Can't stop thinking about my breathing...

@PrinceofDDR

Same with me. This remains a problem because most relaxation techniques ask you to focus on your breathing!

This makes all suggestions to "breathe deeply", "practice slow breathing" or even "mindfulness exercises" and "meditation" impossible for me. I just become hyper-aware of my breathing which only increases my anxiety and causes me to breathe shallowly.

I guess I've had the best success with ordinary distraction techniques. Try whatever is more relaxing to you, besides anything associated with being hyper-aware of yourself/your body/your breathing.

Do you have any activities like that, which are both relaxing and also distracting for you? If you do not, I can try suggesting some of my own if you are interested.

I HAVE HAD THIS BEFORE!

And yeah the best thing to do of course is to distract yourself. Which is hard of course but you have to just force yourself to be distracted. Fully engage in it.

For some reason, whenever this breathing thing happens to me, it's usually when I'm driving? I'm not sure what causes it.

I also notice that my breathing changes when I think about it, and maybe that's why I feel like I have to force every breath or else I'll not be breathing. I think it becomes more like...deep, quicker breaths, and so another thing to try to is to remember that normal relaxed breathing is more shallow and slow? Don't focus on your lungs. Focus more more on like right below your chin. And like relax as if it's time to sleep (this works if you're tired lol)

I've also tried things like yawning, coughing, talking (talking seems to help)...

Idk if any of this works, I just kinda rambled about my experience.

Distraction is probably the most effective way though. An engaging video/movie would work, since you take your mind off of yourself during stuff like that.

Hi @PrinceofDDR anxiety and especially the symptoms of anxiety can be really hard to deal with at times. Have tried using some relaxation techniques such as deep breathering? it can help slow down and control your breathering. You can also try out some other anxiety coping tecniques which you can read up on here https://psychcentral.com/lib/9-ways-to-reduce-anxiety-right-here-right-now/ i hope you find it helpful. Goodluck and let me know how it goes

Rather than focusing on your "breathing" pattern, try to use your breathing with talking or maybe even singing :)
It will redirect the focus of breathing in a more healthy way I guess.
Hint : talking alone and singing alone is a good thing to do =D