anxiety to masks and the forced air

[ChicagoGranny]

I equate it to this: if you are afraid of swimming, you would not have spmeone just throw you in the deep end and say deal with it.

A person can drown in a swimming pool. CPAP won't hurt anyone.

[rick blaine]

Hi newtoCPAP2018,

Let me start by saying I do understand. There was a time in my 20s when I suffered from panic in certain contexts. And I learned to get over it. It doesn't happen to me now. It's been a long time since it has.

knothead has suggested gradual adjustment. kteague has suggested a similar process of acclimatization. Janknitz has laid out a very thoughtful process of systematic desensitization. And those methods do work. So kudos to them.

But you have said, in effect, you haven't got time to go thru any of those processes. You need something quicker. And now.

The modern view from neuroscience is that anxiety and panic are learned responses - and it is possible to unlearn them. And research in the last few years suggests that it's possible to unlearn the panic response quite quickly - via a method which uses what we now know about how panic 'operates' in the brain, specifically in a bit called the amygdala.

And by 'quite quickly' I mean in less than half an hour.

I'm not going to try and describe the process. I am going to point you to a 12-minute video on YouTube. The method was developed by Dr Ronald Ruden, an American medical doctor and neuroscientist, and the person on this video studied directly with Dr Ruden, and made this video with his approval.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C1liEFCZm4

I think the ideal solution would be for you to find a Havening practitioner near you - or within a distance you feel you can reasonably travel. It is better to have someone experienced in this technique to guide you thru the process. But if that's not possible, then watch the tape twice. First, to get the overall idea of the process. And then a second time, to do the process.

And you might, for your first piece of change, pick some issue other than the big problem facing you - a smaller something - a minor something-that-bothers-me. That way you can test-drive the process and get it right, without getting too caught up in any emotion.

And again, the reason I'm suggesting this new method – apart from it being very effective when it's done right – is: I get that you need something now which gets you through the sleep study. I hope that, for you, this is it.

[palerider]

but to buy one outright is 1500 and I don't have that at all.

More like $400 (or less).

[kteague]

The airflow is less than a dog experiences when he hangs his head out the car window.
(And they LOVE doing that!)
Just channel your inner hound, and pretend you are going for a ride.

Visualizing my jowls in the wind. Loving it!

[sleepyUK]

Thanks for posting this, it (and the responses) have helped me with my issues. I think with me I assumed the difficulties were due to my history, but they actually seem quite common for many starting this therapy. I'm sticking to it, but my breakthrough was when I realized the treatment was for my benefit and I was in control. If I wanted (needed) to take the mask off after 10 seconds that was o.k. for now, nothing was going to happen and I wasn't cheating or doing anything wrong. I didn't have to suffer the bad feeling. Gradually I tried the routines mentioned of starting off gradually and keeping the control. Now I am managing longer periods and getting used to some feelings. I sometimes wake up thinking the mask has fallen off it's that comfortable, but some nights it's like the same old panic, so I just take the mask off and go back to sleep. I am beginning to notice that I do feel better if I've worn the mask longer, so that's a positive incentive to keep going, bit by bit. I've had mine a month now, it's still up and down, but I'm getting there slowly. I find I feel more comfortable with the higher pressure (therapy pressure) than the starting pressure the RAMp provides (Mine's set at "4" to start) and I think this is too low for me because it doesn't feel like there's enough air and doesn't clear my exhaled breath quick enough. I'm going back to the provider to get this re-set (for some reason the control panel has been locked by the provider and I cannot get in to change the settings myself). I try to remember that the treatment is for my benefit and not a punishment, keep control of the treatment and take it gradually.

[Barbee]

I do appreciate all the insight, but I am not talking about getting used to it in MY home- a few minutes each day; I am referring to putting this one with the air AT THE SLEEP STUDY! It is not like I can rent an air machine and watch TV with it. ( I wish!!) How do I get over that? I will ask about ambien.

I bought the mask for 200 bucks, but I do NOT have the machine. I am wearing the mask right now just to get used to that, but I don't have an air pressure to get over that hump. As I researched this, I met two other women with the same issue and they just can't do the sleep study. They just deal with the apnea. Anxiety in people is on the rise, especially to claustrophia, and I hope someday the sleep specialists can find a way to bridge the gap- NOT for wearing it at home on your own timetable, but JUST GETTING THROUGH THE DANG SLEEP STUDY! I did go to the clinic today, just to try this out ( full panic attack happened once he turned the air on the lowest amount). He was not compassionate or empathetic and that just added to my anxiety. He told me his sister has panic attacks- hmmm... then act like you have compassion. It SUCKS to have panic/ anxiety rule your life. I so desperately want to sleep well and not be a zombie all day. But for those with panic attacks, in the moment, it controls you and talking yourself off the cliff just doesn't work. I had to be sedated to have an OPEN MRI. I tried to do it, but then I hyperventilated. What calmed me down was the MRI tech let my husband hold my hand while the sedation kicked in. I did ask today if he could sit next to me and calm me down until I feel asleep when I do the the sleep study then leave and I was told no. Seriously, I am not a nutcase. Just a lady with an irrational fear and I know it and I am trying my dang hardest to not let it control me.

What type of mask did you buy? Maybe a different style would lessen your anxiety.

[ChicagoGranny]

I find I feel more comfortable with the higher pressure (therapy pressure) than the starting pressure the RAMp provides (Mine's set at "4" to start) and I think this is too low for me because it doesn't feel like there's enough air and doesn't clear my exhaled breath quick enough.

This is common. I get the same feeling with any pressure below 7.0.

I'm going back to the provider to get this re-set (for some reason the control panel has been locked by the provider and I cannot get in to change the settings myself).

You can unlock it yourself - starts on page 14 - https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf

[Islandwoman]

I was worried sick before my first test. I was left alone a few minutes with mask in hand and machine next to me. I turned the machine on and air blew in my face like a storm. I put the nasal mask over my nose and felt nothing, just easy to breathe air. I wont ride in a convertible but the air through the mask was fine. I think the pressure started low. I had trouble at home at first because they started me at four. Too low to breath well. Thanks to the help I got here I was able to adjust to a perfect level. I don't think I would have managed if i had put the mask on and had them turn on the air. I felt in control on my own. Good luck you will do fine. I have had 100% compliance for nearly 5 years.

[kaiasgram]

I do not have the machine to do this YET so I can't "play around" with anything. In order for insurance to let me get it, I have to have the sleep study which requires this air in my face. See my conundrum?

I do see your conundrum. What I'd do in your situation: Call the sleep clinic and ask for a brief appointment before the next sleep study with the mask. You could ask for just an appointment with a sleep tech so you can sit with the mask and machine for a couple of minutes to see how it feels. Or phrase it as a brief mask-fitting appointment, which is a fairly common thing -- you sit and put the mask on and they turn the machine on for a few minutes to see if they can get a good fit with the machine running. If you communicate your anxiety about the upcoming sleep study and tell them you believe this will make it easier for you – and the sleep tech who handles your sleep study – they may just accommodate you.

The benefit of having a brief ahead-of-time appointment – you'd be awake and in control, you can ask the tech to start with the lowest pressure and increase it slowly to give you a chance to experience the sensations without the pressure of the actual sleep study. And even if you still sorta dread the upcoming sleep study, at least you will go in having some idea what to expect -- less stress, more likelihood of a successful overnight study.