Posted by nicky847 on January 21, 2004, at 12:30:35
In reply to Re: can't stop obsessing about my breathing.. HELP » crazychickuk, posted by Fi on January 21, 2004, at 11:10:35
I used to have this problem when I was in college..especially after a weekend of hard partying..looking back now I know this was probably a mini-anxiety attack..it is common for people who have panic attacks to feel like they are suffocating..it is important to know that you are not though...your body will automatically make sure that you are getting the oxygen you need..what is more likely happening is that you are hyperventilating and breathing in too much oxygen..dont forget to breathe OUT...when you hyperventilate you are not breathing out..and the over abundance of oxygen in your blood can create some scary feelings..
> OK, nothing awful is probably actually going on. Go to your doctor and have a check if you are worried about the physical side of things. Your breathing manages fine when you are asleep, doesnt it? So you dont need to keep thinking about it for it to work OK.
>
> I know its a big leap to take, but if you can recognise even a little that this is anxiety distorting how you think, that will help a lot. Dont believe all your worries are true. You're a little of the way there, as you mention 'obsessing'.
>
> I know that's easier said than done when the anxiety is swilling around, but it does help. Then you can move to tactics to help with the anxiety, rather than believing your worries about your breathing.
>
> Lots of luck and take care.
>
> Fi
>
> (who was breathing into a paper bag this morning to help with hyperventilation, so really does know what its like to be anxious, honest!)
poster:nicky847
thread:303687
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/303762.html