Breakdown of Obotlig som fobin kändes, andades jag igenom panikattacken.
jag
I
andas
to breathe
kännas
to feel (to have a certain feel, to seem)
som
as (in comparisons)
Questions & Answers about Obotlig som fobin kändes, andades jag igenom panikattacken.
How does the structure Obotlig som fobin kändes work to mean "Incurable as the phobia felt"?
This is a fronted concessive clause. By placing the adjective (obotlig) first, followed by som, the subject (fobin), and a linking verb (kändes), it creates a meaning similar to "Even though the phobia felt incurable." It is a stylistic way to highlight a contrast.
Why do the verbs kändes and andades both end in an s? Are they passive?
No, they are not passive. They are deponent verbs, meaning they end in -s but always have an active meaning. Kännas means "to feel" (as in, how something feels to your senses) and andas means "to breathe".
Why is the word order andades jag instead of jag andades?
Why use igenom instead of genom for "through"?
While genom is a standard preposition, igenom often functions as a verbal particle emphasizing the completion or endurance of an action from start to finish. Andas igenom acts as a phrasal verb here, emphasizing the process of breathing your way completely through the panic attack.