Constant Awareness of Breathing
Hi Everyone,
I did touch on this on my topic I posted yesterday about CBT, but the symptom I can't stand the most about my anxiety is my constant awareness of my breathing. This is worse when I don't have much to do or when I am trying to get to sleep. I know that i shallow breathe which I am trying to correct, but when you are constantly aware of your breathing the last thing you want to do is think about it even more to try and deep breathe!!! I used to be aware of it occasionally but now it is like an obsessive thought. Also when this website was down due to the fire, i went on another website and found this exact same problem and found many people that suffered from it, but they were all doom and gloom and said they would never recove from it and had been suffering for 10 years or more!! I can't bear the thought that I might be aware of my breathing for the next 10 years!! So I just wondered if anybody had experienced this and if so any positive tips?! I'm wondering if exercise would help although I hate doing that at the moment because again it makes me more aware of my breathing!!
Help!
Thanks
Clare
Re: Constant Awareness of Breathing
I have exactly the same problem!
Suddenly one day for no obvious reason i become aware of every breath i take and it become uncomfatable like someone is sat on my chest or i am breathing through a straw. It is unbelievabley distressing and can make me very depressed and im always panicked.
Due to this breathing sensation i have regualar panic attacks too which are the scariest things imaginable.
I think the breathing awareness stems from anxiety about something but is worsened and prolongued by the anxiety i feel when i breath....a vicious circle!
Im trying all i can to stop being aware of my breathing but its so uncomfatable that its not working so far. every breath feels like i have breathed out instead of in.
Sleeping is impossible!! Last night i got so panicked i ended up in A and E but they just gave me a bottle of Valium that i am unsure whether to take.
It makes me not want to leave the house and is putting alot of pressure on my relationship as i am always anxious and difficult to be around
Its good to know others suffer from this....we just need to beat it and continue our normal lives.
If anyone has anymore advice, tips etc then dont hesitiate to reply, unless the tip is to try and distract myself as thats tried, tested and almost impossible!
Re: Constant Awareness of Breathing
Hi
Some interesting comments here about introspection on breathing. Please see this as a sympton of anxiety and has a cause. The cause will be a core belief about debilitating illness, health, dying etc etc........ it needs to be addressed in stages.
Lets change the word 'anxiety' to 'worry' because we relate to this word better having heard it from chilhood. The never ending 'worry' about your breathing is strengthened while you are in a medium to highly anxious state......... thought feeds feeling/feeling feeds thought.
The anxious state is manifested byinto a single pointed focus on a fear hence you not being able to 'forget' yourself.
While in this heightened state, any task it is not easily accomplished. Thought is NOT under conscious control. This is very important to realise about yourself. It will reduce tension if you 'resign' yourself that you are this way at present, with no way o allegiate it immediately.
In this state you will find it helpful to be 'taking' away thought to the point you are ONLY feeling, adding no words of any nature, negative or positive..............nothing much else going on (very tough at the highest anxiety levels but they will only last at peak for a short time).
I hear people scream 'HOOOOOOOOW do I stop this intense focus'?..............
As gently and softly as you can manage bring your consciousness (thoughts) back to an empty mind (anxiety levels need to lower so wait till past peak).................remain still and bring your thoughts to quiet, no frustration, just the process.
The important message here is that this is NOT an exercise to deal with a panic attack but more about a new way of being.
When you have practiced and practiced controlling your mind in this way then anxiety connected thoughts will be easier to live with. Yes I did mean Live with.
You will know with experience that wanting and wishing 'it' away gives rise to further fear, frustration and helplessness. Lower levels of anxiety are needed before a further step back to normality can start.
I wish you all the very best.
Mark
Re: Constant Awareness of Breathing
Hey!
Paying attention to your breath really is a pain, I do it sometimes, but I used to do it a lot more for a few years ago.
What I do is that I simply turn on some relaxing music and try to think about something else, but that may be a little hard to do.
A little tip: you could try to draw some drawings to get your thoughts on other things