What does it feel like to be suffocated?

Being suffocated is a terrifying and distressing experience. It is a sensation that is almost impossible to describe accurately, but some of the most common feelings reported by survivors of suffocation include:

- A sense of panic: The sudden inability to breathe can cause an intense feeling of panic and anxiety, as the body goes into overdrive trying to get oxygen.

- Intense pressure: Survivors often describe a feeling of intense pressure on their chest, as if someone is sitting or standing on them, making it difficult to expand their lungs and breathe.

- Loss of control: The feeling of suffocation can be accompanied by a sense of helplessness and loss of control, as the body's natural instincts to breathe are overridden.

- Disorientation: Suffocation can cause a person to feel disoriented, confused, and unable to think straight, as the brain becomes starved of oxygen.

- Fear of death: In extreme cases, suffocation can lead to a fear of death, as the person feels their body shutting down and their ability to breathe slipping away.

The emotional and psychological impact of suffocation can be long-lasting, even after the physical effects have subsided, and many survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders as a result of their ordeal.