Take a Deep Breath: Breathing Exercises to Help You Stay Calm

Breathing is something you do thousands of times a day, usually completely unconsciously. Inhaling brings oxygen into your bloodstream, and you release the waste product of carbon dioxide on each exhale. If you’re like most people, you usually aren’t aware of how you’re breathing, but bringing your attention to your breath can make a world of difference – especially if you’re someone living with anxiety, panic attacks and other emotional disorders.

How Does Your Breath Contribute to Your Emotions?

Though you’re usually not conscious of your breathing patterns, you might be able to think back to times when your breath was rapid and shallow, as opposed to deep and relaxed. When people are experiencing periods of anxiety, they tend to take breaths from their chest, as opposed to their abdominal region.

If you’ve ever had a panic attack, you may recall that it seemed more difficult for you to draw full breaths during those times. Though you might not have been able to bring your full attention to this phenomenon in the moment, shortness of breath is one of the most common symptoms of panic attacks. It can make you feel like you’re suffocating or choking, which can lead to the near-death sensation that often accompanies panic attacks and panic disorder.

In contrast, deep, even breaths are a characteristic of the type of relaxed breathing that comes from your belly. If you’ve ever watched a family pet or a small child sleep, you are probably familiar with how this fully restful breathing pattern looks. It’s likely you do this yourself when you’re in your most restorative sleep stage.

Relaxing Breathing Exercises to Try

Next time you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, experiment with these ideas to help control your emotional levels naturally.

1. The 4-7-8 Technique

The 4-7-8 breathing technique involves breathing in for four seconds, holding it for seven seconds, then exhaling for eight seconds. The idea is that this method requires you to take full, deep breaths in and out.

To begin, sit in a comfortable position and place the tip of your tongue directly below the tissue above the back of your top teeth. Then, do the following steps:

• Fully empty your lungs of air.
• Breathe in through your nose for a count of four seconds.
• Hold it for seven seconds.
• Exhale forcefully through your mouth, making a huffing noise, for eight seconds.
• Repeat, as necessary, up to four times per session to get maximum benefits.

2. Equal Breathing

If you need a quick solution to get control of your anxiety, give this method a try. Either in a sitting or lying position, breathe in through your nose for four seconds, then slowly exhale for four counts, also through your nose.

This approach derives from yoga breathing techniques, which require you to focus on your breath by adding the resistance of breathing slowly in and out through your nose. As you get better at this method, try adding a few seconds at a time to each breath – up to six to eight counts at a time.

3. Progressive Relaxation

For times when you need full-body relaxation – for example, if you are too anxious to fall asleep – close your eyes and focus on tensing and relaxing each muscle group for two to three seconds at a time. Start with your feet and toes, then move up to the rest of your body one part at a time – continually maintaining deep, slow breaths.

Discover a Place of Healing

If you’re interested in exploring holistic, non-12-step programming for effective recovery from addiction and related mental health disorders such as anxiety, connect with our advisors at Complete Harmony. We can help you retrain your mind to learn healthy coping skills and regain your overall sense of well-being.

Making Relaxation Part of Your Recovery

Learning to relax and let go of tension is an essential recovery skill for several reasons. Most notably, stress is a key relapse trigger for many people. When you allow stress to take over your life, it may tempt you to throw away all the progress you’ve made in your sobriety.

Due to the way addiction hijacks your brain chemistry to the point where you associate substance use as your only way to alleviate stress, it’s natural to have cravings when you feel overwhelmed. If you don’t take daily steps to recharge and relax, you can jeopardize your physical, mental and emotional health. With that in mind, here are five ways to relax in your recovery.

1. Exercise

Bringing exercise into a conversation about relaxation may seem counterintuitive. After all, vigorous physical activity is the opposite of being calm. However, regular exercise is one of the best ways you can bring relaxation into your life. Exercising helps release feel-good chemicals that regulate your emotions. It also encourages deeper and more restorative sleep, which gives your body and mind the opportunity to bounce back from the challenges of the day.

