A more helpful breathing technique for flare-ups, anxiety, and overwhelm

Have you found that trying to calm yourself down with deep breaths don't always work when you're in the midst of anxiety, panic attack, or flare-up?

That is usually because you're forcing your body to suppress the very natural nervous system responses to these overwhelming things rather than addressing them.

It's like going to a friend when you're extremely upset, and instead of her hearing you out, seeing you, and empathizing with the pain you're feeling, all you got was:

"There, there. Don't cry now. Wipe those tears away and let's just move forward."

Yikes.

It's the same when you're trying to use calming, deep breaths to "force" your nervous system out of that agitated state too quickly.

Your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong, and you turn around to say, "Nothing is wrong! Don't overreact."

Oof.

​So, what do you do instead when you're suddenly pulled into a state of panic, anxiety, or pain flares?

You meet you nervous system where it is at the heightened, agitated state.

This breathing technique meets your nervous system where it's at during panic or flare -- at a state of agitation and vigilance -- but also helps to gradually dial down the nervous system until it feels safer and calmer naturally.​

Give it a try and let me now how it goes for you.

I personally used this the other night when I was getting anxious about not being able to fall asleep (yup, had a week or so of light insomnia). My chest was tightening and breathing became very shallow as I spiraled into the fear of not falling asleep...again. This breathing met my nervous system where it was, and helped bring it down to a more manageable level.