Anxiety is real and impacts many people daily. The trouble with it is that when it acts up or comes on strong it can often lead to negative health consequences and reactions. Too much anxiety for long periods can be debilitating and cause you a lot of challenges as you try to go about your daily life. 

However, there is some good news in all of this, which has to do with figuring out how to best cope and reduce anxiety using your breath. Consider turning to your breath and how you breathe to help you feel better fast. Learn here how breathing affects anxiety and tips for improving your breathing technique so you can also boost your health and well-being. 

The Importance of Breathing Right

The reality is that the way you’re breathing might be causing you more harm than good. It’s very possible that if you’re feeling more anxious lately or are an anxious person that part of the culprit could be your breathing and the way you’re doing it. Diaphragmatic breathing is important for your mental and physical health such as that it can reduce your stress levels, improve blood pressure, and provide you with mental clarity. Stress and strain on your lungs elevate cortisol levels which may be making you feel more anxious. Therefore, minimize the risk of this outcome by learning how to breathe right. 

How Breathing Affects Anxiety

One of the most vital benefits of putting effort into the work of breathing and breathing deeply is that it can make you feel calm. You can instantly reduce stress and anxiety the second you start breathing more slowly. Immediate relief from overthinking and feeling anxious is possible with slow, rhythmic breathing techniques. It’s all about breathing with your diaphragm or doing belly breathing as opposed to taking shallow, short, and quick breaths. Slow breathing will slow down your heart rate and you’ll notice that your palms stop sweating and that you feel more in control of the situation and your body. 

Tips for Breathing Better

What you want to do for better breathing is to take slow, deep breaths from your diaphragm. Inhale through your nose and push your abdomen out, then pause, and pull your abdomen in as you exhale. You’ll begin to feel more relaxed as you repeat this sequence. 

Another anxiety breathing technique to consider using is the Wim Hof Method, which has been known to produce positive results. Some additional ideas or techniques include deep breathing, bellows breath, and nostril breathing. It’s not only about how you choose to breathe every day and in each moment but that you take some time to practice these exercises and how to breathe so that it becomes more natural for you. When you take control of your breath, you’ll soon find that you become more in control of your mind and body.    

Conclusion

Anxiety can be frustrating and cause you to not do the things you love or go after your goals and dreams. One useful and practical way to reduce your anxiety is to try different breathing exercises for anxiety and breathe deeply from your diaphragm. Breathing affects anxiety in many ways which means you have the option to alter its course to benefit you.