ArticleZones.com » Society » Psychology » Deep Abdominal Breathing For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
View PDF | Print View
Article By: SergeTaylor
Total views: 9
Word Count: 629
Deep Abdominal Breathing For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
The most commonly used breathing technique to help in coping with an anxiety attack is controlled abdominal deep breathing. Part of the typical stress response in people and especially so in the case an anxiety attack or a panic attack is that their breathing starts to become extremely shallow. This rapid panting style of breathing is part of the body's natural flight flight response. And while it may be natural, it is also very distressing to someone experiencing it during a panic attack.
What further compounds this problem and what can ultimately lead to a full on panic attack response is that the person having the breathing difficulty begin to focus on their inability to take a deep breath.
Our nervous system obviously recognizes that breathing is essential to our survival and sends feedback that how we are breathing is not adequate for our needs. When a panic attack sufferer becomes aware of this physical and mental feedback, they literally start to panic which further amplifies the feedback in the hope that it will be heard and the breathing adjusted accordingly.
The vicious cycle of the panic attack has begun.
The practice of deep controlled abdominal breathing will provide options the panic attack sufferer can use at the time of their attack. But a regular training program of controlled abdominal breathing must be undertaken if the ability to apply it during the extreme nervous system responses of a panic attack is desired.
It's not unlike training for athletic event where the body over period of time begins to get used to the activities that you are engaged to the point that they become virtually automatic when they need to be performed.
By practising regular deep abdominal breathing at non-stressful times it allows the body the chance to get used to the technique itself as it becomes conditioned to breathe differently. Once a certain familiarity has been gained with the technique it is very useful to begin using it during periods of moderate stress and anxiety.
Over time our confidence and ability to apply the deep abdominal breathing technique in all kinds of situations of varying levels of stress and anxiety increases. So much so that in a very short time the method can be applied during a panic attack situation.
However the real benefit of regular deep abdominal breathing is how it changes your nervous system making it less prone to stress and anxiety and thus over time preventing panic attacks from occurring in the first place.
This way of breathing is very natural and easy. Like any form of exercise please make sure to start slowly and gradually allowing yourself enough time to get familiar with the technique before increasing the length of time of your abdominal breathing sessions.
Believe it or not abdominal deep breathing is the way we are supposed to breathe. It is out natural breathing style that we somehow forget to use. If you look at young kids they are all belly breathers, but as we age we tend to breath more in our chest.
So rather than think of this as learning something new we are simply re-familiarizing ourselves with something we already know how to do.
Article Source: ArticleZones.com
About the Author
Would you like to discover how to do deep abdominal breathing for panic attacks as well as learn more about coping with anxiety as well as panic attacks as well as getting your free dealing with panic attacks report visit www.anxiety-cures.org
Comments
No comments posted.Add Comment
You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you will be able to comment.More articles in this Category
1. Deep Abdominal Breathing For Anxiety And Panic Attacks2. You Are What You Remember
3. Chronic Pain - Do You Get Angry When They Blame You For It?
4. Accelerated Learning Themes And Concepts
5. Persuade the Affluent Through Embedded Suggestions