Can't stop thinking about my breathing

[Gavunchung]

Hey, I haven't been able to stop thinking about my breathing for the past two days. It all started when my teacher mentioned about involuntary breathing. I had experienced this before, but this time I have trouble sleeping, and the moment I wake up I think about it. I tell my parents about it but they think it's a small matter. Someone pls help me, I want my sleep. Btw I'm 16 this year

[Kellisue89]

Nope, I do it to, but then get busy in my day and forget about it. The more I busy myself the better my days seem to be. Good luck to you.

[cbtrocks]

I'm a lot older and wiser than you, and I went through a long period, like a year, where I thought about my breathing almost constantly. It was my first thought on waking up. Many times an hour I would feel that I couldn't get a full breath. I would try to yawn, try to take a full breath, finally get a satisfying full breath, and then the cycle would begin again. Like you, it was triggered by a specific thought, when someone I knew had a lung problem. And I'm sorry to say that it wasn't "a couple of days" to go away. Don't be discouraged if this is something you have to live with for a while, and it may flare up during times of stress over your lifetime. But, I have a family and responsibilities and (except for that one trip to the ER, oh, and another trip to the doctor who prescribed an inhaler--useless--and a couple of medical tests) I went on with life and it gradually got better. Not that it was easy. I pretty much assumed that I would die and there wasn't anything I could do about it. By thinking about breathing I was forcing it and breathing too fast, like if I stopped I would never start again. I forgot what regular breathing even felt like. But now I realize that there is a big pause after exhaling before you automatically inhale. Your body will breathe correctly if you let it, but how do you concentrate on not concentrating on something? Impossible. So you just have to try really hard to distract yourself. It may take a long time to totally get over it, but it sounds like you have a good attitude toward this so you will probably handle it better than me. At age 16, it's good to get a lot of sleep, but some sleepless nights are not going to harm you. You'll have a lot of those if you go to college anyway. Hang in there, you are at one of the hardest ages. It will get easier!

[jonesy135]

Hi I can say im goin through the same thing the doctors did the same thing I wake up with the with all the same things ure goin through  I suffer from high anxiety for ten years I am now 26 I was wondering if I could get in contact with you to talk about this problem thanks heaps ..mitch

[Candycrush95]

Jonesy135 i agree with you! i need also to talk to somebody about this

[jonesy135]

When would you like to talk about this I went through last feb now its come back how can I get in contact with you kind regards mitch

[jackerdandy]

If anybody sees this, I would like to talk to somebody if possible.  
Thank you

[Paxiled]

Your are adding to an old post.  If you want others here to respond to you make a new post and give some detail about what's going on so folks can respond.

[cbtrocks]

jackerdandy, I said pretty much everything I could in my post in 2014.  I think it will help you very much to read all the comments below and you will see how common this problem is. Of course, the problem has returned for me, though much less severe, during this Covid epidemic. But it is not associated with a cough, I know that for me it is NOT Covid. (Of course, if you have fever and cough call your doctor, don't listen to me!)  It feels horrible - like I can't get a full breath except occasionally. A feeling of tightness in chest. This is a symptom of panic attack Another one is a feeling of unreality, and that is even worse. People may tell you to meditate or do deep breathing exercises - for me that doesn't help because concentrating on taking deep breaths only triggers the feeling.  The only solution is to try to relax and the way to do that for me is distraction - read a book that I enjoy or talk to someone.  Maybe you could try going for a long walk.  If you can do that, you must have pretty good lungs, right?  A person who is truly breathless can't walk across the room.  (Call your doctor if you are really concerned, this is just my experience and views.)  Take care.

[AnxiousNoMore]

It can also be due to sore ribs, which is something that some people get, just like some people have sore knees etc. I get sharp chest pains once a week or less but take a deep breath and it goes away so I know it is not a breathing issue.  And I cough a few times daily or feel like there might be a congestion but again I take a few deep breaths and it's gone so it's nothing, and I feel better immediately. Hopefully you have no issue but check with doc if you are concerned that things are not normal.

[Biff888]

I used to think about my breathing.I have suffered bad anxiety for ten years.I had it under control but recently its came back,i am at my happiest when I am on the soda doing nothing.Back to the breathing,its hard,you have to just try and drift off watch movies,walk,play computer,one things for sure you will never stop breathing.Chill.Good luck : )

[Biff888]

I used to think about my breathing.I have suffered bad anxiety for ten years.I had it under control but recently its came back,i am at my happiest when I am on the sofa doing nothing.Back to the breathing,its hard,you have to just try and drift off watch movies,walk,play computer,one things for sure you will never stop breathing.Chill.Good luck : )

[Chrissy1289]

I have the same problem as you..I wake up and straight away think can I get that deep breath then start feeling warn out and tired and need to breath deeper and sometimes I just can't catch it which is the worst part. I couldn't believe it was anxiety as I have never been a anxious person but I guess just have to deal with it .. I've had it 4 months now .i think we need to just get on with it and hope it will just ease up

[yesssuiiih]

Since I had this problem for quite a long time and it actually got so bad that I slept less than 2 hours every night for a whole week, just because I would have to think of my breathing which would then increase my heart rate making it impossible to sleep. It was a truly horrible and depressing time.
But I have good news :) I know how to fix this problem. There are a combination of things you can do. The most important one is:
Whenever you have to think of your breathing... just breathe. And yes I mean consciously. Breathe and try to think about how this breathing consciously doesn't bother you at all (I know it obviously those, but just say this to yourself and try to realize that it isn't a bad feeling and that everything is fine). Keep doing this until it goes away. Don't try to distract yourself because it will NOT work. I've been there. Other things that you can do that will help are: breathing meditation, mindfulness, exercise and positive affirmations

With these thing I completely solved my problem, I hope it helps!

[talestry]

I just get so irritated while I am conscious of my breathing though. But you give me hope that it can be solved while others who post about having it for years scares me. I've had it for 3 weeks now and I hate that it's not going away.