Anxiety breathing as annoyance, not as scary anymore at least

I hate feeling short of breath. Even though I know I'm not going to faint, and that I sleep MUCH better than I used to in spite of the old fear of "what happens when I am unconscious, will I suffocate" and all that, the sensation of tightness in my chest and higher persists oftentimes, especially in the morning. What purpose does this serve, even at an instinctual level? "Oh, I feel danger/distress, time to make it worse."

 

For stretches I can totally forget about this, but thinking "oh neat I'm not thinking about my breathing" typically brings it back. It's no longer the madness-provoking obsession that got my hospitalized and on suicide watch, but more of an annoying habit.

 

I guess I'm just venting here. I hope it becomes increasingly easier to "let go," or if not that, if I could further reclaim my breathing as a meditative practice. That's what Zen monks do, right? They dont freak out when they notice their breathing.

Keep venting! The first step in coping with anxiety is facing it. I was in denial my whole life and am surprised how everything changed once I admitted to myself I actually had an anxiety issue. My technique for taking it on was very similar to what you did here. I'd lay it (whatever the anxiety cue was) all out and reflect on all aspects of it including what made it have power over me. Before long I noticed a pattern of thinking that led me down these Anxiety Avenues and worked on that. I haven't looked back since.

It's been a bit more acute these last two days and I really have no idea why...

 

I take it I'm not the only one with rollercoaster OCD/anxiety? I hope it ends again soon!

I have been asking about this very thing as I am new to the site.  I even went to a pulmonary doctor to rule out any physical problems.  Meanwhile, while waiting for refferal to a heart specialist, my wife read about benzo withdrawals and discovered my problems of anxiety and uncomfortable breathing could be associated with temazapam.  I was freaking out over the disruption and abnormal breathing.

I backed off my increase intake and things got better.  The more I took for anxiety the worse my symptoms.  I will be so glad to get off the remaining temazapam.  Good luck with your goals.  Thanx for your posts.

Oh I believe that the anxiety/panic attacks can be controlled up to the point where they are just 'there' and we float through them.  Of course some days are easier than others, but continued practice taking power over them instead of letting them overpower us is the key for me. 

 

My psychiatrist said something very interesting during my last visit and that is that deep breathing from the diaphragm stimulates the vagus nerve which then releases chemicals in the brain and diminishes anxiety.  I must do more research on this but there is even a VNS (vagus nerve stimulator) that one can have implanted for $50,000 (no thank you) so there must be something to this.

 

I can definitely relate to the deep breathing because I have always breathed from my chest.  My mother had weight issues and wanted us kids to suck our stomachs in so it's difficult to belly breathe when you're holding it in.  I always breathed from my chest and I'm sure that exacerbated the anxiety.

 

I am arming myself with custom made hypnosis tapes for when my taper gets lower.  But I am using the tapes now to build up my defenses.

 

 

I have been asking about this very thing as I am new to the site.  I even went to a pulmonary doctor to rule out any physical problems.  Meanwhile, while waiting for refferal to a heart specialist, my wife read about benzo withdrawals and discovered my problems of anxiety and uncomfortable breathing could be associated with temazapam.  I was freaking out over the disruption and abnormal breathing.

I backed off my increase intake and things got better.  The more I took for anxiety the worse my symptoms.  I will be so glad to get off the remaining temazapam.  Good luck with your goals.  Thanx for your posts.

 

I was ruled out for asthma and related problems with some brief but apparently good-enough tests by the doctor, who insisted it was all in my head. Funny thing is that health anxiety can escalate so I bet if I had more thorough tests they probably wouldn't be enough. The slightest indication of being below perfect would probably get me anxious, and yes, make my breathing feel more forced and difficult.

 

The brain's a strange organ. Ours is complex enough to create constructs of self-imposed suffering that animals generally don't have to experience.

 

I'm off my benzos altogether, yet I do wonder if some of my lingering problems are related to the anxiety spikes I get. When I am anxious, my breath feels shallow and halted.

Brief update:

 

Anxiety breathing's eased up recently. If it's just a window it's welcome. If it's a lasting change or leads to more windows soon, awesome.

 

This stuff CAN get better!

I'm so glad to hear your anxious breathing has eased up. I'm positive things will get better for you, I have seen so many members here get through the worst of it during the first few months off and continue to improve steadily. You are very determined and I'm glad you are feeling better.

I'm so glad to hear your anxious breathing has eased up. I'm positive things will get better for you, I have seen so many members here get through the worst of it during the first few months off and continue to improve steadily. You are very determined and I'm glad you are feeling better.

 

With the worst possible timing (I do thank you for your kind congratulations), my "sleep starts" seem to have come back since last night, where I feel short of breath and wake up suddenly, interrupting sleep.

 

Have you experienced these? Do you know of any small things that might help, like a certain sleep posture?

I'm so glad to hear your anxious breathing has eased up. I'm positive things will get better for you, I have seen so many members here get through the worst of it during the first few months off and continue to improve steadily. You are very determined and I'm glad you are feeling better.

 

With the worst possible timing (I do thank you for your kind congratulations), my "sleep starts" seem to have come back since last night, where I feel short of breath and wake up suddenly, interrupting sleep.

 

Have you experienced these? Do you know of any small things that might help, like a certain sleep posture?

 

Actually I have experienced those "sleep starts" if you mean waking up feeling like you are gasping for breath. I first experienced that when I was about 19 and I went to the ER a couple of times over it. When I went to my doctor he did an Upper GI and said I have a hietal hernia. Those are fairly common and can act up when you are under stress. I very rarely have a problem with it, but when I do I don't eat for 2-4 hours before I go to bed and I sleep with my pillows propping me up higher. Usually just not eating late solves that. I'm not a doctor, so I can't diagnose you, but I would think you could try these things and see if that helps.

 

I know when that first happened to me I was very frightened by it. I know as I'm tapering now sometimes it happens to me and for me, I know it is a symptom of stress. I hope that helps.

 

 

I'm so glad to hear your anxious breathing has eased up. I'm positive things will get better for you, I have seen so many members here get through the worst of it during the first few months off and continue to improve steadily. You are very determined and I'm glad you are feeling better.

 

With the worst possible timing (I do thank you for your kind congratulations), my "sleep starts" seem to have come back since last night, where I feel short of breath and wake up suddenly, interrupting sleep.

 

Have you experienced these? Do you know of any small things that might help, like a certain sleep posture?

 

Actually I have experienced those "sleep starts" if you mean waking up feeling like you are gasping for breath. I first experienced that when I was about 19 and I went to the ER a couple of times over it. When I went to my doctor he did an Upper GI and said I have a hietal hernia. Those are fairly common and can act up when you are under stress. I very rarely have a problem with it, but when I do I don't eat for 2-4 hours before I go to bed and I sleep with my pillows propping me up higher. Usually just not eating late solves that. I'm not a doctor, so I can't diagnose you, but I would think you could try these things and see if that helps.

 

I know when that first happened to me I was very frightened by it. I know as I'm tapering now sometimes it happens to me and for me, I know it is a symptom of stress. I hope that helps.

 

 

 

It does help, thank you. It's good to know that it's possible to have an anxiety beastie disturbing my sleep that's not necessarily apnea.

As all symptoms are shifting even as time tells me things are getting better, it does bother me that I have shallow, rapid breathing. When I stop and think about it, I try to take in deeper breaths and hold it....this does not seem to help. I don't think this is linked to anxiety, but I don't know.