Anxiety Attack with Deep Breathing: Shared Experience?

I'm curious to know if anyone with anxiety (especially compounded with ptsd) has experienced a specific form of anxiety attack when engaging with deep breathing. It seems counterintuitive because meditative mindfulness and breathing patterns are known to help with anxiety in many circumstances, but sometimes for me I overthink it, have difficulty clearing my mind, and even may return to traumatic breathing and bodily patterns with it all. I guess I just want to see if this is a shared experience, and I am also open to suggestions for help.

Your answer

Jenni_Star

2y ago

It actually makes perfect sense! Meditating puts the mind in a vulnerable state of mind. If you have PTSD or C-PTSD, vulnerability is a learned danger. I have been in therapy for years and only recently started being able to do some forms of meditation.

HarmonyLee

2y ago

It can be validating to realize that I'm not so alone although also saddening to know that other people experience this, too. I wonder if it would be more or less helpful to have a guided breathing exercise with someone's voice who can help with focus and calmness.

Gh0stG1rl

2y ago

I had the worst panic attack of my life after leaving my backpack on the train and not realizing until I was already on another bus. I tried using deep breathing techniques to calm myself but it lead to worse problems. I ended up with physical panic symptoms where my hands bent into weird positions that I couldn’t move them out of and it caused my anxiety to sky rocket because I didn’t know panic attacks could manifest physically at the time. So yeah you’re not alone.

NonbinarySlytherin

2y ago

I can't focus on my breathing. Sometimes I even have to use my cpap to help me with breathing

HarmonyLee

2y ago

I appreciate that. I guess it might be easier said than done, maybe could benefit from more grace with myself around not "getting it" right away.

SAMHAIN

2y ago

Just concentrate on the breath, you shouldn't be thinking at all. Thinking about how you shouldn't be thinking leads to this... Practice ,practice, practice..

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