Im really struggling and need help

[drummingman]

As some of you have seen i posted a thread about me having problems with feeling like im sinning by breathing out with a wrong reason or motive (this is the thread for those of you that did not see it http://www.christianforums.com/t7365772/ ). The struggle that i was having with my breathing went away for about 2 weeks, but it came back yesterday and it is causing me a lot of problems.

The thing is that i did not do anything that made it go away ( i prayed about it and talked with a number of people about it. But there was no techniques that i used to get better). I need to figure out what i can do to not be controlled by this struggle. I really need help with this because what happens when it goes away again? What if it just comes back again at a latter time and causes me all kinds of problems again?

This is causing me a lot of pain and suffering and i could really use all of your help.

 

[kaykay9.0]

First of all, I think you to need to acknowledge at all levels that any type of "monitoring" your breathing is SEVERE OCD. The Lord created our bodies in such a way that our respiration is controlled "automatically" by our brain. We have no need to even think about it whatsoever and this is, again how we are designed. So hopefully, if you can just tell yourself that you have no need to even consider it, it will help. Of course, I do understand that OCD isn't always "logical." I don't remember if you are on meds/therapy etc. but I think you should be in touch with a competent psychiatrist to get you over this hump. My suggestion, and this was probably already discussed is if it comes, refuse to pay attention to such thoughts, just adopt an "oh, well" attitude and resume whatever you were doing. Praying for you~maybe God has delivered from this and it won't happen again. Try also not to obsess about it re-occurring.

 

[HeatherG]

Drummingman,

Praise God that you have been free of this for two weeks! Then you can certainly be free of it again.

I agree with Kaykay that some professional help might help on this one as it is something that is affecting your very functioning and causing you even physical pain.

I read through the other thread and it seems like you acknowledge that actually doing the deep breathing regardless of the fear is the thing that can help you to overcome this. So you now have a very good motive for breathing out - i.e. every time you do so you are trying to overcome the OCD and therefore trying to get closer to God. So that would obviously be a very good motive which would be pleasing to God.

I don't know if that can help any.

Anyway, I will pray for you. I know it must be very difficult.

HeatherG

 

[drummingman]

Thank you both for your thoughts and prayers. I am on meds for my ocd and they do help but it is by no means a cure. I am also working to get into see a therapist that understand how to deal with my ocd. My church is helping with the first visit and i am in contact with a an organization that helps musicians in times of crisis that may be able to help me with therapy costs.

Things are not as bad as they were but im still having trouble breathing letting myself breath all the way out because of feeling like im sinning when i do. The thing is that everyone tells me the same things to do and i really struggle with doing them. It makes me feel like i can only be helped a certain amount and that worries me. I just cant seem to convince myself that i am not sinning by breathing all the way out because of feeling like im breathing out with a wrong reason or motive. And it is still effecting me physically.

Something that has made it a bit better is me telling myself that if i am sinning by breathing out all the way with a wrong reason or motive that the Lord will forgive me. But how can i convince myself that im not breathing out with a wrong reason or motive and thereby sinning?

This is still cauisng me a ton of pain and suffering. I find myself sleeping a lot to get away from this struggle but that is no way to live. I really need help to get through this. Please keep posting your thoughts amd advice.

 

[drummingman]

Can i really get better from this struggle? What can i do? Im really desperate for help.

 

[kaykay9.0]

Drummingman,

Again, I know that OCD is not logical necessarily. But sometimes hearing the truth DOES help. Let me put it as strongly as possible~YOU ARE NOT SINNING IN ANY WAY BY BREATHING! God designed us to not think about our breathing. I have no doubt whatsoever that He, in fact, does NOT want you to even be considering your breathing one way or the other. Maybe I'm oversimplifying it (I really do understand the problem of OCD) but I think right now the best strategy anytime your attention even turns to your breathing being in any way sinful, say "This is NOT the truth. This is just OCD." Then force yourself to turn your attention in another direction.

I am glad that you have some possibilities of getting some therapy on the horizon. Yes, you can get better. I'm glad you have taken the initiative to try to get the treatment. Hang in there. Praying for you.

 

[keryakos]

Drummingman,

Again, I know that OCD is not logical necessarilly. But sometimes hearing the truth DOES help. Let me put it as strongly as possible~YOU ARE NOT SINNING IN ANY WAY BY BREATHING! God designed us to not think about our breathing. I have no doubt whatsoever that He, in fact, does NOT want you to even be considering your breathing one way or the other. Maybe I'm oversimplifying it (I really do understand the problem of OCD) but I think right now the best strategy anytime your attention even turns to your breathing being in any way sinful, say "This is NOT the truth. This is just OCD." Then force yourself to turn your attention in another direction.

