Time for you to experience one of the best techniques to calm someone down when they’re feeling particularly anxious. Even if you’re feeling okay just now, sit yourself down in a nice, comfortable position. Breathe in through the nose to the count of 5. Try to breathe right in, down to your belly. Without holding your breath, exhale to the count of 5.
Don’t worry if you can’t quite make it to 5 and be sure not to inhale or exhale too sharply – everything should feel nice and gentle.
Keep this going for about 3-5 minutes and, even if you didn’t feel stressed to begin with, take note of how relaxed you now feel.
This is called BELLY BREATHING. It might seem really simple but it does some magical things.
It slows down your breathing.
It gives you something to focus on.
It lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
it allows you to regain control
When your breathing slows, your blood pressure lowers and in turn so does your heart rate. Focussing on your breath can help distract your mind from whatever is causing the anxiety in the first place. Once you feel back in control, it is then much easier to start looking for ways to deal with whatever triggered the anxiety in the first place.
