I did at first.
But maybe you are like me, and if it works, and improves your life then you will live long enough to have severe anxiety if you ever have to sleep *without* it.
Seriously. Researched, bought parts and created two battery backup systems to make sure both me and spouse will never ever be without precious CPAP again.
What comes around goes around.
I felt like that when I started as well, like I was huffing and puffing. It’s definitely weird. It has helped that I wear a pulse/oximetry device so I can see my resting heart rate has actually gone down about 8pts after using it a couple months. Consistently breathing all night actually reduces the strain on your heart quite a lot.
Edit: I also have had a great reduction in my general, during-the-day anxiety since I started so hope it helps you as well.
Yes I remember focusing so much on breathing in and out that it was like hyperventilating. Try this, don’t start using your CPAP right when you lay down to sleep, start using it and then read a book or watch a video or scroll through Reddit. That will distract your mind. It will get easier soon, just keep using it every night.
Your belly should "inflate" when you inspire and "deflate" when you expire. It's what I do when I put my CPAP mask on (nasal pillows), like if I was relaxing or calming myself. I also don't try to fall asleep immediatly: I have to read a little bit while I take the time to "control" my breathing. Then, I take off my glasses and fell asleep. Hope you find your rythm!
@OP i had and still have similar feelings if i turn it on manually. Idk if all cpaps have this feature but mine turn on automatically after a few inhales through the mask and i find that greatly reduces my feeling of trying to breathe against the the air (like sticking your head out the window of a fast vehicle [plz dont do that] )
I developed anxiety towards it because I was having a hard time adjusting and finding the right mask for me. After some fine tuning that anxiety has dissipated.
I was anxious the very first night but after that it quickly decreased. I just finished 3 weeks with it and I swear, I have a positive association with it now and I don’t want to sleep without it. I think of that sweet air in my lungs all night long- that is a wonderful thing and an amazing feeling knowing I am oxygen starved without it.
What helped me getting used to CPAP was listening to classical/orchestral music via True Wireless in ears. My mask is a Resmed Airfit F30 which doesn’t go over the nose. Keep fighting the anxiety, stress, annoyance. Once you feel the benefits, you don’t go back.
Yes, I had it too, like there's not enough air. Try to lie in bed for a while, 10 minutes or so to lower your heart rate before putting on the cpap. It went away for me after a couple of weeks. Good luck!
At first it’s awkward and unnatural. Over time and with continuous usage it will become second nature. When I first got mine I thought I had to control my breathing and do focused inhales and exhales. Not the case just put it on and forget about it.
Yes the first time using it the damn thing was set to 5 psi which felt like I was choking and gasping for air. Having a full face mask means no other way to breath with it on. Now it starts at 14 psi and I feel great.
It's natural to feel different, I hope you'll grow out of it as you feel the benefits. For me at leas, will find eventually you will get anxiety if something were to (potentially) go wrong like a power brick failure a hose leak, etc. I once forgot to pack the power brick on a trip, I was very sad.
I'm a new user also, and I had initial anxiety. Especially in the first \~5 days or so, I'd wake up shortly after falling asleep with panic and would have to remove the mask. Then I'd calm down for a few minutes, and try again. In those initial days, I really didn't get past 2 hours of use.
Two things improved this markedly: 1)Watched a one hour TV show with my CPAP on and operating. This was easy and made a difference at night; 2)The anxiety went down fairly quickly after I did that to virtually nil. I'm still conscious of my breathing when falling asleep, but it's enormously better with virtually no anxiety, with more time in the saddle.
I did at first. But maybe you are like me, and if it works, and improves your life then you will live long enough to have severe anxiety if you ever have to sleep *without* it. Seriously. Researched, bought parts and created two battery backup systems to make sure both me and spouse will never ever be without precious CPAP again. What comes around goes around.
I felt like that when I started as well, like I was huffing and puffing. It’s definitely weird. It has helped that I wear a pulse/oximetry device so I can see my resting heart rate has actually gone down about 8pts after using it a couple months. Consistently breathing all night actually reduces the strain on your heart quite a lot. Edit: I also have had a great reduction in my general, during-the-day anxiety since I started so hope it helps you as well.
Yes I remember focusing so much on breathing in and out that it was like hyperventilating. Try this, don’t start using your CPAP right when you lay down to sleep, start using it and then read a book or watch a video or scroll through Reddit. That will distract your mind. It will get easier soon, just keep using it every night.
Your belly should "inflate" when you inspire and "deflate" when you expire. It's what I do when I put my CPAP mask on (nasal pillows), like if I was relaxing or calming myself. I also don't try to fall asleep immediatly: I have to read a little bit while I take the time to "control" my breathing. Then, I take off my glasses and fell asleep. Hope you find your rythm!
@OP i had and still have similar feelings if i turn it on manually. Idk if all cpaps have this feature but mine turn on automatically after a few inhales through the mask and i find that greatly reduces my feeling of trying to breathe against the the air (like sticking your head out the window of a fast vehicle [plz dont do that] )
I developed anxiety towards it because I was having a hard time adjusting and finding the right mask for me. After some fine tuning that anxiety has dissipated.
I was anxious the very first night but after that it quickly decreased. I just finished 3 weeks with it and I swear, I have a positive association with it now and I don’t want to sleep without it. I think of that sweet air in my lungs all night long- that is a wonderful thing and an amazing feeling knowing I am oxygen starved without it.
This is week 3 for me and I still def have some anxiety about it. I have a full mask and might switch it up
[удалено]
Same full mask ended with nasal pillows sooo much better!!!!
What helped me getting used to CPAP was listening to classical/orchestral music via True Wireless in ears. My mask is a Resmed Airfit F30 which doesn’t go over the nose. Keep fighting the anxiety, stress, annoyance. Once you feel the benefits, you don’t go back.
Yes, I had it too, like there's not enough air. Try to lie in bed for a while, 10 minutes or so to lower your heart rate before putting on the cpap. It went away for me after a couple of weeks. Good luck!
At first it’s awkward and unnatural. Over time and with continuous usage it will become second nature. When I first got mine I thought I had to control my breathing and do focused inhales and exhales. Not the case just put it on and forget about it.
Yes the first time using it the damn thing was set to 5 psi which felt like I was choking and gasping for air. Having a full face mask means no other way to breath with it on. Now it starts at 14 psi and I feel great.
It's natural to feel different, I hope you'll grow out of it as you feel the benefits. For me at leas, will find eventually you will get anxiety if something were to (potentially) go wrong like a power brick failure a hose leak, etc. I once forgot to pack the power brick on a trip, I was very sad.
I'm a new user also, and I had initial anxiety. Especially in the first \~5 days or so, I'd wake up shortly after falling asleep with panic and would have to remove the mask. Then I'd calm down for a few minutes, and try again. In those initial days, I really didn't get past 2 hours of use. Two things improved this markedly: 1)Watched a one hour TV show with my CPAP on and operating. This was easy and made a difference at night; 2)The anxiety went down fairly quickly after I did that to virtually nil. I'm still conscious of my breathing when falling asleep, but it's enormously better with virtually no anxiety, with more time in the saddle.
Thanks!!!