breathing obsession - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

Bubbles5637 · 10-10-2003, 09:57 AM

Hello, I have read on here that several people suffer from obsessions and rituals concerning their breathing. I also have this problem and feel it is becoming serious. I am constantly concerned that I am not getting enough air, or I am always focusing on my breathing. For example, I feel like if maybe I held my breath a little or breathed in too much air I start to feel anxious and then will hold my breath and afterwards try to breathe in HUGE gulps of air. If I cannot get a deep breath in I will keep trying and trying. Obviously doing this all day long for usually a week or two drives me mentally crazy, but also it is causing my physical discomfort. My lungs, chest and heart get very sore, and I even have recently given myself a sore throat. I think it is becoming equivalent to when you have been breathing in cold air all night you wake up the next morning with a sore throat from too much air. So basically I am bringing on a cold!!! No, not really but it feels that way sometimes. If anyone can seriously offer me any advice on how to control this obsession/ritual of mine I would greatly appreciate it! Or just let me know if they have gotten to the point ot where their chest is aching and sore, please let me know. Thank you very much.

Corinna_H · 10-10-2003, 11:41 AM

Hi, I have had this and it sounds like you might be overbreathing, (hyperventilation.) If it is, indulging it merely increases it. It is real hard work forcing yourself not to do it, and you get in a real mess not feeling relaxed and natural about breathing and you get a sort of ache high up in your chest. Go to the board for breathing disorders as there is a big posting about it!

You should check with your Doctor first to make sure there is no physical problem.

It can be an anxiety disease. I really wish you all the best with this, it CAN be overcome, if that is what you have. i have, more or less overcome it, but I must lurk elsewhere now before I think about it too much! that is one of the ways I tackled it! Distraction

mochi · 10-14-2003, 03:19 AM

I have a obsession about breathing too, I am soooo afraid of choking, and swallow so much sometimes that chest mucles tense up, and then, I relly get worried about choking. It sucks.