Retrain Your Breathing Habits To Overcome The Feeling Of “I Can’t Get Enough Air”

Why do I feel like I “Can’t Get Enough Air?”

It can be incredibly frustrating, feeling like you “can’t get enough air”. It is something I come across very often. Increasingly I’m speaking with clients who have felt “cast adrift”, “gaslighted” or “overlooked” by medical professionals when it comes to this debilitating and anxiety inducing symptom.

Usually this feeling of “can’t get enough air” shows up in someone who identifies as a high achiever, a perfectionist or someone who expects a lot of themselves. It can also show up in those who have had a traumatic or unsettled childhood, or those who have struggled with asthma or panic attacks.

When looking at the cause of deterioration it is usually a combination of:

• restriction in the airway (often something which can be partially improved)

• poor posture and restriction of the diaphragm

• incorrect perception of how optimal breathing should feel

• a period of chronic stress or ‘feeling unsafe’

• a difficulty letting go of the need to try hard

Some have been offered anti anxiety medication, inhalers or CBT, hoping it might make some dent in the symptom. Others have received a formal diagnosis of “dysfunctional breathing pattern” or “breathing pattern disorder”. This can result in partial support or referral to a webpage for support, but often missing the depth needed to fully optimise someone’s breathing habits to thrive, not survive.

There obviously can be medical explanations around damage in the lungs, for example with pulmonary fibrosis, however it is very common for someone with “nothing physically wrong with them” to present with this symptom.

It is also common for someone with partial lung damage to have an additional deteriorated breathing habit, therefore making it feel worse. Whilst the expected progress is more limited, it can certainly help when subtle adjustments are made.

What is breathing habits retraining?

Breathing retraining with LiNK BREATHING is the process of taking breathing habits back to basics, improving awareness, addressing unhealthy habits and gradually training new healthier breathing habits over time. Conscious breathing habits then influence subconscious breathing habits, resulting in powerful changes to mood, productivity, sleep, concentration, physical performance and relationships. This results in healthier breathing habits all day and all night, aka 24/7.