Tips for Getting Used to CPAP Therapy – What to Do When Your CPAP Mask Causes Anxiety

Does the approaching night bring with it a fear of sleeping with your CPAP mask? For some CPAP patients, just the thought of that oppressive feeling when falling asleep triggers anxiety. But give the therapy a chance and let your body adapt to the new circumstances – we’ll show you how to get used to wearing a cpap mask.

---

There are two possible sources of anxiety with CPAP therapy that are closely related and not easy to distinguish from one another.

---

Our Tips for Getting Used to CPAP Therapy

We’d like to give you some tips on how to gradually get used to CPAP therapy, despite your anxiety. Whilst having the right attitude towards therapy is extremely important, in the long run this alone won’t be enough to use the mask every day. The goal is to make the therapy as comfortable as possible and help you accept the mask as part of your routine.

• First and foremost, your mask should be comfortable to wear. It shouldn’t feel restrictive, cause pressure marks, or seem obtrusive. 
• To achieve this, it’s very important to select the right model and adjust it optimally. Nasal masks and nasal pillow masks are often a good option for claustrophobic patients. These mask models barely restrict the field of vision and have less weight. Many sufferers use a full-face mask due to mouth leaks. However, it’s possible to use a mouth guard like oxyhero CPAP pro alongside a nasal mask to prevent mouth leaks.
• But it’s not just the mask itself – headgear that’s adjusted too tightly can also trigger a feeling of confinement. You should therefore check your headgear for this.
• The CPAP machine should also be adjusted to your needs to ensure optimal pressure and therapy success. Many machines offer the option to reduce pressure during the falling-asleep phase to make it easier to drift off. The machine automatically increases the pressure again after some time (the so-called “ramp-up” phase). Contact your prescribing sleep specialist about this.
• Give yourself and your body time to get used to the therapy step by step. Try wearing the mask whilst watching television or working at the computer, for example. This way you’re distracted and don’t focus as strongly on the fact that you’re wearing a mask on your face. If it’s the machine’s pressure that worries you, wear the mask initially without connecting it to the machine.
  Once you can relax with the mask on your face after a while, bring the machine into play. Hold the connected mask cushion to your mouth or nose for several seconds. Over time, you can slowly increase the duration. Don’t give up immediately – work your way forward bit by bit.
• External motivation aids often help anxious patients too. Educate yourself thoroughly about CPAP – whether in support groups, magazines, or online.

Always keep in mind the necessity of the therapy and the quality of life you’ll regain!