Peak
05-06-2016, 04:57 PM
This is something that keeps happening to me. At times of stress and anxiety my breathing changes where I no longer take normal breaths but shallow ones and more frequently with the following results:
1. I frequently feel short of breath or to put it more accurately, that I need to take an extra breath.
2. My diaphragm doesn't move at all.
3. Every few minutes I feel the need to burp to release trapped wind in my chest.
4. I get an upset stomach
Whilst I can physically slow my breathing down I.e. I don't actually need more oxygen, doing so causes he feeling of panic to increase. Essentially it feels like I'm being smothered most of the time. This is a feeling that lasts all day, every day and can last for days or weeks until I forget about my breathing and it naturally returns to its normal rate.
I've tried various breathing exercises like slow deep breaths filling all the lung and moving the diaphragm, holding the breath for a few seconds, releasing the breath slowly etc but I find that I can't do this for long as the feeling of panic becomes too strong. The only respite I get is when I fall asleep or if I am able to do something that completely absorbs me but then as soon as I realise I'm not doing it anymore I start doing it again.
Anyone else experience this or know how to forget about your breathing etc? This has been going on for over a week now and it's driving me insane.
1. I frequently feel short of breath or to put it more accurately, that I need to take an extra breath.
2. My diaphragm doesn't move at all.
3. Every few minutes I feel the need to burp to release trapped wind in my chest.
4. I get an upset stomach
Whilst I can physically slow my breathing down I.e. I don't actually need more oxygen, doing so causes he feeling of panic to increase. Essentially it feels like I'm being smothered most of the time. This is a feeling that lasts all day, every day and can last for days or weeks until I forget about my breathing and it naturally returns to its normal rate.
I've tried various breathing exercises like slow deep breaths filling all the lung and moving the diaphragm, holding the breath for a few seconds, releasing the breath slowly etc but I find that I can't do this for long as the feeling of panic becomes too strong. The only respite I get is when I fall asleep or if I am able to do something that completely absorbs me but then as soon as I realise I'm not doing it anymore I start doing it again.
Anyone else experience this or know how to forget about your breathing etc? This has been going on for over a week now and it's driving me insane.