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T Bone
New Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:24 pm
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| Constantly monitoring breathing, and advice? |
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Hi folks, i have recently returned from travelling and picked up a problem with having to constantly monitor my breathing. i was having trouble with insomnia while i was away, and one night this thought popped into my head, what if i cant get my mind off my breathing? And sure enough ever since i haven't been able to think of anything else. It is making life very very difficult at the moment, i have hardly any energy, not eating much, people have remarked that i have lost quite a bit of weight, i have returned to work but i cannot get it off my mind. i have brief moments where i tell myself this is crazy and it calms me for a moment but sure enough i start thinking of it again, it's with me from the moment i wake. I have convinced myself that as long as i breathe this thought will stay with me as it's not something i can run away from as i will keep breathing.
I read some other posts and get quite down when i see people saying i've had this for 10 years, i could not live with this for ten years, well not like this anyway. To be honest the only thing that gives me a little relief is when i have a drink, i don't want to go down that road. Has anybody got advice on how to get a hold on this problem or who has conquered it? I would really appreciate any feedback folks
Thank you
T Bone |
Cooler
Moderator
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 1145
Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:54 pm
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| Re: Constantly monitoring breathing, and advice? |
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quote:
Originally posted by T Bone
Hi folks, i have recently returned from travelling and picked up a problem with having to constantly monitor my breathing. i was having trouble with insomnia while i was away, and one night this thought popped into my head, what if i cant get my mind off my breathing? And sure enough ever since i haven't been able to think of anything else. It is making life very very difficult at the moment, i have hardly any energy, not eating much, people have remarked that i have lost quite a bit of weight, i have returned to work but i cannot get it off my mind. i have brief moments where i tell myself this is crazy and it calms me for a moment but sure enough i start thinking of it again, it's with me from the moment i wake. I have convinced myself that as long as i breathe this thought will stay with me as it's not something i can run away from as i will keep breathing.
I read some other posts and get quite down when i see people saying i've had this for 10 years, i could not live with this for ten years, well not like this anyway. To be honest the only thing that gives me a little relief is when i have a drink, i don't want to go down that road. Has anybody got advice on how to get a hold on this problem or who has conquered it? I would really appreciate any feedback folks
Thank you
T Bone
T Bone,
Welcome to the forum. I hope we can be of help.
I'm thinking that your mind has focussed its worry on breathing but it could have been something else. Once the mind gets into an obsessive mode like this it's hard to break it, but not impossible.
One therapy, CBT, works by reframing our thinking. For example, the fear of stopping breathing can be terrifying but also breathing is a central part of Buddhist meditation and relaxation therapies. It's just about how we perceive the action of the body.
I know that counselling is available on the NHS, so your GP might refer you. Also, alternative therapy could be of help. I have had some success with Shiatsu in becoming more comfortably attuned to my own body.
Once we have an understanding, at a physical level, of what the mind is doing, it is certainly possible to loosen the obsession. I am living proof of that, and I was in a bad way at one time.
Good luck,
Alex. |
desperate788
Senior Member
Joined: 13 May 2008
Posts: 3719
Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:03 pm
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ı wonder where do these worries come from? I certainly feel some originate from the heart area. |
T Bone
New Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:32 am
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Thank you for the reply folks,
I attended a cbt specialist last week and she asked was there anything going on in my life that could have triggered this. I can honestly say there is not, i am in a happy relationship i have no problems troubling my mind, i dont have a history of depression. She gave me some exercises to try but they are not working. As i said when i was travelling i had problems with insomnia but i could handle day to day life as i would really only start worrying about not sleeping until night time, but this problem is constantly with me. The specialist said that she does not think i have ocd. So i am at a loss as to why i cannot get my mind off breathing, i do not have a fear that i will stop breathing rather that my mind will never focus on anything else again. Everyday has become a constant battle with it, i am not sleeping well, when i do sleep i have very vivid dreams, and i wake at least 3 times a night. From the moment i wake the fear that i wont get my mind off it is with me. I just feel like a different person since this thought popped into my head. Each day seems to last forever, I have arranged another appointment with the specialist this week. I pray that i will get some peace. If you have any other advice i would really appreciate it, thank you for your time.
