[KingdomHeartsTheorist (OP)]

I'm sorry if this is the wrong section to post this in. I'm not exactly sure where to actually put it, so feel free to move it if it is in the wrong section.

I have a kind of Morbid Question based on Suffocation, and the Science behind it's feelings. I'm sorry if this is too disturbing but I don't know where else to ask it. I tried posting it on other sites, but a bot removed it, and so I was never able to get it answered objectively. I hope I can have it finally answered here.

I've always had the worse Phobia to Suffocation, and it's my most feared way of dying ever. I see it as the most horrible experience ever. I've always had Asthma, or if not that, at least some sort of Respiratory Issues, so I know what it feels like.

But according to Science, and People Online, Suffocation involves no Pain. If no Pain is involved, then why is it so horrible to me, and produces PTSD in people who survive the experience? What am I feeling than? I KNOW that it's more than JUST Panic.

Why is it such a useful Torture Method for Interrogation, or Domestic Abuse if it involves no Pain?

People who survive Drowning Situations, and describe the experience are divided into Two Groups:

Is the people who say it's a Horrible Experience, and left them with PTSD, and a Suffocation Phobia.

Is the people who claim it was Peaceful for them.

What causes such different experiences for the Two of them? Isn't Suffocation a Primal/Primordial thing that is experienced Universally the same across all Humans?

Is there a difference between Drowning, being Smothered, or being Choked/Strangled? If so what are they in order from Worst, to Least, and why are they different, and not the same?

I also want to ask,

Why does breathing in Gasses such as Nitrogen put people to sleep peacefully with no Suffocation feelings like they would if a Plastic Bag was held over their head?

In Wrestling why is it that being Choked Out from the Carotid Arteries on the Side Of The Neck puts them to sleep peacefully in 5 seconds with no feelings of Suffocation, yet Choking Them Out from the Front takes minutes to knock them out, and is a HORRIFIC experience, and perhaps even PTSD producing?

A lot of people online also seem insensitive to Suffocation scenes in Movies, or to stories in real life, and a lot of them say things such as "There Is No Pain Involved In Suffocation, You Just Panic Until You Die".

Is Panic not considered Pain when it's in the form of that level of intensity, and Suffocation?

I always said that I would rather BURN than to Suffocate to death. If there's no Pain in it, then why would I prefer a PAINFUL method of Death over a NON-Painful method?

People also say that the Panic is produced from the fear of dying, but I don't know if I fully agree with that either for a couple of reasons:

If someone gave me the option to die quickly, and painlessly, or be suffocated until I pass out, but survive it, I would STILL choose DEATH, just so I wouldn't have to EVER experience suffocation.

If it's ALL JUST Panic, then theoretically, if a man was taken Hostage by a Serial Killer, and had a Gun held to his head, and KNEW 100% that the Psycho was going to kill him, the guy would Panic for sure, but it SHOULD technically not be any worse, or better, but in fact be the EXACT SAME as if the Psycho held a Plastic Bag over the man's head until he died. Yet it's NOT. The suffocation will STILL be WORSE than being shot in the head with a Gun, even though, both scenarios entail The Victim KNOWING that he will die.

So, with all of that said, if there is no Pain in Suffocation, then why is it such a HORRIBLE experience for me, and why is it such a HUGE Phobia for me, and my most feared way of dying ever? Am I just the weird one here, and am just exaggerating something that is in fact, nothing, and no big deal?

Ultimately, is Suffocation considered Peaceful, or Horrible, and Horrific?

I'm sorry for such a weird question, but I want Science to be able to answer this for me, because it's been bothering me for a while now, and I can't find any real Objective answers online, as everyone says something different. Thanks for any future replies.



Edit UpDate: So, is CO2 build up considered painful, or is it just a Panic thing?

The reason why I ask is because I refuse for the most part to accept my experiences as ONLY Panic. They feel WORSE than that.