I am glad that you have some possibilities of getting some therapy on the horizon. Yes, you can get better. I'm glad you have taken the initiative to try to get the treatment. Hang in there. Praying for you.

I totally agree with Kay you must distract yourself and tell yourself that this is bullocks ..

 

[drummingman]

Drummingman,

Again, I know that OCD is not logical necessarily. But sometimes hearing the truth DOES help. Let me put it as strongly as possible~YOU ARE NOT SINNING IN ANY WAY BY BREATHING! God designed us to not think about our breathing. I have no doubt whatsoever that He, in fact, does NOT want you to even be considering your breathing one way or the other. Maybe I'm oversimplifying it (I really do understand the problem of OCD) but I think right now the best strategy anytime your attention even turns to your breathing being in any way sinful, say "This is NOT the truth. This is just OCD." Then force yourself to turn your attention in another direction.

I am glad that you have some possibilities of getting some therapy on the horizon. Yes, you can get better. I'm glad you have taken the initiative to try to get the treatment. Hang in there. Praying for you.

Thanks for your post. One of the things that im having trouble with is after i have breathed out all the way i get it in my mind that i sinned. Then i feel like i have that sin on me and that effects me breathing out when i breath out again and again.

Im still having a real struggle with this. I really want to get better but its very hard for me to do what people are telling me to do to get better because of the feeling that im sinning when breathing out all the way. I need to get through this battle on my breathing. The thougts and feelings that i have sinned when i let myself breath out all the way in a natural way is just powerful to where i really feel like i sinned when i breathed out all the way.

Im still dealing with tightness in my chest because of not allowing myself to breath out all the way in a natural way. Im still desperately striving to get better. What can i do in this situation to be able to convince myself that im not sinning when i breath out all the way? I cant stress enough how bad i need to get better and get through this battle. I am also dealing with this pain in my rib area on my left side and i believe that it is happening because im not letting myself breath out all the way in a natural way.

I talk with my mom about these problems and she works hard to help me. I also have a very good friend that is a pastor that understands my ocd that works to help me as well. But how can anyone help me if i feel like i cant do what everyone tells me to do to get better? It makes me feel like its very hard for me to get help.

Please keep offering your thoughts because its not that im not listening to your advice its just i feel like i cant do the things about breathing that you are telling me to do because of feeling like im sinning when i breath out all the way.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Please keep offering your thoughts because its not that im not listening to your advice its just i feel like i cant do the things about breathing that you are telling me to do because of feeling like im sinning when i breath out all the way.

You are not sinning my friend. Did Jesus breath? Yes! Certainly He did, so if it was not a sin for the One who knew no sin then its not a sin for you. God created within us lungs for the very purpose of breathing, it is not wrong or sinful for you to breath you are just doing what God created you to do.

You must learn to not think about this, I know that sounds easier said then done but you must try to get this out of your mind, you need to change your attitude about this compulsion instead of giving in to it, try to fight it and just deal with the anxiety, it will be hard at first but I know it will get easier for you as time passes. Anxiety is not the big ugly green monster it seems to be, just try to deal with it as long as you can, and no matter what don't give into this breathing compusion.

Breathing is your natural right by God! It is how our bodies are designed to work so try to think about this the next time you have this compusion, learn to counter your OCD, do not let it tell you what to do, turn the tables on it and tell it!

 

[drummingman]

Thanks soldier. The thing is that when i go to breath out all the way i feel like im sinning or after i breath out all the way i feel like i have sinned and this will effect any other breaths that i let out. I then feel like i have to breath in and kind of hold it to start over without the sin of having breathed on me. The thing is that i keep having to do this when i feel like i have sinned by breathing out.

I want to do the things that you all are telling me to do that is right, but i am just having the hardest time being able to. Its this whole cycle that starts up when i feel like i have sinned by breathing out all the way. Im striving very hard to believe that im not sinning by breathing out all the way. And im also striving very hard to believe that im not sinning by continuing to breath out all the way after i feel like i have sinned by breathing out all the way the time before.

Please dont think that im not listening to you all, its just that i get messed up and confused and afraid when these things come to me. Im still really struggling with all of this. I just cant figure out how to get through this.

 

[drummingman]

Thank God that that he has worked through my mom to make things better for me for the last while! She has talked with me a good bit and God has worked through her to make things way better for me for the last while!

 

[LadyChristina]

Maybe this will help take the pressure off and I'm serious.
Think like a Catholic and acknowlege that we are all sinners. We all sin in small or large ways each day. God is our Father so he loves and forgives us. Remember the Prodigal Son story.
I hope this relieves the pressure on your imaginary sin/breathing out problem.