2. Meditate

Meditation is one of the most valuable practices you can learn in recovery. This ancient technique teaches practitioners to be more present in the moment, lending both a focus and a renewed sense of purpose to your life. Meditation is also a way to explore your emotions without fear of anyone judging you or detracting from your experience. When you make time to practice meditation regularly, you will learn how to recognize negative or self-destructive thoughts as they arise, then let them go when they threaten your well-being.

3. Practice Progressive Relaxation

Many people tend to unconsciously hold tension in major muscle groups such as their lower back, shoulders, neck and jawline. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you not only learn where you store tension in your body, but also to release it. With this technique, you focus on relaxing one body part at a time, only moving on after you have allowed it to release completely. Progressive muscle relaxation can be helpful if you are struggling with insomnia, or if you are having a difficult day and need to make time to de-stress.

4. Breathe Deeply

Your breath is linked to many other components of your body. By slowing your breathing, you are sending your brain a clear message to calm down. Your brain, in turn, can slow your heart rate. Whenever you need to relax, even if you only have a few minutes, slow and regular breathing can help you regain control of your emotions and rein in the tension. You can even try a visualization alongside your breathing, such as telling yourself you are inhaling positivity and exhaling negativity.

5. Go Outside

Spending time in nature is an excellent way to relax. The sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors are not only a feast for the senses, but there’s something about being in the fresh air and sunshine that helps bring a heightened sense of clarity to any day. Whether you’re planning to go on a hike to get your blood pumping, or are merely spending a few minutes reading in a patch of sunlight, you are bringing yourself some serious stress-busting benefits.

Reward Yourself for the Progress You’ve Made

Maintaining your sobriety can be a daily challenge, but you should recognize how to incorporate your recovery goals into your lifestyle. The first step begins with enrolling in a treatment center that recognizes your needs and helps you regain your health with a holistic approach.

At Complete Harmony, we put success within your reach with our range of innovative treatment modalities that allow you to reestablish healthy patterns and become a well-rounded individual. Contact our admissions team to learn more about what we offer.

Relaxation Through Breathing

A big part of a successful recovery is having relaxation strategies that you can quickly turn to when you feel stressed or overwhelmed or to combat cravings or triggers. Deep breathing is a great go-to technique that you can do anytime, anywhere. And it’s been study-proven to have a host of benefits, including less anxiety and depression, more energy, improved sleep and better decision-making.

Learning to breathe deeply isn’t hard, but it does take a bit of practice. You can start with this breathing exercise recommended by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:  

• Find a comfortable position in your chair. Close your eyes or gaze down at the floor. Take a few moments to settle yourself and sit quietly. 
• Deeply relax all your muscles. Begin with your feet, moving upward to your head. Let go of any tension you might have in your legs, stomach, hands and arms, shoulders, neck and face. 
• Become aware of your breathing. Pay attention to your breath as it enters and leaves your body. 
• Take a deep breath. Notice your lungs and chest expanding. Now slowly exhale through your nose. As you breathe out, say the word, "one" silently to yourself. 
• Again, take a deep breath. Fill your lungs and your chest. Notice how much air you can take in. Hold it for a second. Now release it and exhale slowly. 
• Inhale slowly and fully one more time. Hold it for a second, and release.
• Continue breathing in this way for another couple of minutes.
• With each inhalation and exhalation, you should feel your body becoming more and more relaxed. Use your breathing to wash away any remaining tension. 
• When you feel ready, open your eyes and ask yourself: How was that? Did you notice any new sensations while you were breathing? How do you feel now?

Relapse Prevention at Complete Harmony

Personal growth and relapse prevention is key for long-term recovery – and we're here to help. At Complete Harmony, our holistic treatment and relapse prevention plans provide a firm foundation for lifelong sobriety. To learn more, call: 866-930-4673.