How to improve automatic breathing responce?

[Zootal]

As I work through my anxiety issues, I find I am slowly improving. The only real remaining health issue is my breathing - it is as if my automatic breathing response is diminished. I'm aware of my breathing much of the day, often feel slightly out of breath, and at night my breathing slows down so much I can't sleep without Ambien. My Dr. tells me it takes time to resolve this and that the breathing will improve soon. The Ambien gives me 6-7 hours of sleep at night, and sometimes I can doze in and out for another hour of two. There are times during the day when I am just sooo tired, but my Dr. says no naps - sleep during my regular sleep schedule, get my sleep schedule back to normal (should I be able to function with 6-7 hours of sleep and no naps during the day?).

I've made good progress working through the things that cause me anxiety and stress, and have resolved most of them. Does anyone have any advice about what I can do to improve my automatic breathing response and become less aware of my breathing? Once my breathing returns to normal, I won't need the Ambien. I've been taking it for two weeks now.

[tigerlilly946]

I seem to pay too much attention to my breathing too. Just when I'm stressed, anxious or nervous because I try too hard to control my breathing. I definitely think Paxiled advice about deep breathing from the abdomen helps. Also, try counting on your inhales and exhales. For exmaple, 1..2..3...4 on your inhale, and 5..6..7..8 on your exhale. Counting while breathing can really help, and can take the focus off of the breathing itself, and more onto the counting. You might want to try some breathing/yoga classes, that's where I learned most of my breathing tricks :o)
Best of luck to you!

[Zootal]

So I guess fix the anxiety issues, and the breathing fixes itself...I just wish it would go faster. I've been practicing deep breathing exercises, which seems to help a bit. One day at a time...

[Paxiled]

I'm going to give you a contrary response.  Being aware of your breathing is actually a good thing.  Most anxiety sufferers shift into breathing from high in their lungs, which shortens each breath.  Proper breathing is deep, from the abdomen.  Slow breathing is natural during sleep, and meditators work on developing this breathing awareness as a conscious form of relaxation.  It's your anxiety that's making you anxious about this, not the breathing itself or the awareness of it.  Not that saying this makes it any better, but it does give you a non-medication method of working on it.