 

[annrobert]

drummingman,
I am so happy that you are doing so much better.
Praise Jesus our Creator and healer and protector.
Who calls us to come to Him as little children.
Who invites us to come to Him for rest.
Who is our WONDERFUL Counsellor the Prince of Peace the Mighty God and Everlasting Father.
Praise Jesus who makes all things new.
Praise Jesus who is the Bright and Morning Star
who is Meek and Lowly in heart and offers us rest
Praise Jesus who is our Rock and strong Tower our fortress and our strength
Praise Jesus who has power over everything
and protects us and keeps us in His hand
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Thanks to Jesus who have given you a wonderful supportive and loving mom to help you also.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
So glad you are doing better drummingman
blessings
annrobert

 

[drummingman]

I have been doing better toaday but am still having some struggles with my breathing. When i breath out fast to release tension in my body i keep getting it in my mind that I'm sighing and theybay sinning. I believe that this is not true but it is effecting me being able to breath out fast when i need to to release tension in my body.

My good friend that is a pastor that i talk with has told me that i need to ignore all of this and that its just my ocd. Im working on overcoming the ocd with all that i have and i really want to overcome this way the ocd is working on me.

Please offer your thoughts if you will.

 

[drummingman]

At times it can be real hard because i will feel like im breathing out with a wrong reason or motive and then im afraid to breath out and i will feel like i have to hold my breath until i get things to where they feel ok. This can be very hard on my body and my mind because i may have a hard time getting things to where they feel ok.

This is still causing me suffering.

 

[drummingman]

does anyone have any thoughts? Im still having a vary hard time with this battle.

For some reason when i tell myself that i need to fight the lies it makes the battle in my mind worse. I beleieve that its ok with the Lord of i do or dont tell myself to fight the lies. If i dont tell myself to fight the lies a lot of the times i will just shake my head to show that i believe that whay is comming into my mind is just lies. But one of the things that is happening is that it is comming into my mind that i need to tell myself to fight the lies before i can do it. Its like im getting the thoughts that if i dont tell myself to fight the lies that i dont really believe that what is comming into my mind is lies and that im doing something wrong. I dont believe that this is true but it is bothering me.

Like i said, im still having a hard time with these battles and i really need help. Thanks.

 

[drummingman]

Everytime i breath out in a natural way i get it in my mind that im breathing out with a wrong reason or motive and thereby sinning. this happens everytime i breath out in a natural way. this is keeping me from breathing out in a way that that allows my body to rest because of feeling like im sinning when i breath out in a natural way.
i believe that what i need to believe is that this is my ocd lying to me telling me that each time i breath out in a natural way that im doing it with a wrong reason or motive and thereby sinning. but im getting battled hard in my mind on this.

The thing is that this comes and goes. It will go away for a week and then it will come back. And then it will go away again for a few weeks and then it will come back. This battle is causing me a LOT of suffering and distress in my body and in my mind and emotions.
Please help if you can.

 

[JohnnieGuy]

I've had this before too and I know how painful it can be. I'm praying for you.

My suggestion is use the Scripture. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13)

That INCLUDES not believing nonsense thoughts. So get into the BELIEF that you can do all things through Him (He says it's true, BELIEVE IT!) and then whenever a thought like this comes into your head, just laugh it off. See if you can do it for ONE DAY.

I know you can because you can do all things through Him! Just laugh it off, even if it comes into your head 4000 times tomorrow, laugh it off every single time and instantly move on to something else.

In Christ,

Johnnie

 

[gracealone]

Here's what I'd do. I'd get really ticked off at this darn breathing obsession. Anger and anxiety can't co-exist together. I'd tell it.. "you know what this is all just a bunch of magical thinking prompted by my OCD and I'm not gonna let it shove me around!" Then just to prove how determined I was I'd do the instictive opposite of what the fear is telling me to do. I'd slip on some running shoes, head out the door and run, run, run! In doing so I'd have no choice but to breath all the way out, vigorously challenging the obsession to go ahead and do it's worse. I do this several times a day when the breathing obsession was at it's worse.
I am so anxious for you to get in with the therapist Drummingman. I'm fervently praying that your sessions will give you the key that will unlock the door of the prison that this distressing disorder has you in.
Hang in there buddy!
Mitzi
PS. What a precious Mom you have! Be sure to tell her that.

Everytime i breath out in a natural way i get it in my mind that im breathing out with a wrong reason or motive and thereby sinning. this happens everytime i breath out in a natural way. this is keeping me from breathing out in a way that that allows my body to rest because of feeling like im sinning when i breath out in a natural way.
i believe that what i need to believe is that this is my ocd lying to me telling me that each time i breath out in a natural way that im doing it with a wrong reason or motive and thereby sinning. but im getting battled hard in my mind on this.

The thing is that this comes and goes. It will go away for a week and then it will come back. And then it will go away again for a few weeks and then it will come back. This battle is causing me a LOT of suffering and distress in my body and in my mind and emotions.
Please help if you can.