Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Can't stop thinking about my breathing

Hey, I haven't been able to stop thinking about my breathing for the past two days. It all started when my teacher mentioned about involuntary breathing. I had experienced this before, but this time I have trouble sleeping, and the moment I wake up I think about it. I tell my parents about it but they think it's a small matter. Someone pls help me, I want my sleep. Btw I'm 16 this year
34 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I used to think about my breathing.I have suffered bad anxiety for ten years.I had it under control but recently its came back,i am at my happiest when I am on the sofa doing nothing.Back to the breathing,its hard,you have to just try and drift off watch movies,walk,play computer,one things for sure you will never stop breathing.Chill.Good luck : )
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I used to think about my breathing.I have suffered bad anxiety for ten years.I had it under control but recently its came back,i am at my happiest when I am on the soda doing nothing.Back to the breathing,its hard,you have to just try and drift off watch movies,walk,play computer,one things for sure you will never stop breathing.Chill.Good luck : )
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm a lot older and wiser than you, and I went through a long period, like a year, where I thought about my breathing almost constantly. It was my first thought on waking up. Many times an hour I would feel that I couldn't get a full breath. I would try to yawn, try to take a full breath, finally get a satisfying full breath, and then the cycle would begin again. Like you, it was triggered by a specific thought, when someone I knew had a lung problem. And I'm sorry to say that it wasn't "a couple of days" to go away. Don't be discouraged if this is something you have to live with for a while, and it may flare up during times of stress over your lifetime. But, I have a family and responsibilities and (except for that one trip to the ER, oh, and another trip to the doctor who prescribed an inhaler--useless--and a couple of medical tests) I went on with life and it gradually got better. Not that it was easy. I pretty much assumed that I would die and there wasn't anything I could do about it. By thinking about breathing I was forcing it and breathing too fast, like if I stopped I would never start again. I forgot what regular breathing even felt like. But now I realize that there is a big pause after exhaling before you automatically inhale. Your body will breathe correctly if you let it, but how do you concentrate on not concentrating on something? Impossible. So you just have to try really hard to distract yourself. It may take a long time to totally get over it, but it sounds like you have a good attitude toward this so you will probably handle it better than me. At age 16, it's good to get a lot of sleep, but some sleepless nights are not going to harm you. You'll have a lot of those if you go to college anyway. Hang in there, you are at one of the hardest ages. It will get easier!
Helpful - 0
7 Comments
Hi I can say im goin through the same thing the doctors did the same thing I wake up with the with all the same things ure goin through  I suffer from high anxiety for ten years I am now 26 I was wondering if I could get in contact with you to talk about this problem thanks heaps ..mitch
Jonesy135 i agree with you! i need also to talk to somebody about this
When would you like to talk about this I went through last feb now its come back how can I get in contact with you kind regards mitch
If anybody sees this, I would like to talk to somebody if possible.  
Thank you
Your are adding to an old post.  If you want others here to respond to you make a new post and give some detail about what's going on so folks can respond.
jackerdandy, I said pretty much everything I could in my post in 2014.  I think it will help you very much to read all the comments below and you will see how common this problem is. Of course, the problem has returned for me, though much less severe, during this Covid epidemic. But it is not associated with a cough, I know that for me it is NOT Covid. (Of course, if you have fever and cough call your doctor, don't listen to me!)  It feels horrible - like I can't get a full breath except occasionally. A feeling of tightness in chest. This is a symptom of panic attack Another one is a feeling of unreality, and that is even worse. People may tell you to meditate or do deep breathing exercises - for me that doesn't help because concentrating on taking deep breaths only triggers the feeling.  The only solution is to try to relax and the way to do that for me is distraction - read a book that I enjoy or talk to someone.  Maybe you could try going for a long walk.  If you can do that, you must have pretty good lungs, right?  A person who is truly breathless can't walk across the room.  (Call your doctor if you are really concerned, this is just my experience and views.)  Take care.
It can also be due to sore ribs, which is something that some people get, just like some people have sore knees etc. I get sharp chest pains once a week or less but take a deep breath and it goes away so I know it is not a breathing issue.  And I cough a few times daily or feel like there might be a congestion but again I take a few deep breaths and it's gone so it's nothing, and I feel better immediately. Hopefully you have no issue but check with doc if you are concerned that things are not normal.
7359862 tn?1390320080
Nope, I do it to, but then get busy in my day and forget about it. The more I busy myself the better my days seem to be. Good luck to you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks, do u reckon it'll take a couple of days to go away. In the morning, the first thing I think of is breathing is that bad?
Helpful - 0
7359862 tn?1390320080
It is a common symptom with anxiety. Try and do ANYTHING to get your mind off it. Read, watch a movie, play games, exercise, go for a walk, listen to music. Also try breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth big breaths to calm yourself. The more you focus on it the more you'll notice it.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?