Inhale. Exhale. Breathing is something that we do without thinking. It keeps us alive but it can do so much more than that. Deep breathing has become popular in the past few years. There are a million apps, books and youtube channels dedicated to helping people slow down and just breathe.
I utilize deep breathing in my sessions to help with many problems: anger, trauma, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, the list goes on. It can help slow your body down, clear your mind, and help you feel more in control. Did you know that when you start to panic or get upset your breathing becomes more shallow? As this happens, CO2 starts to fill up the top of your lungs which sends signals to the brain that SOMETHING IS WRONG! So your breathing increases, your heart rate increases, your blood pressure increases, your muscles tense, and your body thinks you are about to go into battle even if there is nothing going on. If you take a few deep breaths and fill your stomach with air, your body will calm down.
Why not try it right now? Sit up straight but comfortably in a chair. Try to relax your shoulders if possible. Put one hand on your upper chest and the other on your stomach (below the rib cage). Take a deep breath in through your nose, noticing that your stomach rises as you breath in deeply. When exhaling, imagine blowing out a candle (really push out as much air as you can!) so the next breath you take will be deeper and fuller. Do this for a few minutes and notice how your body will relax and your mind will clear.
For deep breahting to be effective you have to do it consistently. I would recommend doing it 3-4 times a day for several minutes so that you can get used to the activity and recognizing how it is supposed to feel. Once you practice it, this is a technique you can pull out and successfully use when you are angry, upset, crying, panicking, stressing out or just feeling overwhelmed.
