ИСТИНА

Objectives: To demonstrate the role of psychological mediation in breathing dysfunction and the hyperfunction of respiration regulation. Background and aims: The cultural-historical approach and the bodyly psychology (Thostov, 2002) suggest viewing the body not exclusively as a ‘natural’ biological function, but also culturally mediated and regulated by analogy with higher mental functions. The regulation of breathing is concurrently an autonomous and a voluntary function. The research investigates the continuum between the dysfunction and the hyperfunction of breath regulation and presents psychological factors that disrupt or support regulation. Materials and methods: Voluntary respiration regulation capability was examined through breath holding involving “easy-going” and “struggling” phases. The psychological mediation was assessed through a) interviews about respiratory experience, b) level of anxiety, c) psychosemantic and d) projection techniques . The study involved 20 patients with hyperventilation syndrome, 20 freedivers and 20 healthy participants comparable in age and sex. Results: The study revealed that freedivers have a longer “struggling” phase, which is perceived by other participants as "agonizing". Moreover, freedivers have a more positive vocabulary about breathing. While patients are unable to hold breath, as it’s associated with painful experience, and lack words to describe breath awareness. Conclusions: Psychological mediation in the hyperventilation syndrome is manifested via inadequate meaning or lack of personal significance about breathing regulation. Therefore, psychotherapy should reveal the connection between breathing and emotions, address personal meaning of breathing and lived through respiratory experience.