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Deep Abdominal Breathing For Anxiety And Panic Attacks

by: SergeTaylor
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One of the most common symptoms that someone having a panic attack will experience is difficult and constricted breathing. Sometimes the breath will feel totally constricted with the sufferer is unable to draw breath. And other times the breathing will become rapid to the point of hyperventilation. When you consider this, it seems appropriate that most methods of dealing with panic attacks incorporate some form of breathing technique.

Deep abdominal breathing done in a controlled fashion is one of the most useful techniques in helping anyone cope with panic attack. A normal stress response during times of severe stress, like that experienced by someone suffering with a panic attack, is a dramatic change in the breathing rate. The breath becomes high in the chest and is very rapid, just like someone trying to catch their breath after strenuous exercise.

This breathing response is only part of the problem. The real problem is that the person having the panic attack begins to focus on their breathing difficulties which leads to an increase in the anxiety and panic which causes even greater breathing restrictions and difficulties

Once our nervous system becomes aware of the breathing problem it gives us feedback that there is a problem and we need to do something about it. Unfortunately for the anxiety and panic attack sufferer they cannot do anything about it. In becoming aware of the problem and knowing they can't correct it they simply create more anxiety and panic increasing the intensity of their panic attack.

This is the vicious cycle of a panic attack.

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.

If you think of this as training for a sporting event. With regular practice sessions when game time arrives many of the skills you need will be almost automatic and there for you when you need them.

In order to be able to utilise this deep abdominal breathing during the extreme conditions of an actual panic attack a reasonable amount of familiarity with the technique needs to be in place. The best way to learn how to do this style of breathing is to practice it during times of zero stress and tension. And once you feel comfortable with the mechanics of the method you can then start looking for opportunities to practice and apply it during periods of medium level stress and anxiety.

As you can see we are taking the breathing technique we have learned in a neutral environment and slowly increasing our ability to use it in the field. In a very short time with regular practice you'll have access to this breathing technique and be able to use it to help you handle your panic attacks.

While breathing in this way can help immeasurably during an actual panic attack, an even greater benefit is how the body becomes less prone to anxiety and stress generally, due to regular deep abdominal breathing, making the occurrence of future panic attacks less likely.

Practising controlled abdominal breathing is very easy. If you have not used this technique before, like any exercise start practising in a slow and easy fashion gradually increasing the length of time you practise this form of breathing.

You may not know this, but this way of breathing is the way our body is designed to breath. It is natural and normal. If you look at how toddlers breath you will see that they are belly breathers. As we get older for one reason or another we move into a more chesty way of breathing.

So this isn't learning some weird or abnormal breathing technique. It is re-learning how to do soimething that is completely natural although for the most part completely forgotten.

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Deep Abdominal Breathing For Anxiety And Panic Attacks

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