Anxiety
Anxiety disorder is a condition where the person experiences pervasive fear. It can reach a point where the anxiety dominates the patient’s life. Once individuals feel threatened the body takes over and puts them into a fight or flight stage. This response can be observed as well in animals as a survival response when danger is present. As an individual feels threatened the sympathetic nervous system is activated due to the stress situation. The heart starts racing, rapid breathing sets in and one might feel dizzy. See list of symptoms below.
The body will cope with short episodes of fight or flight stress moments. Once the “danger” has past the parasympathetic nervous system will be activated and the body returns back into a relaxed stage. Breathing will slow down and normalise.
However, if anxiety, panic and stress are present for a long time it can become chronic. In that case an individual will experience lasting effects of the symptoms. A person who shows hyperventilation, breathing above the physiological norm for most of the day will stimulate the nervous system and puts himself in a chronic stage of anxiety /fight or flight.
We are all familiar with the fact - we are breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. If we increase our breathing / hyperventilating we lower the level of carbon dioxide in our blood which will bring on symptoms.
Rapid breathing causes constriction of the blood vessels resulting in reduced delivery of oxygen to the brain, organs and cells in our body.
Hyperventilation and anxiety / panic attacks go very closely together.
Once you learn how to control and manage your breathing you will be able to improve your symptoms.
The body will cope with short episodes of fight or flight stress moments. Once the “danger” has past the parasympathetic nervous system will be activated and the body returns back into a relaxed stage. Breathing will slow down and normalise.
However, if anxiety, panic and stress are present for a long time it can become chronic. In that case an individual will experience lasting effects of the symptoms. A person who shows hyperventilation, breathing above the physiological norm for most of the day will stimulate the nervous system and puts himself in a chronic stage of anxiety /fight or flight.
We are all familiar with the fact - we are breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. If we increase our breathing / hyperventilating we lower the level of carbon dioxide in our blood which will bring on symptoms.
Rapid breathing causes constriction of the blood vessels resulting in reduced delivery of oxygen to the brain, organs and cells in our body.
Hyperventilation and anxiety / panic attacks go very closely together.
Once you learn how to control and manage your breathing you will be able to improve your symptoms.
Anxiety / Panic attack symptoms
- Fear and worry
- Fear of losing control
- Increased heart rate, palpitation
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased breathing
- Increased sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
If you suffer from Anxiety or Panic Attacks new and unfamiliar situations can be frightening. Just thinking about sitting amongst a larger group of people might trigger stress. We keep our breathing classes small with 2-3 people attending the sessions. There is no need to worry that you might not be able to follow the general breathing exercises. We will customise the exercises for you to support your breathing progress. Everyone is different and we are here to help you on your way to better health.
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