Is breathing good for relaxing when experiencing anxiety?
18 June 2010
5 Comments
Peter M asked:
I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and I was wondering if doing breathing exercises is good for relaxing? All I really need to do is learn how to relax so when I get anxious I can just immediately relax and train myself to do so. If so, what is a good breathing technique. If not, what are some other good ways to relax (I have to be able to do it inconspicuously) ?
I have GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and I was wondering if doing breathing exercises is good for relaxing? All I really need to do is learn how to relax so when I get anxious I can just immediately relax and train myself to do so. If so, what is a good breathing technique. If not, what are some other good ways to relax (I have to be able to do it inconspicuously) ?
Absolutely that is the best way. Do a website search for breathing exercises. You should be able to find something which will help you there.
breathing is the thing to do.
Yoga has different breathing techniques that they have used for thousands of years. For more on this and helping anxiety see site below.
You bet your GAD it is! It’s probably the best of all.
This takes practice, but you’ll get the hang of it.
First find a place to sit and relax. Then listen to your heart, and feel it thumping in your chest. Notice that it speeds up when you breathe in, and slows when you exhale. Try to listen to your heart and your breathing. DON’T huff and puff. Don’t pull too much air in too fast. Just enough air to fill your lungs comfortably. When you have filled your lungs, hold it for one or two seconds, and then release the air BETWEEN two heartbeats. Don’t force the air out.
Let the air out slowly. Listen to your heart as its rate slows down. When you get to the “bottom ” of your lungs, wait one or two seconds, and start inhaling between heartbeats. Don’t force the issue, this sends signals to your brain that there is something to be anxious about. Keep doing this for a few minutes. Do it several times a day.
After some practice you will be able to do it naturally. You will be able to do this anywhere, anytime. No one will notice that you are doing it; it will look perfectly natural, even when you are standing up, on a bus, etc.
Keep practicing and you may find you can stop anxiety after 2 or 3 breaths.
Good luck! Post later & let us know how it worked! Did wonders for me!
i have GAD too! umm ya, when i get nervous i just breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3 seconds and breathe out for 3 seconds. i do it until i feel OK again. or another thing you can do i try to relax the muscles in you’re body starting from your feet to you’re head or vies versa. hope i helped…
Leave your response!
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Calendar
Pages
Share
Page Rank
Helpful Resources
Tags
Recent Comments
Most Commented
Meta