Fighting Anxiety

[Kate M]

(cut) My fear of sleeping without treatment made me feel more receptive to the mask and eventually interpret putting it on as a cue I could relax and sleep and it became my version of a security blanket. Have you tried using a pleasantly scented product such as PurSleep or maybe other essential oils of your preference behind the air intake? I found a pleasant aroma to be a welcome diversion from the smells that kept me tuned in to the equipment. Hope you're sound asleep by now and report tomorrow that your anxiety tonight was minimal to non existent.

I am hoping that my experience follow yours! I hadn't thought of aromatherapy-- that may be worth a try! Thanks for the suggestion.

Last night was the same. I tried the suggested Zen approach of "watching my thoughts" and basically, they were saying, "YOU ARE BREATHING THROUGH A TINY TUBE! YOU ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH AIR!" The poem I picked out was a flop, so I ended up singing myself to relaxation (silently of course) with the Grateful Dead's "Ripple" - Must have been the thought of "Zen" that got me thinking of the lyrics to that song -- "RIpple in clear water when there is no pebble tossed or wind to blow" Anyway-- it worked and I had a pretty good night's sleep!

Thanks for the ideas and good wishes

Blessings,

Kate


Grateful Dead - RIpple
http://youtu.be/lVdTQ3OPtGY

[MagsterMile]

I don't believe my anxiety about cpap was ever as great as yours in the beginning. To be sure, it was there. Over time I've stopped dreading going to bed. I believe that developing a nighttime routine around cpap has helped me overcome my anxiety. I perform the same routine every night and do not deviate in any way. I find great comfort in knowing that this is what I do every night and it seems to relax me. I really think that it takes time to get over feelings of anxiety and when you find your routine or rituals, you will find great comfort in them.

[Kate M]

(cut)I find great comfort in knowing that this is what I do every night and it seems to relax me. I really think that it takes time to get over feelings of anxiety and when you find your routine or rituals, you will find great comfort in them.

Thanks for sharing this, Magster -- I hope this is true for me also!

Have you tried using a pleasantly scented product such as PurSleep or maybe other essential oils of your preference behind the air intake? I found a pleasant aroma to be a welcome diversion from the smells that kept me tuned in to the equipment.

I Just ordered an aromatherapy kit! I bet this will help tremendously! Thanks for the idea!

[Sir NoddinOff]

Early on, I used to get bouts mask anxiety, but the human brain can be very adaptive. IMO, at a point in the near future, I think your brain will say: "Hey, this therapy is really working, maybe I should stop pulling the 'mask anxiety alarm'. If in a few weeks I'm wrong, you can bawl me out in public. Also, upping your pressure a bit is not such a bad idea. Thought for the day: This too shall pass.

[Kate M]

Early on, I used to get bouts mask anxiety, but the human brain can be very adaptive. IMO, at a point in the near future, I think your brain will say: "Hey, this therapy is really working, maybe I should stop pulling the 'mask anxiety alarm'. If in a few weeks I'm wrong, you can bawl me out in public. Also, upping your pressure a bit is not such a bad idea. Thought for the day: This too shall pass.

Thanks, Sir -- You have suggested my preferred solution-- that it goes away on its own! Last night was a little better I think so I DO hope you're right. (If not, a public flogging will be arranged at your convenience

This thread has offered a number of ideas about overcoming the mask anxiety many of which I'll try!

• time and adjustment will make it go away on its own
  belief that the therapy is working or fear of NOT using the therapy will overcome the anxiety
  bedtime routine or rituals
  aromatherapy
  increasing (or decreasing) the ramp as indicated
  changing the pressure if appropriate
  desensitization routines
  pretending the mask is something fun
  observing your thoughts and trying to deal with any other causes of the anxiety
  anti-anxiety medication
  music or poetry
  relaxation exercises

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas!

Blessings,

Kate

[Not Fade]

Fighting Anxiety

Instead of fighting,

Stay Calm

[MagsterMile]

I think 'self-talk' about cpap is good. In the beginning I felt like my life practically revolved around cpap 24/7. In some ways you try so hard to make this cpap work that other things going on around you might begin to fall away. Now that I'm past my 9th month on it, I'm feeling much more able to deal with what is going on around me. I think what triggered this for me was finally getting a mask that I was comfortable with. Even though I'm not getting the 7-8 hrs of recommended sleep per night, I think cpap therapy itself is under control and I'm feeling very good about it. Now to work on my hyperinsomnia. Lots of success on your therapy and just keep hanging in there.

[Dreamingofsleep]

Hi Kate,
Hun you are not alone. I had problems and still do sometimes with anxiety. What I have discovered is if the pressure is too low, it feels like you are going to suffocate. Mine has been set to 7.5 and builds from there (preset). I look forward to when it increases because sometimes it still feels like I am not getting enough air.

Early on someone reassured me that I would not suffocate, and this helps while waiting it out.

Hope this helps

Dreaming

[tqpannie]

See I have the opposite problem. I'm totally laid back when I put the mask on put I have major anxiety when I take the mask off in the morning. Part of it is going off o2 and getting back to room air.

I've found that if I sit with the mask on- doing my breathing techniques from Pulmonary rehab I can get through the worse of it.

[mgaggie]

See I have the opposite problem. I'm totally laid back when I put the mask on put I have major anxiety when I take the mask off in the morning. Part of it is going off o2 and getting back to room air.

I've found that if I sit with the mask on- doing my breathing techniques from Pulmonary rehab I can get through the worse of it.

Isn't a cpap machine just using room air? I thought that oxygen is a totally separate machine?

[Kate M]

See I have the opposite problem. I'm totally laid back when I put the mask on put I have major anxiety when I take the mask off in the morning. Part of it is going off o2 and getting back to room air.

I've found that if I sit with the mask on- doing my breathing techniques from Pulmonary rehab I can get through the worse of it.

Oh wow.. Yes, I can see where this could create anxiety. So, do you stop the 02 bleeding in and leave the mask in place with the room air for awhile? Does your 02 sat actually drop when you stop the 02 or is just fear that it will happen? If it is the latter, maybe getting a pulse ox to show yourself that your Sa02 is fine on room air when you switch will help settle things down for you?

Blessings,

Kate

Isn't a cpap machine just using room air? I thought that oxygen is a totally separate machine?

Yes, CPAP uses room air, but some folks need to have a little oxygen aided into the mix -- yes, it is another machine that blows the oxygen and a tube from it is hooked into the CPAP system (sometimes right near the mask) to raise the Fi02 of the air that is breathed through the mask.

[DoriC]

Yes, we were told to turn off the 02 first and let the cpap run for a few minutes before turning it off. Mike doesn't feel the transition at all.

[Uncle_Bob]

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[tqpannie]

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Oh wow.. Yes, I can see where this could create anxiety. So, do you stop the 02 bleeding in and leave the mask in place with the room air for awhile? Does your 02 sat actually drop when you stop the 02 or is just fear that it will happen? If it is the latter, maybe getting a pulse ox to show yourself that your Sa02 is fine on room air when you switch will help settle things down for you?

Blessings,

Kate

I actually leave the o2 bleed on until I am ready to stand up then I turn it off and leave the air blowing from the bipap for a few minutes. I have COPD and I think knowing I'm going to be without the o2 bleed freaks me out.

[Kate M]

I actually leave the o2 bleed on until I am ready to stand up then I turn it off and leave the air blowing from the bipap for a few minutes. I have COPD and I think knowing I'm going to be without the o2 bleed freaks me out.

Do you ever wear 02 during the day? Maybe you could just switch from the mask to the nasal cannula, get up and start your day and then take it off when you feel ready.