EP 0089 - Breath and Breathing Centered Anxiety

Send in a question or comment via text. "What if I forget how to breathe?" "What if I just stop breathing?" "I can't get enough air in my lungs." "I can't take a deep breath." Breath and breathing focused anxiety is quite common among people that suffer from anxiety disorders like panic disorder and agoraphobia. In this episode I discuss the two most common forms of this anxiety. For full show notes: https://theanxioustruth.com/89 [1:30] "I Am Afraid That I Will Forget How To Breathe" The first is an obsession with the thought that you have to actively, manually breathe, or your body will somehow forget to breathe or you will stop breathing. This obsessive, irrational thought may grip you during every waking moment, tricking you into thinking that you must stay involved in the process of breathing to avoid some horrible fate. [12:19] "It Feels Like I Can't Breathe. I Can't Take a Deep Breath!" This is the second common form of breath and breathing focused anxiety. You may walk around all day suffering from "air hunger", feeling like you can't breathe or that you can't get a deep enough breath. You may feel like there is a tight band around your chest, which causes you to attempt to expand your ribcage and "fill" your lungs to maximum capacity to relieve that sensation. Join The Discussion Group ——————————————– https://facebook.com/groups/TAGForum My Links (social media, podcasts, etc.) ——————————————– https://theanxioustruth.com/links Intro and outro music - Afterglow by Ben Drake (with permission) Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. Other ways to support my work like buying a book or signing up for a low cost workshop can be found on my website . None of this is never required, but always appreciated! Interested in doing therapy with me? For more information on working with me directly to overcome your anxiety, follow this link . Disclaimer : The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.