Breathing

[nicky602279]

This is the first time it has ever happened to me idk of it’s because of all my anxiety and depression but its like i forget how to breathe ! And i start having a panic attack i noticed i held my breathe for so long without even noticing and now im freaking out having panic attacks does this happen to anyone????? Im so scared

[Jeff1943]

Nicky, you have nothing to worry about I promise you. Breathing is controlled by the Involuntary Nervous System: you couldn't stop breathing or hold your breath for long if you tried. Something in your nervous system ensures that you keep breathing whether you are thinking about it or not, whether you are sleeping or not, whatever you are doing.

So you don't have to remember to breathe!

Breathing problems are a very common symptom of health anxiety which I know you have. I think you are getting too introspective about a 'symptom' that doesn't really exist in the organic sense. The way to free yourself of this obsession, if I may use this word, is exactly the same as the way that you deal with panic attacks. And as we often get depressed about our anxiety disorder, then you could well find that this secondary depression will pass once you deal with your anxiety.

Everybody can recover from anxiety disorder no matter how long or deeply they have suffered. You are no exception. All your problems are driven by fear yet you have no need to fear anything about your illness.

Because of your anxiety you release large amounts of the fear hormone adrenaline and this has caused your nervous system to become over sensitised. In this state your nerves exaggerate every small concern and minor worry by a factor of ten.

A headache must be a tumour. A new boss means you're going to lose your job for sure. Muscular tension in your chest must be heart failure. Always the worst case scenario!

Panic attacks are just your nerves' way of saying "I've had enough!" You have reached anxiety overload and it's time to desensitise your nervous system so that in time you recover your quiet mind and stop having all these false symptoms which resemble real illness but are the products of "bad nerves".

Here's what you do: when you feel worrying thoughts, nervous symptoms or panic attacks coming on you simply accept them for the time being. Let them come, bring it on, you know in your heart they are all false and fraudulent. Accept them utterly and refuse to fight them, you've been fighting your anxieties for too long. Fighting only causes more stress and tension and the last thing your fraught nerves need is more of that.

So I say again, Accept them and agree to co-exist with these bad ideas and feelings for the time being. Even accept the panic attacks, they feel awful I know but they are all bark and no bite: panic attacks can cause your mind and body no permanent harm.

When eventually you are able to Accept these things rather than constantly fight them something wonderful happens. You stop flooding your nervous system with fear hormone. Do that long enough and your nerves lose their over sensitivity - and you are able to see things in true perspective free from exaggerated worries.

It all comes down to Accepting these things and not fighting them.

So when the panic attack next comes do not seek to dodge it or avoid it: laugh in its face and pass through panic by Accepting it. Let yourself go limp, your limbs, your body, your jaw. Let the panic sweep over you and past you.

So the bottom line is this: stop frightening yourself half to death every five minutes and instead truly Accept whatever nervous exhaustion throws at you.

You have nothing to fear, Nicky, you are safe, no real danger threatens you. You will not feel like this for much longer if you choose Acceptance rather than fear because you cannot both accept something and fear something at the same time.

I say choose Acceptance.

[nicky602279 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you for that I really really appreciate you writing that 🙏🏾❤️ i just get scared cause i find myself taking a deep breathe alot cause of shortness of breathe and i just focus on my breathing alot i hole I don’t stay like this forever i was doing good up until this happened to me yesterday!!! ☹️