Wellness Wednesday - Breathing
Our first strategy, and most readily accessible strategy is to Breathe. Breathing is essential to our survival and thankfully it is something our system does for us without having to think about it. However, this also presents a challenge. When we are stressed, overwhelmed, or scared the way we breathe changes. Breathing becomes faster, shallower, tighter. This tension in our breathing sends messages to our bodies that maintains the tension instead of reducing the tension. Because our breathing is so automated, if you don’t bring awareness to your breathing, your system if continually stressed will go along breathing in this tense way.
Retraining your breathing can take time. If you have been in a chronic state of overwhelm and have been shallow breathing for a long time, you may find it physically difficult to take deep slow breaths. Your body may react in a panicked way to slowing your breath. Be gentle. Take your time. Remember the goal is to support your system, not fight against it.
Breathing practice is important all the time. Any time you take the time to bring your awareness to your breath, interrupting that automated pattern of stressed breathing, you are supporting calm in your body and creating new patterns.
Set reminders for yourself to practice breathing throughout the day. The more time you can spend on your breathing outside of heightened or stressed moments, the more comfortable you will feel using them when you really need them.
Guided breathing strategies are a great way to get started. Here are a couple resources you might find helpful, you will need to copy and paste the links into your browser to view.:
3-Minute mindful breathing - youtu.be/SEfs5TJZ6Nk
Square Breathing Technique - youtu.be/mgzhKW08bMQ
1-minute Mindfulness Deep Breathing - youtu.be/2YY8PWHNkYg
For more self support strategies please visit our growing collection on our website saveyourskin.ca/emotional-a...
If you have breathing strategies that you are using or would recommend, we would love to hear from you.
