Breathing and Anxiety

Some human beings struggle with anxiety more than do others. Sometimes they require medication to help them relax. On thing they might want to try is breathing differently.  Studies have shown that your heart beats faster when you inhale and beats shower when you exhale. That's likely the reason most relaxation techniques encourage participants to exhale slowly. That slows heart rate and calms the entire body. When done on a regular basis, it has been shown to increase both heart and brain health. In order to exhale slowly, you really have to think about it. Continuously. A beneficial side-effect is that if you are thinking about your breathing with each exhalation is really is difficult to continue being anxious about ruminating thoughts. On the rare occasion when I have difficulty falling asleep, I pay attention and exhale slowly. Works every time.