[Buffy01]

I'm looking for coping skills for anxiety. I noticed that I hyperventilating when having an anxiety attack. Anyone ever experienced this?

[Skeezyks]

Yes, once, many years ago when I was in grad school & the pressure was on. I was told to breathe into a paper bag which is what I did. And that took care of the problem. But it was a scary experience.

Yes the paper bag thing works.

[Mopey]

Yes. As above, the paper bag thing works. Best wishes.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Yes, once, many years ago when I was in grad school & the pressure was on. I was told to breathe into a paper bag which is what I did. And that took care of the problem. But it was a scary experience.

Ok! I was just wondering if anyone ever experienced this.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Nemo1934

Yes the paper bag thing works.

Using a paper bag?

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Mopey

Yes. As above, the paper bag thing works. Best wishes.

Ok! I never thought about that!

It has something to do with a lack of carbon dioxide or something when your anxious and not breathing normally. As you breathe in/out into the bag, it replenishes the supply. If Google it, but I'm lazy

[Mountaindewed]

I hyperventilated once during a panic attack. Someone was there to calm me down. I didn’t have a paper bag. I do nonstop deep breathing now. It really helps keep me calm and most of the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

[hope2010]

I just have one last night. I have to use a paperback. Then happens again late at night so I took clonazepam, that is prescribed to me for situations like this.

Google:
You can try some immediate techniques to help treat acute hyperventilation:
Breathe through pursed lips.
Breathe slowly into a paper bag or cupped hands.
Attempt to breathe into your belly (diaphragm) rather than your chest.
Hold your breath for 10 to 15 seconds at a time.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Nemo1934

It has something to do with a lack of carbon dioxide or something when your anxious and not breathing normally. As you breathe in/out into the bag, it replenishes the supply. If Google it, but I'm lazy

Okay! I didn't know that!

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I hyperventilated once during a panic attack. Someone was there to calm me down. I didn’t have a paper bag. I do nonstop deep breathing now. It really helps keep me calm and most of the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

I don't have anyone to calm me down! Maybe I should look for breathing technique.

[Mountaindewed]

Does breathing into a paper bag help for anxiety in general even if your not having a panic attack? I seriously thought that only worked in cartoons.

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by Buffy01

I'm looking for coping skills for anxiety. I noticed that I hyperventilating when having an anxiety attack. Anyone ever experienced this?

When I was recovering from PTSD, my panic attacks likely included hyperventilation. At the time, I thought it was a new case of asthma since it felt like I couldn't get enough oxygen, making me feel faint. I had to go through therapy, flashbacks and all the rest plus be put on many medications. Since I thought it was asthma (I don't have this--anxiety makes you think you have all kinds of stuff), I did not try the paperbag thing but will if it ever comes back. Anxiety attacks make you feel so out of control and powerless. Sorry you are dealing with this....

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by hope2010

I just have one last night. I have to use a paperback. Then happens again late at night so I took clonazepam, that is prescribed to me for situations like this.

Google:
You can try some immediate techniques to help treat acute hyperventilation:
Breathe through pursed lips.
Breathe slowly into a paper bag or cupped hands.
Attempt to breathe into your belly (diaphragm) rather than your chest.
Hold your breath for 10 to 15 seconds at a time.

I'm sorry that you are struggling right now! Thanks for the advice.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

Does breathing into a paper bag help for anxiety in general even if your not having a panic attack? I seriously thought that only worked in cartoons.

I have no idea! I never try breathing into a paper bag!

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by TunedOut

When I was recovering from PTSD, my panic attacks likely included hyperventilation. At the time, I thought it was a new case of asthma since it felt like I couldn't get enough oxygen, making me feel faint. I had to go through therapy, flashbacks and all the rest plus be put on many medications. Since I thought it was asthma (I don't have this--anxiety makes you think you have all kinds of stuff), I did not try the paperbag thing but will if it ever comes back. Anxiety attacks make you feel so out of control and powerless. Sorry you are dealing with this....:grouphug:

For awhile? I thought there was something mentally and physically wrong with me when I was younger.

[Mountaindewed]

I started hyperventilating after my surgery when I was in surgery recovery and still really out of it. The nurse just told me to breathe and I did.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I started hyperventilating after my surgery when I was in surgery recovery and still really out of it. The nurse just told me to breathe and I did.

I believe you. I understand how you feel. It is awful to experience hyperventilating.

[sarahsweets]

I have when crying so hard my soul was breaking.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I have when crying so hard my soul was breaking.

I understand how you feel.

[SprinkL3]

I've had that before, and sometimes I have that when processing trauma with my alternate personalities in therapy. My therapist would help me to refocus and ground by feeling my feet on the ground, moving my arms and shoulders and body around, and sometimes breathing. Whatever works in the moment so that I'm not panicking or dissociating or having too many flashbacks at once.

When I'm hyperventilating, the breathing in the paper bag works. But if you don't have that, I tend to sit own, bend down by putting my head close to my knees, and then moaning. Sometimes that helps me to get my breath back. Sometimes I pace and walk around, but that might make things worse. I have to feel safe and training my eyes, ears, and touch/feeling feet on the ground/feeling something safe in the vicinity - or even just feeling my body again - to feel safe. Taste is tough to feel safe, and some people lose their taste or smell, so I don't go by those senses to ground or feel safe anymore. I am also paying tribute in my own way of grounding to those who lost their smell and taste, too. I think of them and my empathy for them helps to ground me sometimes - not always.

But when you cannot think while panicking and hyperventilating, the breathing thing or movement thing helps - esp. if you have a paper bag.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by SprinkL3

I've had that before, and sometimes I have that when processing trauma with my alternate personalities in therapy. My therapist would help me to refocus and ground by feeling my feet on the ground, moving my arms and shoulders and body around, and sometimes breathing. Whatever works in the moment so that I'm not panicking or dissociating or having too many flashbacks at once.

When I'm hyperventilating, the breathing in the paper bag works. But if you don't have that, I tend to sit own, bend down by putting my head close to my knees, and then moaning. Sometimes that helps me to get my breath back. Sometimes I pace and walk around, but that might make things worse. I have to feel safe and training my eyes, ears, and touch/feeling feet on the ground/feeling something safe in the vicinity - or even just feeling my body again - to feel safe. Taste is tough to feel safe, and some people lose their taste or smell, so I don't go by those senses to ground or feel safe anymore. I am also paying tribute in my own way of grounding to those who lost their smell and taste, too. I think of them and my empathy for them helps to ground me sometimes - not always.

But when you cannot think while panicking and hyperventilating, the breathing thing or movement thing helps - esp. if you have a paper bag.

I’ll try that out.

[Discombobulated]

I honestly didn’t understand what was happening to me when it happened, it was almost 2 years ago at the beginning of the pandemic at work in a supermarket when the panic buying was happening. We were putting things on the shelves and people were grabbing them straight off and looking back I was absorbing the stress around me.

The only thing I could think to do was remove myself from the stressful situation by going in the warehouse and actually that helped. Quietness and space helped a lot. I don’t know if this will help you at all or is relevant, did the paper bag work? I have never tried that.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I honestly didn’t understand what was happening to me when it happened, it was almost 2 years ago at the beginning of the pandemic at work in a supermarket when the panic buying was happening. We were putting things on the shelves and people were grabbing them straight off and looking back I was absorbing the stress around me.

The only thing I could think to do was remove myself from the stressful situation by going in the warehouse and actually that helped. Quietness and space helped a lot. I don’t know if this will help you at all or is relevant, did the paper bag work? I have never tried that.

I got nervous when some of my neighbor came down with covid. That was when my anxiety got real bad.