Benefits of Deep Breathing
Deep breathing and yoga are commonly suggested by therapists as a way to reduce stress. Some clients may feel frustrated at the suggestion however since it is so commonly prescribed and can seem like a band-aid for the real issues they are struggling with. Reflecting on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in session is a great way to encourage healing and growth and a lot of additional emotional release and healing can come when we incorporate our bodies in some way.
Therapy relies on relationship, conversation, and reflection, which can lead to emotional release but if you are a person that is not yet comfortable releasing your emotions or you do not know what you are feeling, limiting the session to discussion can make it easy to avoid what you’re feeling altogether.
Deep breathing is one way we can regulate our systems and connect with our bodies during a therapy session or a stressful life event. Taking time to tune into how we are feeling physically through our breath can help us slow down and identify what we are feeling mentally. If you still need more convincing to try deep breathing with your therapist or in your everyday life, here are some of the benefits of diaphragmatic breathing (the fancy way to say deep breathing).
Discussing a topic or experience that is anxiety inducing can cause rapid breathing which can make the anxiety even worse. Taking a break to regulate your breath and ground yourself can help you move through discussing that tough topic that you want support with.
No one needs to know you’re doing it! If there is something you know will stress you out, you can use your deep breathing skills before, after, and even during the event without drawing any attention to yourself which could add more stress.
Deep breathing can calm the sympathetic nervous system response to stress which can relax and reduce muscle tension. Less muscle tension could mean less headaches and better sleep.
Prolonged periods of stress can lead to brain fog. Deep breathing leads to better focus because it allows for more oxygen to reach our brains and gives the body more time to use the oxygen.
Shallow and quick breaths can make our anxiety worse and lead to negative physical impacts. Incorporating deep breathing into your daily life and therapy sessions can have many benefits and is an easy way to begin connecting with your body in your healing. Deep breathing is just one tool in the toolbox of coping skills that could possibly help you on your journey but it is worth looking into.