Anxiety and panic attacks are often thought of as “mental” conditions brought on by stress. Of course stress is a part of it, but simultaneously there is a physiological component. Even though there is a well documented connection between dysfunctional breathing and anxiety, it often remains unaddressed in the medical world. It is a crucial factor when trying to calm oneself down or avoid a full on panic attack.  

If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack you know how scary it can be – heart pounding, sweaty hands, light headedness, maybe chest pains or heart palpitations, all of which increase the anxiety when we think something is seriously wrong with us. All of these reactions are exacerbated by hyperventilation – fight or flight is activated. The over-breathing may not be noticeable, but even a little bit can excite brain activity and cause anxiety to rise.

The body needs a proper balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in order to function properly and when one over-breathes, an excessive amount of CO2 is lost with every breath out. One of the functions of CO2 is that it acts as a natural sedative and muscle relaxant as well as part of the delivery mechanism for oxygen to reach the brain, tissues, vital organs and every cell of your body.

At Breathing Revelations we teach breathing lessons specifically focussed on easing stress and anxiety, giving one tools to use immediately and anywhere in times of stress.