If you huff and puff constantly, why?

[TheChewdors]

Genuine question. And yes, I know that in some cases it might be down to a medical condition. But if it’s not due to medical reasons, why do you do it?

I went into town earlier and came across two people, in separate shops, who were looking around, and constantly huffing and sighing. Then I went into a third shop, and the woman serving me was sighing loudly as she served me.

I think, unless it’s for a medical reason, that it’s actually pretty rude and anti social to walk around doing it!

I tend not to spend much time with passive agressive huffers and puffers as they are emotionally draining. Some people get overly worked up about trivia but know it’s trivial so don’t actually say anything just do exaggerated movements and sighing to indiscate their displeasure and are often displeased about stuff that would wash over most people. In public I just ignore and avoid them.

Yes, I pull my husband up on it, because I find it hugely wearing to hear him dramatically exhale every time the toddler drops something or he finds we've run out of cat food or if he left his sunglasses in the car again.

I find that treating these little irritations in a jolly fashion for the benefit of the toddler has helped my overall mindset. It can't be good for you mentally to wander around all woe is me because of minor mishaps, and I'm sure my husband gets genuinely annoyed more easily because he sweats the small stuff all the time.

Ah yes muscle tension is also a sign.

Have a look at this website.

https://www.physiotherapyforbpd.org.uk/

The book I read was one of the recommended ones on here. There is however lots of useful information and advice on the site.

I think this is a you problem OP.

I do when I’m worried about something and I often don’t know I’m doing it

Because I am unfit and my body is broken, trying to get up if I have been on the floor playing with the kids is the worst, I huff and puff like a train with all the aches and pains! I have the body of someone over double my age (I am under 40). I am really not even particularly overweight, just broken.

I do this because I have terrible hay fever and I can’t fully breathe. To look at me you wouldn’t necessarily notice as my eyes don’t stream, but I have sneezing fits and my nose is always blocked for seven months of the year. So sometimes I take a big old breath because my lungs are hungry.

I think there is a difference between people breathing heavily because they have a respiratory problem and people who are doing it frequently to show displeasure

Most people can breathe in and out deeply through their mouth silently though, you just do it a bit more slowly

This ground me down. When my marriage ended I did not miss this.

Sure, but I'm not going to alter the way I do a periodical deep breath, which absolutely makes a sound, in case someone around me might imagine I'm expressing displeasure in a passive-aggressive manner. If you've pissed me off, you will know because I will tell you using words.

What? It's not done to show you are annoyed, it releases tension so you are no longer annoyed.
And just because someone is annoying doesn't mean they are beneath you.

Beware of anyone who sighs then smiles because they have just imagined a similar scenario!

People sigh for a million reasons @TheChewdors, have you never sighed in your life?

In your particular examples, I am assuming these were all women, the people in the shops - they have been in multiple shops and can't find what they need, they are short of time and need to get back home/work/hospital to a sick child. Or they've lost DH who wandered off two shops ago and won't answer his phone because he keeps it on silent.
Woman in the shop - she's just been told she needs to work an extra 2 hours today as Dave woke up 200 miles away and is going to be late.

Be grateful you have the time and headspace to notice so much what other people do when it has nothing to do with you.

How do you know which is which in a brief encounter in a shop?

I’m in chronic pain and I really can’t help but breathe hard

They maybe scunnered.
Doric word for fed up

My dog loves a good sigh. He is also very good at giving people the side eye. I probably encourage it by laughing at him when he does it. I had a good old mutual eye roll with a fellow customer the other day. We were in a very frustrating queue. It was very satisfying.

Tbf I usually Huff and sigh at myself, mostly for forgetting items I needed from shop, forgot to do a task or left items I need upstairs/downstairs. I have ADHD so I'm always forgetting stuff and it's bloody annoying! 😜

Because I forget to breathe in mostly. Or I feel sick and I’m trying to not throw up.