Breathing techniques have a big name in the world of mental health for a reason, they are great for relaxation and stress management. When it comes to high anxiety and panic attacks, BREATHING AWAY HIGH ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS DOESN’T WORK.
If you’ve been given the advice to breathe away your high anxiety and panic symptoms, you’re likely here because it failed you. You’re not alone because this advice has failed many and there's a scientific explanation that lies in your biology.
Once fight or flight is activated, adrenaline is released into the body. Once released, consuming it is the only way to get rid of it. For example, shaking, shivering, pounding heart, palpitations, and tense muscles are physical symptoms caused by adrenaline. These intense symptoms of high anxiety and panic are uncomfortable and cannot be stopped by deep breathing.
Deep breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which cannot efficiently counterbalance your body's adrenaline release. Some have compared deep breathing to throwing a cup of water at a huge fire, it won’t help. A more effective approach is to lean into high anxiety and panic to teach your body that you can tolerate it. While leaning in is scary, it’s survivable and addresses anxiety at the root instead of covering it up.
If you’d like to start leaning into your heightened anxiety and stop coping it away, give us a call -- we are happy to help. Breathing techniques are not included. 😉
