problems breathing

[Bethany]

I agree, there is no "right" way to breathe. The purpose of focusing on the breath is to bring your mind to the present moment, so that it does not wander to the past and become anxious, etc. You can do that while mouth breathing.

[hammill1969]

I think I am finding it difficult with the breathing because it is the main symptom of my anxiety and not just because I mouth breathe. At first when i meditate i struggle with the nasal breathing but 10 mins into the meditation when I am relaxed i can then breathe smoothly through my nose, probably because my heart has slowed.

When I obsess abouth the breath it totally dominates my thinking and the anxiety goes on and on. The more I think about it the more anxious I become. Meditation has definitely reduced my anxiety and I obsess about the breathing a lot less than I did. Maybe I am expecting too much hoping I will be cured of my anxiety and I need to accept that I have anxiety.

I know i need to practice the sounds meditation, I have the mark williams guided cd but haven't listened to the sounds track much at all.

[JonW]

Hi hammill1969,
Would be interesting to hear how long you've been meditating for and whether you're following or have completed the 8-week course.
Cheers,
Jon

[hammill1969]

It's funny cause I am really into music,listen to loads of different music but haven't got into the sound meditation. Maybe it's not a good idea to meditate to Leonard Cohen! one of my favourites.

[hammill1969]

I have been meditating for about 15 months, mainly listening to jkz guided cd and mark williams cd, some of deepak chopras vedic meditations and chakra meditations. I suppose I have always meditated when chilling out in the countryside on my own in the middle of nowhere. I have both books full catastrophe & peace in a frantic world but havent had the discipline to go through the 8 week course. I have focused on the breathscape ,body scan and metta meditations mainly. The body scan has the most calming effect that's why i have mainly focused on that one.

[hammill1969]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply and give me advice. I have started to try different things,the sound meditation,receiving sounds without judgement (not very well at the moment but i'll keep practicing and also the thoughts meditation & I have even plucked up the courage to try the difficult emotions meditation. Is buddhist devotional chanting OK for sound meditation ? The one I listen to is in pali or sanskrit so i can't understand the words so i'm not thinking about what they mean.

[MrBlueSky]

You can also breath through mouth and nose at the same time. If you try it out you may be able to sense air entering the mouth and the nostrils at the same time. You may notice the air entering the nose tends to be less than the volume of air entering the mouth.. but it may help ?