My chest was getting tight. I had a weird feeling. It felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Then I woke up.
Why I had this anxiety event (no, not a heart attack) was irrelevant. I’m sure it was some manifestation of fear, and I’ll get around to that pervasive subject soon enough. The primary thing a person with an episode like this wants to do is get past those quite uncomfortable feelings….FAST!
Millions of people acquire tools to deal with symptoms like this, and once they tire of the misery, begin to use the tools.
And, here’s what I’ve learned:
I know, it sounds absurd for a breath to make it to a spot below the navel…the lungs aren’t that big.
Yes, yes, we breathe out through our nose or mouth, not the heart.
There are a ton of objections for which I have no answer. All I can say is that this works. Breathing out, look out, focus on everything in the vicinity, as far as you can see, hear, feel or smell. It’s a general sort of awareness with no focus.
Many sufferers of anxiety or depression relieve symptoms with medication, and people with these problems who I talk with confirm that medications work fine, once you settle on the right one. For some this is temporary, for others it’s a lifelong affair to rectify brain chemistry that’s out of whack.
One route to take is to focus on doing something…anything. That works for a while, and anxiety returns later. For many people it gets worse.
Breathing is an effective catch-all tool to get past uncomfortable feelings. Breathing is more than air moving in-and-out, it’s a technique that some say simply refocuses the mind, others say it’s a spiritual exercise. Breathing is also the first step in most meditative techniques and yoga.
Seeking the help of a pro is always the best route if you don’t know what’s going on with feelings that are somehow…damaged. I wasn’t kidding about trouble breathing being a sign of a heart attack. Consulting a mental health professional is always the best bet for a long-term solution.
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