Will I stop breathing?

[Cinnamonspider]

Long story short: I had very severe panic disorder and anxiety disorder two years ago. Because I was having so many panic attacks, my body got into the habit of over-breathing, and chronic hyperventilation took over my normal breathing pattern. I've seen good improvements within the past two years regarding my panic attacks/anxiety, however my breathing pattern is still dysfunctional.

All day, night, every second of my day I rarely stop thinking about my breathing pattern, it's something I can't steer my mind from thinking about. I'm constantly slowing my breathing rate, doing breathing exercises, making sure i'm not hyperventilating etc. it rules my life, and I'm scared that my breathing is going to become a manual thing, and my brain will forget how to breathe because I'm doing it manually so much and focusing on it so much.

Is this possible? Can i actually forget how to breathe if i'm controlling my breathing so much? I'm a very anxious person, so only solid information from reliable sources please, not just someones opinion/what someone thinks. I need facts.

Does anyone else have this?

[iwanass]

Hello, I have been sufferring from this breathing problems for 15 yeras. Once, 15 years ago, when I was 17, I travelled with my parents on holiday and at the moment panic attack came to me. It tooks me about 20 minutes to be ok. That night, when I was trying to fall asleep, suddenly I got scared that I couldn´t breath and it stopped without my thinking. Next days I introspected myself, my breathing and I began hyperventilate. More and more from day to day....this problem follows me many years. Sometimes its good, but some days I can´t get it off out of my head. It is terrible, it is worse than any pain. How are you now? How did you solve problem? Give me some advice please. Thanks.

[refills]

Listen to the LightSeeker. <This is the truth.

Through my experience I can tell you all that your breathing is not controlled by your mind. Please see a doctor to try and settle your brain down. There is help for you all. I use to think the same thing. When I tried to sleep I would be suddenly awakened by my body jumping like an electric shock was being sent through my entire body. I would think it was my breathing being stopped by my brain. It's hard to explain as you guys may know. It's terrible and I thought I would die until it was explained to my what LightSeeker posted. YOU WON'T STOP BREATHING! Good Luck TO ALL!

[Jess123456]

Hi I have this too, I have had it before but only lasted a day, this time I have had it for about 3 weeks, it's ruining my life, I kept thinking have I got lung cancer, I eventually went to the doctors after 15 years of not going as I'm petrified of doctors, she tested my oxegen level said it was 98% she said that was good as I'm a smoker! also said my heart is fine! since having this my anxiety is so bad! I can't eat or sleep, the first thing I think about when I do get a couple of hours sleep is my breathing, it's with me every second of the day, so I know what your all going through, I panick so much about it I spend half the day shaking, I think now it has caused me to be depressed, the doctor gave me a form to fill out and is going to give me medication next week as I can't live with this anymore, just keep feeling is it ever going to go away

[Fahedtr]

hi
I have this ******* problem as well
how can I be in touch with you?

[Cinnamonspider]

Thanks for the reply, I do practice breathing techniques, most of the time whilst i'm at rest. i do pranayama beginners breathing which is just basic standard deep breathing. I no longer feel 'air hunger' doing this, but whenever i'm just breathing standardly I have constant air hunger, and rarely get a deep breathe.

I've been doing the exercises for a while now i'm just waiting for them to take over my current breathing habit, i think i do automatically go into deep breathing when i'm at rest now, but as soon as i'm moving about, out and about the house it's useless again -> constantly thinking about it -> can't enjoy actually being out -> becoming a recluse.

i'm sure it's OCD thought pattern, the thought never leaves my head fully.

It's nice to know i'm not alone though, i feel like it's such a bizarre problem to have, and it comes at such a big price, i'm only 20 and I can't work or be in education because of it. social life is non-existent, and of course a whole array of other horrible side effects.


thanks for the suggestions/websites, i'll check them out.

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey Cinnamonspider.

Be grateful, your breathing is not and it cannot be governed by your
conscious mind. It is a sub-conscious function, just like blood circulation,digestion of food etc.
You can consciously engage though in re- training your subconscious to breathe properly, by doing conscious deep breathing exercises and over time
it will become an automatic function.
Go to the normal breathing website, the Buteyco breathing method and
Pranayama conscious breathing websites to explore this further.

If your problem persists, then most likely you are suffering from an obsessive compulsive thought pattern.
I'm a Board Certified Hypnotherapist, Advanced Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner and specialize in Energy Psychotherapy,
Regression, Past and Future Life exploration Therapy.
Do a search for your area for a Therapist, if this is indeed the issue.

And yes, I was a sufferer as well, in my younger days.
I was afraid I would stop breathing in my sleep and die, so i spent many sleepless nights, thinking I could will this and my severe chest pains with myconscious mind , trying to prevent my own death! lol! I was only about 10,
and I was told by adults not to use my "vivid Imagination" so much.
So I never talk ed about it anymore, to anyone!
I finally ended up to visit a Cardiologist/Pshychologist - by myself-
who did not prescribe any meds as "I was too young" gave me some written instructions for  breathing exercises and thought processing.
I never looked back!!! I followed every word to the "T".

Post again or pm me for more details.
.Wish you well!
Niko