Aditya Rajan

The Secret Role of Breathing in Mental Health

Breathing For Mental Health (Image Credit - Freepik)

Although we rarely think about it as we go about our days in a blur of activity and busyness -- breathing is something we do automatically and unconsciously -- around twenty-three thousand times a day. Our physical and mental health are greatly impacted by the seemingly simple act of breathing in and out. Often, we are unaware of this impact until it is too late, and we find ourselves struggling to control our emotions during tense situations or arguments with loved ones or at work, or gasping for air during a panic attack.

The ancient world understood this connection between breath and well-being millennia ago, with many cultures incorporating breathwork into their spiritual and wellness practices. Some examples of these practices would include the yogic techniques in our own country, martial arts traditions of samurai in Japan, and Shaolin monks in China. However, contemporary science is finally catching up to this age-old knowledge, and numerous studies are demonstrating the significant positive effects that breathwork may have on our mental and emotional well-being.

The Science of Breathwork

The reason why is because our breath is intimately connected to our nervous system - the complex network of nerves that governs literally everything, from our basic bodily functions to our higher cognitive abilities. When we are stressed or anxious -- our body goes into "fight or flight mode", our sympathetic nervous system takes over and we breathe shallowly and rapidly. This shallow breathing response is an evolutionary adaptation that helped humans survive predators in the wild, but in the modern world of ongoing stress, deadlines, and anxiety, it becomes maladaptive and keeps us in a permanent state of fight or flight.

This is where the magic of understanding proper breathwork comes in. We can simply tell our nervous system to shift from the "fight or flight" mode to the "relax and rest" mode by deliberately slowing down our breathing. This allows the parasympathetic nervous system to take over. Effective breathwork releases a neurotransmitter, Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (ABA) which is responsible for releasing emotions that are both both calming and soothing, thereby counteracting the negative effects of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

A multitude of studies have also reinforced the idea that breathwork does play a proper role in treating a variety of mental health conditions -- from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even physical ailments like pain and high blood pressure. According to research, breathwork can drop blood pressure by up to fifteen points and lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression by up to fifty percent.

Why Is Breathwork Important?

More importantly though, breathwork techniques are something we can all learn and apply to our everyday lives, giving us a useful and approachable tool to reduce stress and promote inner calm. In a world that is increasingly fast-paced and demanding -- the simple act of taking a few deep breaths can emerge as a revolutionary act of self-care*. Breathwork is a practice that is accessible to everyone -- regardless of age, physical limitations or financial constraints. It is a practice that can be done anywhere and has proven to be an effective tool, not only for managing stress and anxiety, but also for cultivating inner peace and well being -- something we all deserve in this ever-demanding world

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Although we rarely think about it as we go about our days in a blur of activity and busyness -- breathing is something we do automatically and unconsciously -- around twenty-three thousand times a day. Our physical and mental health are greatly impacted by the seemingly simple act of breathing in and out. Often, we are unaware of this impact until it is too late, and we find ourselves struggling to control our emotions during tense situations or arguments with loved ones or at work, or gasping for air during a panic attack.The ancient world understood this connection between breath and well-being millennia ago, with many cultures incorporating breathwork into their spiritual and wellness practices. Some examples of these practices would include the yogic techniques in our own country, martial arts traditions of samurai in Japan, and Shaolin monks in China. However, contemporary science is finally catching up to this age-old knowledge, and numerous studies are demonstrating the significant positive effects that breathwork may have on our mental and emotional well-being.The Science of BreathworkThe reason why is because our breath is intimately connected to our nervous system - the complex network of nerves that governs literally everything, from our basic bodily functions to our higher cognitive abilities. When we are stressed or anxious -- our body goes into "fight or flight mode", our sympathetic nervous system takes over and we breathe shallowly and rapidly. This shallow breathing response is an evolutionary adaptation that helped humans survive predators in the wild, but in the modern world of ongoing stress, deadlines, and anxiety, it becomes maladaptive and keeps us in a permanent state of fight or flight.This is where the magic of understanding proper breathwork comes in. We can simply tell our nervous system to shift from the "fight or flight" mode to the "relax and rest" mode by deliberately slowing down our breathing. This allows the parasympathetic nervous system to take over. Effective breathwork releases a neurotransmitter, Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (ABA) which is responsible for releasing emotions that are both both calming and soothing, thereby counteracting the negative effects of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.A multitude of studies have also reinforced the idea that breathwork does play a proper role in treating a variety of mental health conditions -- from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even physical ailments like pain and high blood pressure. According to research, breathwork can drop blood pressure by up to fifteen points and lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression by up to fifty percent.Why Is Breathwork Important?More importantly though, breathwork techniques are something we can all learn and apply to our everyday lives, giving us a useful and approachable tool to reduce stress and promote inner calm. In a world that is increasingly fast-paced and demanding -- the simple act of taking a few deep breaths can emerge as a revolutionary act of self-care*. Breathwork is a practice that is accessible to everyone -- regardless of age, physical limitations or financial constraints. It is a practice that can be done anywhere and has proven to be an effective tool, not only for managing stress and anxiety, but also for cultivating inner peace and well being -- something we all deserve in this ever-demanding world

the secret role of breathing in mental health

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