Going through anxiety is never easy. But no one is immune from it. There will come a moment where each one of us goes through a period of anxiousness. It can be due to pressure from work, conflict in relationships, or other issues that cause one to be anxious. In a normal way, anxiety is necessary for us. It’s a natural phase that everyone experiences. It’s even helpful because it makes one aware that something is wrong and it’s not going the way it’s supposed to be. In essence, it makes us prepare for unlikely situations. It makes the mind and body gear up for any trouble or threat. This is a good thing. However, a serious problem ensues when the anxious person has become incapacitated. It becomes a concern if it impairs the person from performing his usual activities. And when anxiety turns into a disorder, it would warrant treatment, which usually entails medications.
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is known as the most common type of anxiety disorder. This disorder is characterized by a heightened state of anxiousness. The person will become highly sensitive to the point that what seems to be very unnecessary can turn into a major or serious issue. This is because the person’s anxiety level is multiplied that even the non-essential detail becomes a cause for alarm.
Aside from GAD, panic attacks are also very common for people with the disorder. Panic attacks are described as experiencing intense feelings of anxiety that come out of the blue. It can be so intense that sufferers cannot speak or move.
Having any of these types would be difficult and hard to manage. That is why people seek treatment. The treatments vary. Generally, medications or prescriptions drugs are part. However, it has been known that prescription drugs have major side effects. Instead of helping alleviate the condition, they can cause more problems. In the long run, it will do people more harm than the good it advocates. The more natural you go with your treatments, the better. There are natural ways that are as effective in dealing with anxiety. One method is breathing exercises.
When a person is having a bout of anxiety, breathing becomes deep and irregular. For this irregularity to not turn worse, the person needs to remain calm and relaxed. To do this, breathing must be slow, steady and rhythmical. Knowing how to control the way you breathe during an anxiety attack is one of the first steps to take to feeling less anxious.
The ’8 Count’ is a very simple breathing exercise. You can do it at home or at work. What you need to do is relax and sit with your back straight. Put your hands on your knees and close your eyes. Then slowly fill your lungs with air for 7 counts. Breathe through your nose. Make sure that you are filling your lungs with air properly. Push out your abdomen as you do this. After 7 counts of inhaling, exhale for 8 counts through your mouth.
Breathing with the Stomach is another simple exercise that you can try. Just lie flat on your back and place your hands over your stomach. First, distend your stomach as far out as you can. Fill it with air and hold that position for two seconds. Next, suck in your stomach as much as possible. You should feel your chest rise during the second part of the exercise. Repeat the two actions, going faster each time. Now, after you’ve gotten used to this abdominal action, try to add regulated breathing. Breathe in through your nose as you push your stomach out and breathe out through your mouth as you suck in your stomach.
These two breathing exercises will help remove the tension of the body and calm your nerves. Indulging in these exercises for a few minutes each day will help calm the anxiety that sometimes overcome people.
