Respected doctor. I have heard that people breathing can help in reducing anxiety and keeping mind calm. Is it true? If yes please guide what is proper breathing. Thanks.

Question

Deep and long breathings regularly keep mind fresh slows down shadaripu like stress tension worry anger anxiety etc.

Gajanan Manamwar · Accepted Answer

Deep and long breathings regularly keep mind fresh slows down shadaripu like stress tension worry anger anxiety etc.

M Sri Vidhya Venkatesan · Answer

Hi lybrate-user! Yes you are of course right. Actually when you are suffering from anxiety one could feel the gulp like uneasy feeling in the throat as well as heart beating fast, which will disturb you leading to a painful feeling instead of relaxed feeling. Some may even sweat and even faint, the breathing function at that time doesn't function normally, but once you take in a long breath and then slowly exhale the gulp like anxiety symptoms vanishes and so does the heart beat returns to normal state and one would feel very relaxed, calm and peaceful both mentally and physically one experiences relaxed state. Each and everything has got a meaning and that is the reason why we go back and follow meditation and yoga because nearly most of them have experienced and realized the importance and benefits of yoga, yes of course one could feel active and energitic. Take care. Be relaxed.

P. Rajan · Answer

When we experience anxiety our sympathetic nervous system gets activated causing symptoms like fast and shallow breathing, heart palpitation, sweating, trembling, pupil dilation, decrease in salivary secretion etc. Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system which can calm down all the above-mentioned symptoms. Learn and practice PRANAYAMA from a good yoga teacher regularly. It will help in reducing anxiety.

Sajeev Kumar · Answer

Yes you can do breathing exercise and also meditaion to keep yourself calm The Stimulating Breath (also called the Bellows Breath)
The Stimulating Breath is adapted from yogic breathing techniques. Its aim is to raise vital energy and increase alertness.
Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. Your breaths in and out should be equal in duration, but as short as possible. This is a noisy breathing exercise.
Try for three in-and-out breath cycles per second. This produces a quick movement of the diaphragm, suggesting a bellows. Breathe normally after each cycle.
Do not do for more than 15 seconds on your first try. Each time you practice the Stimulating Breath, you can increase your time by five seconds or so, until you reach a full minute.
If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. You should feel the effort at the back of the neck, the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen. Try this diaphragmatic breathing exercise the next time you need an energy boost and feel yourself reaching for a cup of coffee.