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Odd question, but how do you breathe?

16 replies

spiderdave · 06/09/2024 17:30

If you put a hand on your chest, and a hand on your diaphragm/tummy area, which do you feel rise and fall?

I'm just curious, really. I've been experiencing some really irritating shortness of breath for the last few months, but all of my tests have come back completely clear. I think I probably just have breathing pattern disorder/sighing dyspnea from being so bloody stressed/anxious all the time, and shallow fast breaths are just my new normal. I want to know how everyone else is breathing so I can retrain myself to do the same!

OP posts:
MojoDojoCasaHouse · 06/09/2024 17:32

Into my abdomen. I’ve learnt this from my choir director and it’s pretty much cured my asthma. We work on breathing every week at choir practice.

mynameiscalypso · 06/09/2024 17:34

Generally, in my tummy. But it's my chest when I'm having a panic attack (which thankfully I don't have very often!)

VioletIndigoBlueGreen · 06/09/2024 17:36

I've been reading a lot about breathing recently on the recommendation of my physio. This is a good and easy intro: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/james-nestor/breath/9780241289129?gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAICzkMS9-2DHvWc6pzbrQR0yw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv4Cn89-uiAMVPJpQBh1X0hEAEAQYAiABEgKJAADBwE#GOR011523593

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spiderdave · 06/09/2024 17:37

@MojoDojoCasaHouse That's actually really handy to know because I signed up for a local choir a couple of weeks ago! Maybe it could help me too.

@mynameiscalypso I'm permanently chest breathing at the moment and it's creating a constant sensation of fight or flight, even when I'm not consciously stressed about anything. It's driving me barmy! I'm having to focus on breathing from my diaphragm in hopes it becomes the norm at some point Envy(not envy)

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OhLookAStrawberry · 06/09/2024 17:39

My chest moves up & down, my abdomen doesn't really move at all. For full transparency, nothing about my body works as it should so I shouldn't be used as an example

HedgehogB · 06/09/2024 17:42

i have this post covid. 10 months ago. Book a private chest physio to come to your house and show you better techniques. I pay £40/h . Have your lungs been x rayed? I had x rays then a CT and they found slight lung damage and inflammation - long covid basically .

NeverDropYourMooncup · 06/09/2024 17:44

From the abdomen. If you're feeling your chest rise, you're breathing shallowly, which increases sensations of anxiety and puts you at risk of hyperventilating/feeling dizzy/breathless because you aren't expelling the maximum carbon dioxide.

Try this;

Get onto the floor (sequester cats, dogs and small children away somewhere else first before they attempt to supervise, assist or just leap onto you for fun).

Bend your knees so that your feet are resting on the sofa seat.

Allow your shoulders and upper back to rest against the floor.

Place your hands on your abdomen. If that makes you feel anxious, let them rest on the floor instead.

Try to gently blow air out between your lips towards your feet. Take your time, there's no rush.

If you can feel your breathing slow down, place your hands on your abdomen again and feel it move as you softly blow as though to make a candle flicker but not go out.

Keep going and if you feel calmer, try and pay attention to how it feels after you've blown and then allow yourself to take in some more air.

Do that until you're bored/feel better/you can hear the cat digging its way out of the bedroom and there are suspicious sounds of rustling where you relocated the dog into the kitchen with the full bill or unsecured bag of cat crunchies.

Don't scramble up, let yourself roll to your side and slowly press up with your hands. Take your time.

MidYearDiary · 06/09/2024 17:49

I'm seeing a somatic therapist, and have discovered I am crap at breathing. If I'm upset or stressed, I more or less stop breathing/hold my breath for long periods without being aware of it, and wonder why I feel so weird. I once climbed a mountain with a friend after something upsetting I was in denial about, and was baffled as to why I found it so hard, because it was an easy climb. I also hold enormous amounts of tension in my lower jaw. Trying to work on this now...

Lovelysummerdays · 06/09/2024 17:55

I’m super interested in this thread. I chest breathe but often feel short of breath. Almost like there isn’t space for my diaphragm to expand into somehow. I’m anaemic so possibly that but I’ve had a ct scan so should know soon.

HumphreyCobblers · 06/09/2024 17:59

There is a superb book on breathing called The oxygen advantage by Patrick Mckeown.

There is also a free app called the same thing that I have found superb in helping me breathe more effectively and efficiently when exercising.

My DH read the book three years ago and practised all the exercises diligently and has not used his asthma inhalers for the full three years now.

spiderdave · 06/09/2024 18:02

@NeverDropYourMooncup That made me laugh! I will be sure to lock the cats away Grin I will definitely try this tonight, thank you.

@VioletIndigoBlueGreen @HumphreyCobblers just bought both of these books for next day delivery. Thank you for the recommendations!

OP posts:
HumphreyCobblers · 06/09/2024 18:03

MidYearDiary · 06/09/2024 17:49

I'm seeing a somatic therapist, and have discovered I am crap at breathing. If I'm upset or stressed, I more or less stop breathing/hold my breath for long periods without being aware of it, and wonder why I feel so weird. I once climbed a mountain with a friend after something upsetting I was in denial about, and was baffled as to why I found it so hard, because it was an easy climb. I also hold enormous amounts of tension in my lower jaw. Trying to work on this now...

Yes, I realised that I too held my breath a lot and also breathed on top of unreleased breath when exercising. I also use mouth tape a night to ensure that I breathe through my nose (this sounds suffocating but really isn't, just like a little tab of tape across the lips to encourage them to stay closed). The app lets you choose your breathing improvement goals which range from exercise efficiency to coping with anxiety.

spiderdave · 08/09/2024 18:35

@HumphreyCobblers I finished the book you recommended last night and have been practicing the advice all day, and it's the first day in months I've been completely free of the need to desperately suck more air in! And when I have felt like I need to breathe deeply, I've been able to do it without it feeling forced!
My BOLT score is absolutely rubbish (exactly 10) so I'm going to work on that for the next few weeks! Thank you so much for that recommendation.

OP posts:
MidYearDiary · 09/09/2024 10:55

HumphreyCobblers · 06/09/2024 17:59

There is a superb book on breathing called The oxygen advantage by Patrick Mckeown.

There is also a free app called the same thing that I have found superb in helping me breathe more effectively and efficiently when exercising.

My DH read the book three years ago and practised all the exercises diligently and has not used his asthma inhalers for the full three years now.

I've just called up a podcast by him and am going to listen to it -- thank you for the recommendation.

HumphreyCobblers · 09/09/2024 19:52

spiderdave · 08/09/2024 18:35

@HumphreyCobblers I finished the book you recommended last night and have been practicing the advice all day, and it's the first day in months I've been completely free of the need to desperately suck more air in! And when I have felt like I need to breathe deeply, I've been able to do it without it feeling forced!
My BOLT score is absolutely rubbish (exactly 10) so I'm going to work on that for the next few weeks! Thank you so much for that recommendation.

Oh goodness, so glad to read this! It is such a good book and so helpful. My bolt score was pretty rubbish too but has improved a lot now and I genuinely enjoy exercising which is something I never thought would happen.

HumphreyCobblers · 09/09/2024 19:54

MidYearDiary - hope you find it useful too! Sounds like you have made a good start.

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