Three Reasons Why Deep Breathing Isn't Working for You
Hey there!
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard a lot about the benefits of deep breathing for managing stress and anxiety. But what if it’s not working for you? Well, it’s more common than you think.
Let’s explore three reasons why this might be happening (and what you can do instead!)
You Need to Try Breathing Out FIRST.
Before you start breathing in and out, you need to first exhale fully. By fully emptying your lungs, you create more space for fresh air and allow your body to reset. Once you’ve exhaled completely, then you can begin breathing in and out deeply.
You Need to Exhale for Longer than You Inhale.
There is no specific deep breathing formula that works best for everyone. But, I always recommend breathing out for longer than you breathe in. For example, you could breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 3 seconds, and breathe out for 6 seconds. This technique helps activate your body’s relaxation response, making it easier to manage stress.
You are Expecting a Magic Fix.
Deep breathing can help counteract our body’s physical response to stress and anxiety, which can help us manage anxiety better. But it cannot take our anxiety away completely. Afterall, anxiety is a normal part of being human. When anxiety shows up, let’s treat ourselves like we would a good friend and practice being kind to ourselves!
By making these small adjustments, you can improve your deep breathing practice and make it a more effective tool for managing stress and anxiety.
All the best,
Jayne
SEO Summary: Discover three common reasons why deep breathing may not be effective for you and learn how to improve your technique for better stress management. Keywords: deep breathing, stress management, anxiety relief, breathing techniques, mental health.
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