The Nine Stages of No Air

Have you ever been so frightened, you simply forget to breathe;

and ended up going into panic mode as a result?

Better buckle up, as the next steps after panic mode only get worse. 

In this Halloween edition of Flow Friday, we take a peek at what happens if you find yourself without air (and what you can do about it).

The Nine Stages of No Air

1. The Panic Reflex
CO₂ rises in the blood, triggering suffocating panic. The chest tightens, the urge to breathe becomes unbearable, and every nerve screams for air. Rational thought disappears as instinct takes over.

2. The Oxygen Crash
Oxygen levels plummet. The skin turns pale or blue, vision blurs, and the brain begins shutting down parts of itself to survive. A fog sets in as the body desperately reroutes oxygen to vital organs.

3. The Drowning Effect
The body gasps and convulses as if drowning, even on dry land. The asphyxia reflex overrides willpower; muscles spasm and the chest heaves in useless attempts to inhale.

4. Vision Collapse
The world narrows into a dark tunnel. The edges of sight fade, bursts of light appear, and the brain begins shutting off the visual cortex to preserve energy.

5. Sound Distortion
Hearing warps. The world sounds muffled, heartbeat thunders, and ringing or distorted noises fill the head. The inner ear and auditory nerves are failing from lack of oxygen.

6. The Mind Rebels
Hallucinations begin. The oxygen-starved brain dreams while awake, creating visions of light, voices, or loved ones — its final attempt to comfort and protect itself.

7. The Body Shuts Down
Muscles weaken, heartbeat slows, and body functions power down in “emergency mode.” Calm sets in — false peace before unconsciousness.

8. Convulsions Begin
The brain’s electrical signals fire chaotically. The body jerks violently, eyes roll back, and every muscle spasms in a last, desperate rebellion before energy burns out.

9. The Silent Stop
The heart halts. The lungs still. Yet the brain stays conscious for a few seconds more, aware of its own ending before fading into complete darkness and stillness.

Luckily, the nightmare scenario painted above won't be reality ... for most of us.

The truth is that accidents happen, and you could suddenly find yourself gasping for air:

• stuck in a submerged vehicle,
• trapped in a burning building,
• covered in piles of snow during an avalanche.

You do not have to be a freediver to benefit from becoming better at breath holding.

The ability to hold your breath for a few minutes; and stay calm and rational while doing so,

can literally safe your life ... and prevent a living nightmare.

Plus ...

Even in less life threatening scenarios, staying calm under pressure keeps the "monsters" at bay.