Coping with anxiety through breathing exercises?

I suffer a lot with anxiety and 'nerves'. I find the best solution is distraction. If you can switch your attention from how you are feeling to something else entirely, your body relaxes naturally.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions and comments. It makes me feel more positive. I will check them all out.

MayBee70

There was a tv programme recently in which several ‘celebs’ did a series of detox type things. I didn’t really watch it but I caught one episode where they all lay on the floor and someone took them through a series of breathing exercises and they all became very emotional afterwards. I do a Jason Stephenson relaxation tape every day and he takes you through several breathing exercises. I fall asleep every time ( I used to do Paul McKenna relaxation tapes but they stopped working for me). I think there are some breathing exercises on BBC Sounds. I really want to explore this a bit. And I want to rewatch that tv series but can’t remember what it’s called. I’m not sure about sertraline. Wasn’t it called Lustral. I don’t think it suits some people. Then again I did take an anti depressant years ago to get me through a painful divorce and it really helped me.

I think the programme you watched was called Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof. He is a Dutch motivational speaker.

Same drug. Very frequently described and well tested. But not the only one and sometimes another might suit better.

It does take time to settle into but so do most of them.

There was a tv programme recently in which several ‘celebs’ did a series of detox type things. I didn’t really watch it but I caught one episode where they all lay on the floor and someone took them through a series of breathing exercises and they all became very emotional afterwards. I do a Jason Stephenson relaxation tape every day and he takes you through several breathing exercises. I fall asleep every time ( I used to do Paul McKenna relaxation tapes but they stopped working for me). I think there are some breathing exercises on BBC Sounds. I really want to explore this a bit. And I want to rewatch that tv series but can’t remember what it’s called. I’m not sure about sertraline. Wasn’t it called Lustral. I don’t think it suits some people. Then again I did take an anti depressant years ago to get me through a painful divorce and it really helped me.

I imagine that my breaths in and out are a different colour. It helps me really concentrate on the breathing and doesn't leave any spare capacity in my brain to think of anything else.

You don’t need a practitioner. There are videos to watch.
It does work but you must give it your full concentration.
I’ve practiced it with people in a high anxious state.
I was shown it about 30 years ago by a masseuse.

My favourite and simplest yoga breathing (the sort you get in ordinary classes as its so easy video is 1 min 40 seconds long
you cn do it sitting in a chair (or the loos if trapped in supermarket..

Alternate Nostril Breathing
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8xIEzX40bA

I don't do yoga or meditate, but have read articles about breathing techniques to help with anxiety. The most helpful for me is "square" breathing. Inhale through nose 4 seconds, hold breath 4 seconds, exhale through mouth 4 seconds, hold breath 4 seconds. Repeat a few times.

Wyllow3

Specific yoga breathing in a class depends on the sort of yoga you do. Yoga breathing is called the practice of pranayama. You'd need to make enquiries of the teacher. General Hatha Yoga usually includes it not the fancy new yogas.

The Alexander technique is a specific breathing therapy and very gentle.

There is quite a lot on U tube if you want to try and self help on yogic breathing or "meditation on the breath" or "relaxing with breath". or "breathing for panic attacks" (just done a quick google.)

One of the main Buddhist meditations is a meditation on the breath, you may be able to find that locally or find online.

If you find it difficult to get going with these (they do take some learning and practice) you could always use the drugs as an umbrella to strengthen your breathing practices not see it as too long term.

(btw I looked up Citrulline and confused - its not on list of standard anti-depressants? )

Thank you so much for this. It is extremely helpful. The drug is sertraline. I just jotted it down quickly at the doctor's so go the spelling wrong. But, thank you again.

Specific yoga breathing in a class depends on the sort of yoga you do. Yoga breathing is called the practice of pranayama. You'd need to make enquiries of the teacher. General Hatha Yoga usually includes it not the fancy new yogas.

The Alexander technique is a specific breathing therapy and very gentle.

There is quite a lot on U tube if you want to try and self help on yogic breathing or "meditation on the breath" or "relaxing with breath". or "breathing for panic attacks" (just done a quick google.)

One of the main Buddhist meditations is a meditation on the breath, you may be able to find that locally or find online.

If you find it difficult to get going with these (they do take some learning and practice) you could always use the drugs as an umbrella to strengthen your breathing practices not see it as too long term.

(btw I looked up Citrulline and confused - its not on list of standard anti-depressants? )