Panic attack and breathing?

[DustinS85]

So; I always hear people say breathe and count with the breaths. When I am hyperventilating I am so panic struck that is seems impossible and I cannot seem to muster up the ability to do these breathing things. How can one do it and overcome?

[StarryNight72]

Hi Dustin,

I totally understand what you’re saying. It’s hard for me too when I’m hyperventilating. When I hyperventilate it’s like I have no control over the contractions of my lungs! What helps me is to hold my breath for a few seconds while my lungs continue to heave away. Then I release and let air in and out. Then I hold my breath again for a few seconds. Then breathe. After a few rounds of that, I am to then start the calming breaths techniques. For me I try to remember to keep my exhales longer than my inhales (which is really hard) and I do that by counting. So I count to 4 while I’m inhaling, hold my breath for 4, then try to exhale to 6 or at the very least 4. After about 10 rounds of that my breathing is much more under control.

[DustinS85 in reply to StarryNight72]

Thank you!

[Gerrymoise]

Breathing in and out of a paper bag can really help , rebalances the carbon dioxide an ambulance driver told me