Breathe Your Way Out Of Panic Attacks

Breathing is of course an essential function of living, but few people know that it has an important role to play in managing panic attacks as well.

In times of great stress–such as the period leading to and during a panic attack–most people tend to neglect proper breathing. In some cases, the part of the nervous system that controls processes such as breathing and digestion may become affected by stress and tension. This can severely affect our regular breathing patterns.

While these changes may not be life-threatening in themselves, they may cause a number of the detrimental effects on the body’s natural chemistry, and may in turn affect overall health. Conversely, proper breathing may cause a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as slow down metabolism. Breathing correctly may also reduce muscle pain and enhance the circulation of the blood.

When you are under stress and breathing shallower, you may experience an imbalance in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. What you have to do in these instances is slowly ease your way back into the proper breathing patterns. This isn’t as difficult as it may seem, and by constantly training yourself to breathe properly, you will develop this habit subconsciously and simply adopt it automatically under stress.

You may find it helpful to enroll in classes that offer instruction in the Alexander Technique and other breathing techniques. In addition, Tai Chi and yoga may also help you develop proper breathing, along with other physical and mental benefits.

If your work requires you to spend much of your time sitting behind a desk, it is important to make sure that you stand up and walk around from time to time. If you spend a lot of time sitting, remember to walk around as much and as often as possible. Sitting down for long periods may result in you developing poor posture, which can compress the organs in your chest and abdomen.

A lot of people seem to think that breathing deeply can be helpful in reducing the severity of a panic attack. While breathing does indeed have an important role to play, it is important to realize that taking too many breaths in a short period of time may actually cause you to feel more tense and anxious. Instead, you should focus on lengthening your exhalation in order to feel more relaxed. Lengthening your inhalation on the other hand will cause you to become more alert and stimulated. If you want to become more relaxed, inhale gently and exhale slowly, repeating the process as often as needed.