Basically, people online have tried to say that drowning is a peaceful way to go, and when a City wanted to get rid of Feral Cats that were causing problems, they advocated the Neighbors to catch them, fill up a Trash Can full of Water, and then put the Cat inside, and seal it off with the Lid until they drowned to death. The City said this was a peaceful way to die. Is that true?

And finally, I was watching a YouTube Clip from a Video Game known as Silent Hill 2 where a man's wife was sick, and dying, and so to put her out of her Misery, he smothered her to death with a Pillow. This was unconsensually.

The clip depicts her screaming, and fighting, and it was a horrific scene.

One of the YouTube Comments said:

"There Is No Pain In Suffocation. You Just Panic Until You Die."

So, is being suffocated to death or until passing out PAINFUL?

Is the CO2 build up from not being able to breathe considered painful, or is it JUST Panic?

Because there's arguments online claiming that Suffocation is just a Panic thing, and not a Pain thing.

Ultimately, do you consider Suffocation in the CO2 Build Up way to be Horriblee, and Horrific?

[hamdani yusuf]

Suffocation induces oxygen deprivation and CO2 build up in the brain, which activates some neurotransmitter that the brain will interpret as pain, unless it is blocked by neurotransmitter inhibitor.

[evan_au]

In a pure nitrogen atmosphere, you can breathe out carbon dioxide, so it doesn't build up in your brain, and your body does not go into panic mode to breathe fresh air.

Ironically, your brain does not have an explicit oxygen sensor. In the absence of carbon dioxide buildup, the signs of oxygen starvation are more subtle, like fading vision (the retina of your eyes is one of the most oxygen-hungry tissues in your body).

[alancalverd]

Nitrogen or helium hypoxia is quite pleasant and my choice for suicide. Excess CO2 induces panting and panic, but adequate dilution with an inert gas just slows the brain down.

[KingdomHeartsTheorist (OP)]

So, is CO2 build up considered painful, or is it just a Panic thing?

The reason why I ask is because I refuse for the most part to accept my experiences as ONLY Panic. They feel WORSE than that.

Basically, people online have tried to say that drowning is a peaceful way to go, and when a City wanted to get rid of Feral Cats that were causing problems, they advocated the Neighbors to catch them, fill up a Trash Can full of Water, and then put the Cat inside, and seal it off with the Lid until they drowned to death. The City said this was a peaceful way to die. Is that true?

And finally, I was watching a YouTube Clip from a Video Game known as Silent Hill 2 where a man's wife was sick, and dying, and so to put her out of her Misery, he smothered her to death with a Pillow. This was unconsensually.

The clip depicts her screaming, and fighting, and it was a horrific scene.

One of the YouTube Comments said:

"There Is No Pain In Suffocation. You Just Panic Until You Die."

So, is being suffocated to death or until passing out PAINFUL?

Is the CO2 build up from not being able to breathe considered painful, or is it JUST Panic?

Because there's arguments online claiming that Suffocation is just a Panic thing, and not a Pain thing.

Ultimately, do you consider Suffocation in the CO2 Build Up way to be Horriblee, and Horrific?

[RD]

Why does breathing in Gasses such as Nitrogen put people to sleep peacefully ...

Nitrogen alone is considered an inhumane way to euthanise dogs, see ...

the World Society for the Protection of Animals lists nitrogen inhalation as "not acceptable" for animal euthanasia because loss of consciousness is not instantaneous, and dogs euthanized by nitrogen gas have been observed convulsing and yelping after falling unconscious.

https://www.livescience.com/62037-oklahoma-executions-nitrogen.html

Nitrogen is cheap, effective, not hazardous to others, (e.g. not toxic nor explosive),
but apparently it's not as quick & painless as other methods of euthanasia.

[hamdani yusuf]

I think the details of the cause of suffocation matters and can make a difference how painful it would be.
This video shows what happens when you breath lower air pressure, such as in high altitude.

Testimonies from workers who survived confined space accident involving Nitrogen in atmospheric pressure tells similar story.

