Anxiety / Panic Attacks

Panic attacks and anxiety are becoming more common in our lives today. 

When we become anxious, our palms may become sweaty, our muscles tense and our mind and emotions become singularly focused on the anxiety-causing event. Another physiological change in our bodies at this time is an increase in the rate and depth of breathing. We enter what is termed the ‘Fight or Flight’ state. This is a normal response to stress.

Everybody experiences anxiety and worry at some time but if it is very severe, long lasting and interferes with a person's work or relationships, then it is likely to be an anxiety disorder rather than normal anxiety in response to stress.

In a person with a normal anxiety response once the anxiety-causing event has passed the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems return the body to normal physiological baselines. If a chronic state of hyperventilation exists (that is, if you breathe more than physiologically required all or much of the time) then this will trigger changes in the nervous systems, producing a chronic state of anxiety. We may feel as though we are in a permanent state of ‘Fight or Flight’ and have a permanently elevated level of anxiety.

Follow the links below to find out more about panic and anxiety attacks and how Buteyko can help.

See also NEWS:  To stave off panic attacks, don't take a deep breath