T Bone. |
Cooler
Moderator
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Posts: 1145
Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:51 am
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quote:
Originally posted by T Bone
Thank you for the reply folks,
I attended a cbt specialist last week and she asked was there anything going on in my life that could have triggered this. I can honestly say there is not, i am in a happy relationship i have no problems troubling my mind, i dont have a history of depression. She gave me some exercises to try but they are not working. As i said when i was travelling i had problems with insomnia but i could handle day to day life as i would really only start worrying about not sleeping until night time, but this problem is constantly with me. The specialist said that she does not think i have ocd. So i am at a loss as to why i cannot get my mind off breathing, i do not have a fear that i will stop breathing rather that my mind will never focus on anything else again. Everyday has become a constant battle with it, i am not sleeping well, when i do sleep i have very vivid dreams, and i wake at least 3 times a night. From the moment i wake the fear that i wont get my mind off it is with me. I just feel like a different person since this thought popped into my head. Each day seems to last forever, I have arranged another appointment with the specialist this week. I pray that i will get some peace. If you have any other advice i would really appreciate it, thank you for your time.
T Bone.
T Bone,
Thanks for the update. I hadn't wanted to bring up OCD, as I'm not a health professional, but have to say that your description does seem like classic OCD thinking.
It sounds like you are having a really rough time with this at the moment, along with your insomnia and dreaming.
Some medications are effective in breaking the obsessive loop of OCD thinking, but I don't know how the counselling works in that illness. If you are unable to stop the thoughts or reduce them, through willpower, then there is your GP, your CBT counsellor and support groups to fall back on.
In my own experience of repetitive negative thoughts, I found that it was not possible to stop them altogether, but by learning to ignore them, they tend to fade in intensity. You said that your thought is there as soon as you wake, and that is exactly how it was with me, like they were waiting at the end of the bed to have a go at me.
It must be frightening to have this start up so quickly, and I hope it eases for you.
Good thoughts,
Alex. |
T Bone
New Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:20 am
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Thanks for your time Alex, appreciate it. I'm seeing the cbt specialist again this week so hopefully will get some good techniques to crack it.
All the best,
T Bone |
Gaylene.Popovski
New Member
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
Posts: 14
Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:52 pm
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It is interesting you said that you "picked up" the habit. So it sort of sounds like you bought into someone elses belief or fear while travelling. Therefore you would be checking it because it shouldn't even be there and you know it. Be extremely firm that you will not accept someone dumping on you (which is an extremely crumming thing to do) continue to breathe deeply in a relaxed manner, feel safe and repeat "this energy no goes back to who it came from now." It may take a minute or two for the fear to lift but contiune repeating the words until it hs gone.
With respect, Gaylene |
T Bone
New Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:27 am
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Hi Gaylene, thanks for your input, nobody gave me this thought rather i did myself. As i said earlier when i was away, i got quite anxious about having insomnia and one night as i was laying there trying to get to sleep my mind started racing and my anxiety latched onto my breathing. That then became the sole focus of my anxiety and has now taken over my thoughts. I believe that it has become a major problem because as i have to breathe constantly the worry is always there. Each day is a battle trying to find some way to make peace with my anxiety, for instance yesterday i got it into my head that breathing is good and keeps me alive and i didn't focus on it in a negative way but a few minutes later the fear popped into my head and i was back to square one. It's unlike a fear of flying for example as you dont have to get up in a plane and can avoid the fear but with this i cant get away from it as i constantly breathe. Hope this makes sense, anyhow thank you for input, if anyone has any more ideas i would be grateful.
Thank you |
Ruby88
Senior Member
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
Posts: 1080
Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:09 am
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Hi Tbone,
This reminds me of a problem I had when I was younger - a passing thought turned into an obsession. I won't say what it was in case it sets someone off, but it was quite similar and it stayed with me on and off for a while - maybe a few months. It did go away though, and I think that just because you've seen people who have had this for ages, it doesn't mean that you will. We're all very different - if you've seen the thread on PVCs, some people have it in a very extreme, long term way and others just get the occasional funny sensation. Some people get over panic attacks in a year or less, others have them for longer.
If your experience is anything like mine, your brain eventually just gets bored of thinking like that and the intrusive thoughts get weaker and weaker then disappear.
For me, when I was trying to get over my panic attacks, the idea of "OK I'm bored of this now" was actually very useful to me, as it was like giving my brain permission to move on. I still suffer from generalised anxiety, but not panic attacks or persistent intrusive thoughts.
