Take A Breathe - The Power Of Deep Breathing!

When we hear the advice ‘do some deep breathing’, for a lot of us, this sounds ridiculous. How can deep breathing help? Why do I need to do something I do all the time? What a load of rubbish!

Yes, these are the types of responses I hear all the time. When actually, deep breathing is one of the best ways in which to help relax the body and mind when stress or anxiety rears its head.

During my days at university while training to be a mental health nurse, I thought I would never be someone who gets anxiety. How wrong I was! During a stressful time with studies, a house move, setting up a business and a bereavement, my bucket was full. I found myself having regular panic attacks and found it extremely distressing.

I found myself thinking negative thoughts, how could I be experiencing this? I am supposed to be helping others deal with anxiety, how can I do that when I feel like this?

I was fortunate to be studying the very topic ‘mental health’ that I needed to learn about to get me well again. I decided to research further into anxiety, its forms, its effects, and its treatments. As I didn’t want to take medication through my own personal choice, I decided to investigate other, more natural ways of dealing with it.

I came across relaxation and deep breathing. At first, I couldn’t fathom how such a simple approach could help, when I literally felt my whole world falling apart. However, I began to read and practice daily relaxation and breathing techniques and with a little time, things began to improve.

Throughout my reading I discovered the scientific basis behind deep breathing. To put it simply, when we feel anxious or stressed, our body goes into what we know as fight or flight mode. This can cause some very unpleasant side effects and affect our breathing.

When we spend some time doing some deep breathing, this stimulates a part of our body that sends signals to our brain to relax. This helps to soothe and relax the physical symptoms of anxiety and regular practice can help the body return to its natural state of calm. I was amazed at how this simple approach helped me so much.

So, after I qualified as a mental health nurse, I decided to complete my meditation instructors qualifications and I have been teaching ever since.

I am able now to help so many people and I feel very fortunate that my own experience has helped me grow as a person and has changed other people’s lives also.

I would strongly urge anyone to look into deep breathing techniques.

Alternatively, apps like Head space or Insight timer are fantastic in aiding the process as they are guided by a person and so are easier to follow as a beginner.

So, I urge you to start today, its simple, all you have to do is take a breathe!