Me sitting down at my desk after walking up the stairs.
Usually it turns into a full blown panic attack for me. Trying to control my heavy breathing and being super aware and then feeling like I can’t get air if I control my breathing and then…
Don’t over-control your breathing! The only real control you need is to match breathing rhythm to the body movement rhythm.
And breath using your diaphragm instead of your chest. That way you’ll use more lung capacity.You should also try some mental training like you do in yoga. If your mind is calm and concentrated there will be no panic attack.
Well, try walking late into a meeting after the elevator is broken and the five flights of stairs have shown you how out of shape you are and then have a calm mind. We don’t choose our panic attack scenarios. I’ve gotten pretty deep into meditation and even with 45+ minutes a day of meditation, it always starts with my brain controlling my breathing for several minutes until I can get into a space to let go. It’s where my anxiety lives and while I’m aware of it, retraining it is likely going to take some years.
Your advice isn’t wrong at all. But it sounded a little dismissive and simple to reality. Had some “have you tried not being depressed?” vibes.
But it sounded a little dismissive and simple to reality.
That wasn’t my intention. English isn’t my native tongue that’s why I miss most subtleties. 🙏
What works for me is to stay still for a minute and only focus on the inside. That meeting can wait that extra minute, your well-being is more important.
If English is your second language, you are fantastic at it.
That meeting can wait that extra minute, your well-being is more important.
Unfortunately, work culture in the US disagrees. But you’re absolutely correct.
One of the things I miss about regularly wearing masks. I could open mouth controlled gasp for air and not make excessive noise after walking 4 flights at work. Eventually I did it enough that it really wasn’t bad, then after working more off site I lost conditioning.
When I was ~22-23, my buddy got mad that I wasn’t out of breath walking up a steep hill while smoking. It’s been a lot of years, and now I struggle if I take a small hit off my vape while ascending a mild hill between where I park and where I go to a weekly appointment. I was in better shape during the pan, when I had no car and lived alone and was single and walked while listening to podcasts for hours every day.
Sometimes I hold my breath so I don’t weeze. That makes it so much worse, but not as bad as getting odd stares. Nevermind that my face is turning blue!
I recommend swimming regularly. Helps a lot with this.
