[RageOfCreation]

Does anyone else ever feel like you have to "make yourself breathe"?
It is an odd sensation that sometimes I feel like I have to try to breathe or think about breathing and make myself breath or else I would stop breathing.
I know this is not true but it "feels" like this sometimes.
Can anyone relate?

 

[agentcooper]

that's one i can really relate to, indeed! in fact, sometimes i can't stop "making" myself breath when i'm trying to fall asleep and i can't sleep.

i think the only thing you can do, is distract yourself...pick up a book or turn on the tube...go for a walk or call a friend.

actually...since i have been thinking of this symptom, i have found myself monitoring my breathing and slipping into the pattern. arrggg! dp is so frustrating!

well, i guess i'll just go for a walk now. :?

 

[SillyPutty]

YES,YES,YES. And the only way to stop is to distract yourself and that is so hard to do when you concentrating on such and important thing as breathing. Weird huh?

 

[mcsiegs]

I have obsessed about my breathing for years. I, on the other hand, picture my lungs inside of me (and my heart, too), and for some reason it brings me distress. I can't put my finger on what the issue is I find with breathing, except the fact that the actual organs that do it cause me panic to think about at times. Weird, eh?

 

[Shadow Cat]

I get that exact same thing. I have to think about my breathing and I feel as though if I don't, I'll stop breathing. It's so frustrating.

 

[RageOfCreation]

You guys/gals have no idea how happy I am right now that I have found others who share this with me...
I am NOT happy anyone else has to deal with it but when I tell people about it they think I am crazy. Even my shrink looks at me like I am nuts.
I saw my psychiatrist today and he mentioned something that I had never thought about regarding this...
I used to attend therapy for anxiety and he said that maybe I am actually practicing something they taught me in anxiety group. You know how they tell you to "concentrate on your breathing" to slow down the heart rate and minimize panic? He thinks I am now doing that when I don't want or need to and therefor its causing panic instead of eliminating it.
Hope that all made sense :?

 

[Ben]

Yes - sometimes I watch myself breath and suddenly have to force myself to breath (or I'll just stop). Very annoying. However, I always get back to just breathing again.

 

[rainboteers]

I can't do deep breathing exercises because if I focus to much on my breathing I actually have a panic attack! Very frustrating considering my therapist keeps telling me that deep breathing is the way out of this mess. If it were that easy we would all be well. They really don't understand do they?! :lol:

 

[Da'Burgh]

Rainboteers, it seems as if you either aren't concentrating on your breathing, and in fact worrying about your panic, or that maybe your just causing yourself to hyperventilate by starting to breathe too late. (after the attack has already bothered you enough) Really you could be doing both actually. Concentrate on your breathing - strictly breathing - 5 counts in, 5 counts out. This might sound old and boring, but if you really concentrate on the counts it will be easier. Shallow breathing is a huge reason why you still have DP/DR and anxiety. This has helped for me. :lol:

 

[dakotajo]

Difficulty in breathing and the awareness of it, is a sure sign of anxiety.

 

[falling_free]

oh yes, this is something ive been councious of since I was young. I used to measure my breathes and also think, why am I breathing and counciously think about my breaths and then the process of breathing.

These days my breaths seem to be more held or they feel heavy , I mean really heavy, and I have trouble regulating my breathing sometimes.

 

[Guest]

no

 

[laserdog]

yes....anyone have the same thing with blinking?

 

[Diverticulitis]

Don't...get...me...started...on...the...blinking...
There are other 'ruminations', too, but I won't mention them because it'll set you all off.
I've heard DP described as a'disorder of attention', and when our attention gets on something repetitive that is under our control, it can spiral into panic.
You need to put the attention somewhere else, and remember that your body can get along with all its processes perfectly well without any scrutiny or intervention from you.