Hearing my breathing heavily when falling asleep

[oberlee]

I don't know if this is physical, mental or psychic, but here goes. Last night as I was falling asleep I fell into this state which was still alpha--so kind of half asleep--but my breathing became REALLY loud. Like I had a scuba mask on. Or like I was Darth Vader. It startled me awake because I had this feeling before.

A few months ago I was using vicodin recreationally, and basically took too much for my body to handle. I felt really, really faint, and so I lied down on the bed. I guess I lost consciousness then, but it didn't seem linear--like fainting, you completely go somewhere else. The thing that sucked is that I was conscious while being unconscious. I didn't dream; I was just in a black place, and I heard my breathing really loudly like I did last night. It was all I knew about my body.

Anyway, that episode lasted probably a minute or two, but felt like a lifetime; I eventually realized I could wake up and call for my boyfriend, but it was honestly the scariest thing I've ever encountered.

So anyway, does anyone have any insight on the darth-vader-breathing phenomenon? I can't find anything on the web.

[amixa]

i'm not sure about hearing myself breathe.

but sometimes i would hear someone else breathing in the room.. which was quite creepy and i didn't understand why and just tried to convince myself it was my imagination. that was when i was little though..

[Matthew Shea]

Oberlee, comparing your experience to the list of known side effects for Vicodin, it sounds like your body was simply reminding you why narcotics can be dangerous. Seizures, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, unconsciousness, euphoria. You probably did some damage when you OD'd a few months ago and you're still feeling the effects.

I certainly wish you the best in dealing with this.

[oberlee]

Yeah, don't worry--I don't touch the stuff anymore. I actually get anxious and lightheaded just thinking about it.

I was wondering specifically about the breathing thing. It's a weird thing, and didn't know if anyone else had experienced it. It could just be physical, but it's a weird shift from how I normally experience my body. Maybe I am hearing someone else, but I assumed it was me. But it's loud, like I said, like Darth Vader. Oh well! Thanks, everyone!

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by oberlee

I don't know if this is physical, mental or psychic, but here goes. Last night as I was falling asleep I fell into this state which was still alpha--so kind of half asleep--but my breathing became REALLY loud. Like I had a scuba mask on. Or like I was Darth Vader. It startled me awake because I had this feeling before.

A few months ago I was using vicodin recreationally, and basically took too much for my body to handle. I felt really, really faint, and so I lied down on the bed. I guess I lost consciousness then, but it didn't seem linear--like fainting, you completely go somewhere else. The thing that sucked is that I was conscious while being unconscious. I didn't dream; I was just in a black place, and I heard my breathing really loudly like I did last night. It was all I knew about my body.

Anyway, that episode lasted probably a minute or two, but felt like a lifetime; I eventually realized I could wake up and call for my boyfriend, but it was honestly the scariest thing I've ever encountered.

So anyway, does anyone have any insight on the darth-vader-breathing phenomenon? I can't find anything on the web.

Pain killers can destroy your kidneys and can have a weird effect on your sleep. Are you snoring? Are you asleep and realize it, but can't move?

[oberlee]

No, no, no...it's hard to explain. My question had nothing to do with painkillers or drugs (I know it was stupid, trust me). I wasn't snoring; I was in between waking and sleeping states and all of a sudden my breathing became really loud in my head, like the way it sounds when you have a scuba mask on.

It's not a huge deal. It could be nothing. I just thought maybe it coincided with some state of consciousness, and was wondering if anyone knew what I was talking about.

[seeingstars87]

I have similar experiences when I'm meditating and begin to fall asleep. Like you, I'm usually startled awake if I'm aware of how loud my breathing sounds, or I don't notice it and just fall asleep. I'm not sure I have an answer for you, but I always just assumed because I was in a meditative state going to sleep I was very present and aware of my body.