The worse part of copd, for me is the... - Lung Conditions C...
The worse part of copd, for me is the severe panic that comes on, just thinking about ,breathlessness , how do you deal with it ?
Do you practice pursed-lip breathing, in through the nose for 2 seconds, out through tightly pursed lips for 4 seconds - or at least out for twice as long as in?
This technique provides back-pressure which helps your airways open wider, allowing a more complete emptying of the lungs and so more oxygen and less carbon dioxide build-up.
Also bear in mind that the sensation of breathlessness may occur without any significant reduction in oxygen saturation. There is a large and modifiable psychological component to it.
Anxiety makes it worse in a vicious circle.
A runner at the end of a race may be extremely breathless yet feel elated.
If you breathe slowly and deeply and relax, knowing that it will pass, you will set up a virtuous circle . . .
Hi
Have you done a pulmonary rehablitation class, apart from excercise the explain how your condition effects you, how your breathing works, and how to controll your breathing when feeling anxious.
Other than that speak to your GP, who can prescribe medication for anxiety.
philbal if ever you became breathless you must not panic just sit down and do your breathing exercises and think of something nice you cannot die if you become breathless but you must keep calm and it will pass
I find switching my brain off is the easiest way to ward off panic, and I've been doing that by listening to music. A friend put me on to this method, and I have to say it's working for me!
Pursed lipped breathing, I'm afraid, doesn't work for me. I suppose its like everything else, what's meat for one, is poison for another. When you find a method that helps you, it would be good to hear about it. Take care 
x
Pursed breathing helps but also When in the Brompton the specialist nurse gave me a little hand-held fan which I use in my face - that really works. On a couple of occasions I started to panic when turn the light out and try to go to sleep, even though I have oxygen on. I know that I cannot be suffocating but my head tells me different. Playing the radio quietly gets me over this stage and I drift off.
Magge
Hi Philbal, As everyone says don't panic. Yes I know it's very difficult, what i do is i stand or sit and focus on a single object ie a tile, picture or a dot on the wall. anything to concentrate on while you take charge of your breathing. It works for me. I am sure that when you have sifted through the different things we all do you will find something that works for you.
Exercise and breath easy.
Dave from the LoS.
I used to go to meditation classes, but there are some good meditation videos on you tube which are calming. I have tried pursed lip breathing, but I also find the Buteyko way of breathing gently through the nose useful ...this may not suit everyone as it helps retain carbon dioxide though. I have a small hand held battery fan from M and S , but amazon sell them too, you just hold it near your face. Rescue Remedy drops, but they are expensive to try if they don't work for you, puzzle books are a good distraction and music as well. Best of luck
Sit still and concentrate on your breathing !! Easier said than done....but it does work. Also keep something to hand to fan your face it often helps x HUGS you do learn to cope with it. :)) x
pursed lip breathing is very difficult when your body is in panic mode. I find it gets worse when I sit .... it confines the lung area. Instead I'll either stand up & lean on something or hold the top architrave of a doorway or lean forward with my hands on my legs just above the knees.
Often when I have an attack I'll have to make sure I'm not too far from a loo .... bowels movement becons.
Thought that was just me! (the loo) Too embarrassed to tell anyone. Really grateful for that out-for-lunch
What I do when this happened, "smell the roses, blow out the candles" Take a deep breath thru the nose (as much as you can) and blow out thru the mouth,. This gets some air to the lungs and helps get some out and seems to relax your lungs. This used to happen to me half way through the grocery store. I would just pretend to look at something on the shelf and stayed put till I felt better. Hope this helps.
Hi Philbal...not sure whether you mean you panic due to your medical condition or just when you become breathless on exertion....I sometimes have both.
However, there's some helpful tips here from everyone and personally speaking I'd be lost without a fan.
And as someone else said a loo nearby may be a help!
When I first lay down to sleep at night and get a bit breathless I find distraction helps a little i.e reciting something to myself or just recalling something on tv maybe.
Hope things ease a little for you...Lovelight
It was the panic I found most difficult to deal with as I had not had panic attacks before.We are all different and copd seems to be a very individual disease.Understanding that the lungs are designed for breathing OUT rather than in helped me.My sats are usually about 93 percent even when really breathless so I know I,m not going to suffocate.If some one else tells me to "calm down"I just want to hit them.I tell myself to calm down and don,t be so daft and smile.As I said we,re all different.Try different positions to ease your breathing and don,worry it does get easier.Good luck!
My panic attacks are much worse than they have ever been very difficult to deal with the more the breathless you are the more you panic
when you panic ona you make it worse, not easy but relax and sit upright on a high chair an do your breathing exercises,stay thinking of something nice,then try to have a walk round the house ,it will get easier,think what you would do to Cameron, an atos,then have a good laugh,and a fast blow out,blow hard,take it easy,xxx
I have never been on a PR course never been given any breathing exercises I'm stage 4 now. I don't like Cameron and a lot of people think he set up Atos it was Labour and they gave them a contract till 2017 and £500 million the NHS could of done so much with that and have they saved £500 million I don't think so it does make me sick I still see people claiming DLA and ESA and care allowance who are fit for work. xx
snap im no pr,no exercises, but I learned time ago and of hear, see to ourselves,i stll work not much of a job but im ok with it,i don't like Cameron at all ,look after yourself ona, don't let bitter an anger get to you,just enjoy what you have the now,sod the buggers,take care,xxx
O'h I am so glad I have read all these posts on panic, anxiety and sob. I have suffered with panic attacks for many years, I have had cognitive behaviour therapy , it really didn't help me. Mine allways happen of a night as I am going to bed, they come on so suddenly, I take 100mg. Of setraline and they have helped a lot, at one time they had literally stopped us from having holidays and staying over at friends. I now have a supply of Valium, 5mg, and only take them when I have a panic attack it helps to calm me down, last night , like some of you , I was up and sitting in a chair in the lounge, as sitting up does help, and yes, thank God! We live in a ground floor flat as I to need to rush to the loo😄. I have Emphasemia, severe stage and struggle every day with Sob. But it doesn't beat me, I won't let it, everything can be done, all be it very slowly, all day to clean lounge but at least I did it. Love reading all your messages, sorry for the long reply, but this is the first time I have posted. Amen xx
Let me post this video again, and ask you to check the rest which is very good on breathing exercises.
youtube.com/watch?v=2IhbNtT...
This is probably a slightly better video .... from the same series, but dealing with the more scary acute shortness of breath ....
youtube.com/watch?v=wUr0YVZ...
yes, that' the best I've seen. It's in the same series. Highly recommended! The others in the series good exercises too.
I know to well that feeling, absolute hell, people dont realise that when we get breathless its completely different to just normally getting out of breath, it feels like your breathing through a straw, i find like others is to either lean against something standing up, and doing deep breathing and listening to music, and think about being somewhere else, somewhere beautiful, it is very hard, my consultant gave me lorazapan for anxiety Im a terrible worrier as well, but we have to live with the dreadful disease, hope this helps x
