Any simple slow breathing technique suggestions for people who have difficulty breathing properly thorough their nose

[sumihari]

I hope the title doesn't seem too silly, but yes, I haven't been able to find a slow breathing technique that works for me in the last 2 years. I can't breathe through my nose really well, deviated septum. ENT's told me to fix my anxiety before contemplating any surgery. And then I clench because I have TMJ, that is a work in progress. I breathe abdominally but   I constantly feel jammed up around the neck and mouth.

I do meditate using my breath as a focus and my breathing doesn't bother me then. But I'd like to retrain my breathing . Slow breathing helped with reducing anxiety before and I don't see why it can't now.

In the meantime I would really appreciate any members who have had similar struggles and finally found a simple slow breathing technique, please share. The simpler the better so as not to induce panic over the technique. I hope you understand what I mean.

Thank you

Sumi

[sumihari]

Good one about your nurse friend.

I agree with you that the exhalation should be slightly longer. What I would like to learn is some sort of simple slow breathing technique where it is okay to breathe in and out through your mouth. I am sure there are many out there with asthma, sinus allergies as well as a deviated septum suffering from anxiety who may have been advised to learn how to slow breathe. So I'd like to know how did they overcome the stuffy nose.

For instance, did you just breathe in however you could and exhaled longer than your inhale.

Or did you focus on your stomach moving in and out with each breath.

Breathing, sounds so basic and yet there are so many techniques around that claim to be the best to combat anxiety. I just would like to know what worked for you.

Thanks.

[Pum]

My friend, a nurse, once said she would have to change the "cartilage" in her printer.

I think one of the secrets to the breathing thing is to try to exhale as much air as you can.

[sumihari]

Hello nursegirl,

Thank you for responding. What is the standard breathing exercise - could you run through a simple one, please.

As to the curiosity with the 2 ENT's recommendation. Well , apart from the anxiety I also have low ferritin issues, never has been resolved.

Now they argue that I had this deviated septum for many years and it really did not give me any problems. The breathing issues, TMJ, muscles spasms, blood pressure obsession all are new developments in the last years and the deviated septum remains the same. So they reason that the anxiety issues which developed in the last few years  need to be resolved to some level before even considering surgery. Why add another stressor when I am trying to recover? And there is no guarantee that the surgery will fix my issues. I am still not discounting the surgery.

As for the blunders your mother in law makes, at least she will be the joker in any parties, no offence I hope. My daughter makes one mistake, - so instead of saying concertina folder, she says "cons pi tina" folder. She is in her late teens and didn't realise she was mistaking constipation (commonly heard term in the family) with concertina.

Bye for now

Sumi

[nursegirl6572]

Actually, yours is a very thought-provoking question, considering most breathing techniques DO involve inhaling thru the nose.  It presents a slight challenge, but the basic premise is the same...whether you are breathing in thru your mouth or your nose.  I would say...try the standard breathing exercises with inhalation thru the mouth vs the nose.  I think the biggest challenge you'll come accross is some dry mouth...but if you sip some water in between reps...that should work.  I'm very curious though...DO let us know if it works.  I'm thinking it should.

The combo of issues you have (TMJ, deviated septum) really make it dfficult for you to fight the anxiety I'm sure.

Why do the doc want you to fight the anxiety before having surgery?  Not that anxiety is the best thing to have when dealing with an operation...but it doesn't have to rule it out, either.  HEY!!   Look at Carole's success story.  She even had some fleeting blood pressure issuesd along with her anxiety...and a very complicated operation...yet she had it done.  Just curious.

Lastly...I want to leave you with something funny your post reminded me of.  My mother-in-law is one of those people that incessantly butchers the pronunciation of words....like Wal-Mart she calls "Wally World"...and NUMEROUS others...but the funniest is her medical jargon murdering.  Me being a nurse..it's that much funnier...and I'm not ever one to correct her...it's not my place and makes others feel dumb.  Example....(this one is actually common)...she says prostRate instead of prostate....periPoneal dialysis instead of peritoneal dialysis (which my FIL had)...but my fave?  She told me one day in depth how my sister-in-law had a BAD case of a "devriated spectrum".  LOL

Sorry...just a funny I wanted to share.

Let us know how the breathing goes with a alternate approach, K?