When we’re having a panic attack, or starting to feel anxious, our breathing often speeds up. We may even start to hyperventilate, or feel like we can’t breathe and are going to suffocate. The key to calming our breathing when we’re feeling anxious or starting to panic isn’t to breathe deeper, which can actually make things worse, but to breathe slower. This breathing exercise is a great way to slow down our breathing, by breathing out for twice as long as we breathe in.
How to Breathe During a Panic Attack
The best way to breathe during a panic attack actually involves Capnometry-Assisted Respiratory Training (CART). But the breathing technique in this video is a good substitute for those of us who don’t own our own portable capnometer device.
For another short exercise that can help with panic and anxiety, please check out my video on The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise.
