How does deep breathing help? The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system.

if you've ever felt anxious angry or generally any big emotion you've probably been told to Just Breathe this might feel dismissive patronize and generally unhelpful but deep breathing can really help you breathing is something that we all do without realizing it's automatic we breathe in and out about 22 000 times a day how can controlled deep breathing help us when we are fierced with challenges and problems your sympathetic nervous system gets triggered the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system is to activate the fight flight freeze response and help you survive in threatening situations we have a video on the fight flight freeze response if you'd like to watch it but generally when a stressful or anxiety-provoking situation arises the amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus impulses are then transmitted through the sympathetic nervous system to the adrenal glands which then pump adrenaline into the bloodstream this will then bring about the physiological changes needed to be prepared to either fight flight or freeze so in other words to help you survive most modern day stresses such as starting a new school taking a test walking in a crowd and so on they might appear small but they may be interpreted as potential life threats and they can trigger the fade-flade freeze response this is where deep breathing comes in taking deep breaths at a slow and steady Pace increases the supply of oxygen to our brains this encourages our parasympathetic nervous system or the rest and digest response to take over this brings a sense of calmness and safety your heart beats slower your muscles relax your blood pressure decreases and your levels of nitric oxide are increased and that's needed for overall health breathing techniques can also help you feel connected to your body it brings your awareness away from the worries in your head and it quiets your mind you don't have to wait for big emotions to come in order to deep breathe daily deep breathing exercise can help us maintain this rest and digest state practicing them when calm will also help you know what to do if you trigger the fight flight freeze response there are many different types of breathing techniques you just have to find the right ones for you but just make sure they are slow deep breaths a good place to start would be four seconds in and four seconds out

Channel: RISE

Views: 19,770

Keywords: Rise, Rise mental health, Rise mental health team, deep breathing, deep breathing exercises, coping strategies, rest and digest, fight flight freeze, parasympathetic nervous system, mental health, children's mental health, mental health tips for children, Rise north east, Rise The Children's Society, The Children's Society

Id: Y5XgnC9jDiE

Length: 3min 7sec (187 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 08 2023