4 ms·

Why did breathing through the straw cause that reaction?

sooheon 6y ago
Try breathing through a straw (or two put together) just after your heart rate's been raised (i.e. via exercise). It's very anxiety inducing.
Zelphyr 6y ago
Simply breathing through a straw may not do it. My therapist had me run up and down a flight of stairs for about 30 seconds and then breathe through a straw cut down to about 3 inches while holding my nostrils closed. Your body thinks you're not getting enough oxygen. You're getting plenty, it's just that it all coming through that tiny hole tricks your body and that triggers panic sensations. Doing that several times exposes you to those sensations and you eventually get used to it and allows you to manage more intense sensations.
- moldavi 6y ago
  I'm not sure that's correct. I've heard that high CO2 levels trigger the parasympathetic nervous system which calms us down. One could get the same effect from breathing into a paper bag, I think.
  - hanche 6y ago
    Hmm. In the Apollo 13 movie, high CO2 levels triggered a panic/anxiety attack in one of the astronauts. (Which may not have happened, or not as severely, in reality – but that’s adifferent issue. For one, astronauts are trained not to panic.) A quick google seems to confirm this. As for breathing in a paper bag, I believe that is one common way to deal with hyperventilation, which may also induce anxiety and thus lead to more of the same.
peteretep 6y ago
Maybe relevant > Klein is a professor of psychiatry who studies the delightful field of “experimental panicogens”, ie chemicals that cause panic attacks if you inject them in someone. These include lactate, bicarbonate, and carbon dioxide, all of which naturally occur in the body under conditions of decreased respiration. https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/04/05/the-case-of-the-suffocating-woman/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/04/05/the-case-of-the-suffoc...
- ineedasername 6y ago
  Isn't that the basic outline of a Batman villain? He could be one professional setback away from becoming the Scarecrow.
  - taneq 6y ago
    My first thought too, this guy is basically Scarecrow before the incident.

Try breathing through a straw (or two put together) just after your heart rate's been raised (i.e. via exercise). It's very anxiety inducing.

Zelphyr 6y ago

Simply breathing through a straw may not do it. My therapist had me run up and down a flight of stairs for about 30 seconds and then breathe through a straw cut down to about 3 inches while holding my nostrils closed. Your body thinks you're not getting enough oxygen. You're getting plenty, it's just that it all coming through that tiny hole tricks your body and that triggers panic sensations. Doing that several times exposes you to those sensations and you eventually get used to it and allows you to manage more intense sensations.

moldavi 6y ago
I'm not sure that's correct. I've heard that high CO2 levels trigger the parasympathetic nervous system which calms us down. One could get the same effect from breathing into a paper bag, I think.
- hanche 6y ago
  Hmm. In the Apollo 13 movie, high CO2 levels triggered a panic/anxiety attack in one of the astronauts. (Which may not have happened, or not as severely, in reality – but that’s adifferent issue. For one, astronauts are trained not to panic.) A quick google seems to confirm this. As for breathing in a paper bag, I believe that is one common way to deal with hyperventilation, which may also induce anxiety and thus lead to more of the same.

peteretep 6y ago

Maybe relevant > Klein is a professor of psychiatry who studies the delightful field of “experimental panicogens”, ie chemicals that cause panic attacks if you inject them in someone. These include lactate, bicarbonate, and carbon dioxide, all of which naturally occur in the body under conditions of decreased respiration. https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/04/05/the-case-of-the-suffocating-woman/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/04/05/the-case-of-the-suffoc...

ineedasername 6y ago
Isn't that the basic outline of a Batman villain? He could be one professional setback away from becoming the Scarecrow.
- taneq 6y ago
  My first thought too, this guy is basically Scarecrow before the incident.