You'll be fine.  |
author81
Full Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 126
Location: Canada
Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:47 am
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Hi,
You say you have no worries, yet you had insomnia while you were away. That usually is a sign that something IS bothering you. Of course, traveling can trigger insomnia just because you are in unfamiliar surroundings - a strange bed. It might help to consider that for a minute and see if anything clicks.
You also say that the thought popped into your head "what if I can't stop thinking about my breathing?" Have you tried answering that question? What comes to mind? What if you rephrase it with something else, "what if I can't stop thinking about... (relaxing, feeling great)" something positive that makes you feel good.
Another question you might ask yourself: "Have I stopped thinking about my breathing?" I'll guarantee that you have at some point - at work, while talking to people, while preoccupied with something. This is proof positive that you CAN stop thinking about your breathing and be just fine.
Perhaps you just need to reprogram that thought pattern that you have initiated. It just might be that simple. Worth a try.
Sylvia
Last edited by author81 on Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
author81
Full Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 126
Location: Canada
Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:53 am
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quote:
Originally posted by Ruby88
...For me, when I was trying to get over my panic attacks, the idea of "OK I'm bored of this now" was actually very useful to me, as it was like giving my brain permission to move on. I still suffer from generalised anxiety, but not panic attacks or persistent intrusive thoughts.
You'll be fine.
That is so true, Ruby88. That is EXACTLY how it happened with me. I just got bored of the anxiety/panic one day and I moved on to much more exciting things. You hit it right on the head.
I hope everyone here with anxiety/panic gets to experience that real soon because once it happens you realize how pointless the disorder was and how easy it dissipated. You realize what a waste of time it was to worry so much over it. It's an amazing, enlightening experience when it happens. And a huge relief, like the sky opening.
Sylvia |
T Bone
New Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:34 am
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Hi folks, thank you for your encouraging words, i really appreciate it. I have again seen the cbt specialist and i have been given attention exercises to take my mind off it, i have to stick at them for a month, so fingers crossed. To give you an update, i am still constantly aware of my breathing, but for a couple of days last week i had a little lift which lasted a few hours and although i was still aware of my breathing it didn't bother me as much. Unfortunately over the weekend it started to bug me again and it was downhill from there.
In response to Sylvia, i guess what was worrying me when i was abroad was the fact that i started to get insomnia and that troubled my mind. The difference between the insomnia and the breathing problem for me, is that insomnia only came at night so i had a reprieve during the day, with the breathing i constantly breathe so the problem is with me all day long, watching my chest inhale exhale, at the moment its driving me nuts! And i cant get seem to get my head around the fact as long i am breathing i cant help but notice it and therefore its going to bother me forever.
If i can get my head around or make peace with that thought, i can crack this. Again any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you folks |
author81
Full Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 126
Location: Canada
Mon Sep 14, 2009 1:45 pm
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I'm curious to know why your insomnia worried you. After all, it's just a matter of not sleeping well.
What "might" have happened is that at some point when you were sleeping, something related to your breathing awoke you and you've been subconsciously afraid to fall asleep ever since.
I'm going to tell you a little thing that happened to me and hope it doesn't scare you. But it's something you might want to check out.
On occasion, I find that I've stopped breathing. It happens when I'm in a certain stage of sleep and when I'm totally relaxed. Suddenly, I pull in a breath and think, "Gads, I just stopped breathing." And then it wouldn't happen again for quite a long while - like weeks, a month or so.
Some people get a problem I think it's called sleep apnea that relates to this issue. I've never been diagnosed with it myself, but maybe you can mention this to your doctor so he can check it out.
Basically, I think for me what happens is that I get so relaxed sometimes that my breathing becomes very shallow and I run out of oxygen. I probably don't really stop breathing completely.
Hope this helps.
Sylvia |
T Bone
New Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:52 am
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Thanks again for your reply, unfortunately what i have is not sleep apnea, i was wide awake at the time this thought crossed my mind. I am just wondering if hypnosis would be a good treatment for what i have? It's not getting any better and it's starting to put a strain on my relationship, i am doing the attention exercises but no progress as of yet. I am really trying to keep the chin up, but this is relentless and wearing me down slowly. Again any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks |
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