Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I'm really bummed out about what happened today. I have sleep apnea and I just found out I can't use the dental devices used to treat it cause I wear dentures. This narrows my options down to using the CPAP machine and I couldn't get used to it back when I first got diagnosed with sleep apnea. I stopped going to my sleep doctor cause I felt there weren't much they can do for me. I'm back now . I'm so nervous that I won't be able to use the CPAP machine becaiuse last time I got claustrophobic as soon as I put that mask on.. Anyone please give me your input!!
I don't know if this helps, but keep reminding yourself that there's no way you can suffocate with that steady stream of air blowing into your lungs.
It does feel really hard to breathe out against that air and that's scary, but I learned to concentrate on just breathing in and out rhythmically and not the pressure of the air flow from the CPAP. It helped me adjust and soon I didn't notice the resistance when I exhaled. There's a certain rhythm to the breathing and the air from the CPAP that I use like white noise.
Do you use a full face mask? Can you use a nose only mask or the little 'pillows' as they call them, that go in your nose? The nose mask and pillows cover much much less of your face and leave your mouth uncovered. If you use a full face mask because you tend to breathe through your mouth you can still use a nose mask and use a chin strap to hold your mouth closed while you sleep.
There's a sleep apnea support group here at DS but it's not real active. Google cpap forums and you'll see several forums. Many allow you to read the topics without having to join the group.
I hope you can find your way to being able to use your cpap. I haven't missed a night of sleep in 4 years. I swear. And I average 8 hrs a night. I dream!
Having anxiety is challenging enough without sleep deprivation adding to it.
Good luck to you. :).