when I would stop "thinking about breathing". What a silly cycle - I was worried about when I would stop thinking about thinking about something.

I would worry myself to the point of full on panic attack. I had trouble sleeping and it was starting to wear on every part of my life. It did get better and worse from time to time, but it was always there - always at the back or front of my mind. I would find myself continually coming up with ways to forget it and spent a lot of time researching the problem on the internet looking for answers.

But then it came to be like a blinding flash. And this is the piece of information or thought that I had been missing.

Why.

For me its as simple as that. Why are you worried about thinking about your breathing. Why are you worried about a thought. It is just a thought.
Think it as much as you like. Think about it until the cows come home. Embrace the thought - be happy you are thinking about it. It cannot hurt you its just a thought.

So silly - why this had never occurred to me before. I had built it up in my mind like it was the worlds biggest problem. Something really bad that I needed to overcome somehow. I thought it was really complex and required a really complex solution. But no

Its just a thought - why would you worry about a thought.

Once I realised this and I embraced the thoughts, I didn’t worry about the fact that I was thinking about them. The stress just melted away in a matter of moments.

Once you realise it is not a problem - I mean truly realise it. You would be amazed at the results.

I honestly feel like I am on top of the world. This feeling is great and I want everyone to feel it

I am sorry for the long post, but I just though I needed to pass on this information in the hope that it can help someone else as much as it has helped me.

Its just a thought - why would you worry about a thought. Embrace it

CURED

Thanks

Blane