I have experienced some suffocations with different causes which I can share here. Hopefully they can be useful for whomever read these.
- drowning in fresh water. The pain was mainly felt when water entered my nose and got to olfactory nerves. Water with higher salinity would not generate as much pain, such as used in nasal spray.
- suffocating due to mishap while testing an SCBA. There was pain in my ears as I tried to inhale, which generated pressure difference with the surrounding air. You can try it by breathing in while pinching your nose.
- blockage of carotid when someone I carried on my back accidentally pressed them. I felt no pain at that moment, just felt dizzy and then lost balance and fell down. I felt a little bit tingling when the blockage was released. I guess that's what you'll feel if you got "rear naked choke"d.

Whereas the CO2 build up is explained in the article below.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/hypercapnia-symptoms-treatment-914862

Hypercapnia is excess carbon dioxide (CO2) build-up in your body. The condition, also described as hypercapnea, hypercarbia, or carbon dioxide retention, can cause effects such as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, as well as serious complications such as seizures or loss of consciousness. Hypercapnia may develop as a complication of chronic lung diseases such as COPD, bronchiectasis, emphysema, interstitial lung disease, and cystic fibrosis, as well as some neurological and muscle diseases.


Your CO2 level can be measured with a blood sample, and you may also need other diagnostic tests to identify the cause of your hypercapnia. Typically, this problem requires intervention with medication and/or assistance with breathing, such as a breathing mask or a mechanical ventilator.

Symptoms
Often, hypercapnia does not cause obvious effects, and most people do not notice or complain of symptoms.

Common symptoms of hypercapnia, if they do occur, include:1


Fatigue
An inability to concentrate or think clearly
Headaches
Flushing
Dizziness
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
Increased blood pressure

Because these effects are so vague, you might not realize that they are caused by hypercapnia. Some people who have lung disease measure their own oxygen levels at home with a pulse oximeter, but this device cannot detect hypercapnia.

Your CO2 level may be too high even if your oxygen level is normal.

When you have a chronic respiratory disease, your CO2 level may be slightly elevated or may increase gradually over the course of years as your disease progresses. You can also experience sudden bouts of hypercapnia during exacerbations of a pulmonary condition.2


The level of CO2 in your blood can increase abruptly if you develop a severe lung infection, especially if you already have a chronic lung disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Complications
Severe hypercapnia can cause noticeable and distressing effects. You may experience sudden respiratory failure, which can lead to a coma and may even be fatal.

Serious, urgent symptoms of hypercapnia can include:1

Paranoia, depression, and confusion
Muscle twitches
Seizures
Palpitations (a feeling that you are having a rapid heart rate)
Panic, or a feeling of impending doom
Dilation (widening) of superficial veins in the skin
Papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve)
Seek emergency medical care if you experience any of these.

It says that different people may get different symptoms. One of them is headache, which is a form of pain.

[hamdani yusuf]

Why does breathing in Gasses such as Nitrogen put people to sleep peacefully ...

Nitrogen alone is considered an inhumane way to euthanise dogs, see ...

the World Society for the Protection of Animals lists nitrogen inhalation as "not acceptable" for animal euthanasia because loss of consciousness is not instantaneous, and dogs euthanized by nitrogen gas have been observed convulsing and yelping after falling unconscious.

https://www.livescience.com/62037-oklahoma-executions-nitrogen.html

Nitrogen is cheap, effective, not hazardous to others, (e.g. not toxic nor explosive),
but apparently it's not as quick & painless as other methods of euthanasia.

I'd like to emphasize this excerpt from the same article

How nitrogen kills
Nitrogen is an inert gas — meaning it doesn't chemically react with other gases — and it isn't toxic. But breathing pure nitrogen is deadly. That's because the gas displaces oxygen in the lungs. Unconsciousness can occur within one or two breaths, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.


Nitrogen inhalation doesn't cause the same panicked feeling that suffocation does, because the person continues to exhale carbon dioxide. Rising carbon dioxide in the blood is what triggers the respiratory system to breath. These levels are also responsible for the burning and pain that happens when you hold your breath for too long. Because the carbon dioxide levels in the blood never rise with nitrogen inhalation, these symptoms don't occur.