Meditation for breathlessness

[Alessandra1949]

Does anyone have any meditation/relaxation tips to calm us down when breathlessness gets too much?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

This technique may help

chopra.com/articles/nadi-sh...

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Milkfairy]

Alas, impossible for me, but thanks for trying. I appreciate any advice. I do think I’m much more breathless (and still coughing intermittently) than I should be almost three weeks after stents. I’ll give it a bit more time and try to seek help. Meantime I’m doing my best to stay calm. Perhaps age and the long term calcification etc didn’t help. No cardiac nurse to ask and I feel so guilty about bothering docs and nurses at this terrible time. Anyway, sorry to go on, and thank you very much.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Alessandra1949]

It is a challenging time for us all at the moment.

This is another link to lots of free meditations and relaxation techniques. Maybe try dipping into the various techniques until you find one that helps you?

insighttimer.com/

I find listening to the natural sounds such as the rain or the sea relaxing.

I also practice mindfulness meditation.

There is a real worry that patients are not seeking help early enough. A&E admissions are way down. Perhaps seek help sooner rather than later?

I hope you find a way to feel more at ease and calm soon.

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Milkfairy]

It certainly is challenging. Thanks for the good advice, Milkfairy. I will take it on board. You be safe.

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Milkfairy]

Brilliant site/app. Big thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Alessandra1949]

Thanks for the posting. I wasn't breathless until I had a stent. It was a shock first time it happened as I was taking my young niece who was visiting for a meal. It was a short walk and I had to stop and I was panting and she panicked badly. I asked the GP and he said it could take 6 to 18 months to settle down, only it has got worse since the pacemaker.

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Hidden]

Poor you. 6 to 18 months sounds a bit long - but what do I know? I'm a novice and relying on the wisdom and experience of others. I shall be asking for help, though, if this continues. The sunshine this morning has made me feel better. hope it does the same for you.

[killersblue]

Hi, just try simple Focused Breathing to start with

Close your eyes take as deep a breath as you can twice then breathe in and breathe out...... slowly ....... and as deep as you can then breathe out ..... slowly and for longer than when breathing in

Do this a few times and keep bringing your thoughts back to the breathe and how it feels as you are breathing in and out eg cool - warm etc

Then maybe try counting for 4 on the in breathe ..... hold for 4 if possible but if not hold for whatever you can then breathe out for the count of 6

Just keep doing this for a few minutes and you will find yourself calming down and slowing down quite naturally

👍🌷🌞

[Alessandra1949 in reply to killersblue]

I'll try this. (Great name, by the way). Many thanks, and enjoy the sunny day, even if it is from indoors.

[killersblue in reply to Alessandra1949]

Thank you

My favourite band and favourite colour 🌷

[killersblue in reply to killersblue]

Or maybe you meant the name Focused Breathing which is a good, simple, to the point name so no confusion 🤗

[Alessandra1949 in reply to killersblue]

Both names. (Ashamed to say not heard of the band. Will listen out.). Blue's my favourite colour too.

[HectorsDad]

Mindfulness for Health by Burch & Penman is excellent.

[Alessandra1949 in reply to HectorsDad]

Another good tip. Many thanks.

[Hidden]

I recently bought an Apple Watch bc I wanted to know my heart rate regularly / be able to take an ecg if needed.

I was surprised to find a “Breathe” activity on it. I now love this & use multi times a day, esp at bedtime. You can set the number of breaths per minute on your phone (it defaults 7/min but I reset to slower 6 /min, may do 5). Then the watch vibrates on your wrist for about 4 seconds to tell you to slowly inhale. And then it stops vibrating for 6ish seconds for the exhale.

It is so relaxing & calming. I needn’t breathe any deeper than comfy, but it encourages me to breath slowly.

I used to do the same without the watch, just counting the seconds in and out. Both work well, the watch is slightly more relaxing as no counting needed, I can just settle into it. I believe there are phone apps & websites that do similar.

The other day my spouse even suggested I use it, when noticing I’d got a bit wound up !

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much. The 7 has been too much for me. Didn't know I could reset. It is quite calming, though I've been telling it to go away and leave me alone rather a lot lately!

[Hidden in reply to Alessandra1949]

Ah turning it off, maybe that is both the problem + the solution ....?!

And I didn’t know the Breathe function could remind you to do it... I’m off to see where!

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Hidden]

I just tried it on 4, but the breaths are longer. 5 may improve things.

[Hidden in reply to Alessandra1949]

Yes it’s the number of breaths in 1 minute, so a lower number is a smaller number of longer breaths. I’m finding 5 is v calming without straining

[Alessandra1949 in reply to Hidden]

Only just got around to trying it. Quite good, though still a little long for my current breathing. It will improve. Thank you again.

[not2worry]

Try the App Breethe or Headspace

[Alessandra1949 in reply to not2worry]

Thanks, not2worry!

[KIricat]

I find some Sanskrit chant incredibly relaxing.If you haven’t meditated before it’s very difficult to just sit down and do it. You need a helping hand