How do I get over feeling suffocated which triggers fight-or-flight?

I can breathe fine normally, but I have allergies and cough/sputter a lot. This causes the mask to restrict both exhalation as well as inhalation, feels like breathing through a straw. It takes a few breaths to ”catch up”, and I get that burst of adrenaline like I’m suffocating and then I am wide awake. Happens when I’m falling asleep, so it takes 1-2 hours to fall asleep, and then happens again in the middle of the night and wakes me up after which I am just done trying the mask for the night.

is this something one can get used to? I’m 2 months in after getting the machine and this hasn’t gotten any better.