RE: Re: Control

[Guest guest]

Hi Leonie

I didn't say or even infer that over-breathing causes anxiety but I would not be surprised if people with breathig problems did not become anxious.

Life is probably not quite as simple as some would have us believe.

LOL

ivor

P S what I did say was 'if I suffer with anxiety and therefor over-breathe...' again LOL ivor

Re: Control

Hi Ivor,So, overeating causes weight problems and drinking too much causes alcoholism but does 'over breathing' cause anxiety, or is it more just a symptom? I think what our mind does in response to incoming messages (what we perceive with our senses) causes anxiety. If we keep a check on what our mind's up to and practice letting unhelpful thoughts pass by or if they insist on sticking around, then consciously defusing from them and use 'expansion' to accept the feelings that inevitably come up... this is what will prevent anxiety. It's such a beautifully simple set of ideas, but takes a fair bit of effort to keep doing it. Worth it though, don't you think?Leonie. >> I'd like to introduce a new topic here which I hope will take us away from the discussion of religion which has nothing whatsoever to do with this group but seems to have created more than a little anger.> I'd like to raise the issue of breathing in relation to anxiety and panic:-> If I were 5 feet tall and weighed 22 stone (300lbs) I am sure my Dr would tell me to eat less to control my weight.> If I was an alcholic I am sure my Dr would tell me to control my drinking in order to cure my problem.> If I suffer with anxiety and/or panic and therefore over-breathe should I learn to control the amount I breathe just as control of food intake and intake of alcohol are accepted by everyone.> ivor>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ivor,

Hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing, faster than would ‘normally’

be expected in a given situation) often plays a factor in anxiety disorders,

especially in panic disorder. This is for two main reasons: A) it increases

physiological arousal and it commonly gives rise to unpleasant (and sometimes

quite alarming) sensations in the body, which then become a source of anxiety

in themselves

Now consider this: ACT is about both acceptance and control. ACT

advocates that we take control of whatever we can control, when doing so

promotes mindful valued living. And we CAN consciously control our breath rate.

So if reversing hyperventilation through the practice of slow deep breathing leads

to a reduction of physiological arousal and unpleasant sensations in the body, and

also improves wellbeing, and contributes to a rich and full life, then it makes

sense to do it. (It is the equivalent of doing regular stretching exercises to

reduce pain in your muscles and back.) But let’s be clear: this is not

the same thing as controlling your anxiety. You are not breathing in this way

to try to get rid of all your anxious thoughts and feelings.

In The Happiness Trap, I encourage you to use this

breathing technique like it’s an ‘anchor in the midst of an

emotional storm’; the anchor holds you steady, until the storm passes –

but the anchor does not give you control of the storm. And if you start trying

to use the anchor to control the storm, you’ll soon be disappointed.

The best bet is to practice this slow deep breathing as a

committed action in line with the value of taking care of your health.

Hyperventilation alters the normal levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the

blood, creating a complex chemical chain reaction on the body, which leads,

amongst other things, to abnormal patterns of blood flow in the body –

which in turn may give rise to unpleasant sensations such as tingling fingers,

or burning cheeks or dizziness. So you can think of slow deep breathing as a

way of promoting ‘homeostasis’ – in other words, returning

the body to a healthy, balanced state. And think of it as a bonus that anxiety

often (but not always) drops too.

(And keep in mind, that if you have a longstanding

deeply-entrenched habit of hyperventilating, when you first start slow, deep

breathing it can make you feel light-headed. But with regular practice, this sensation

soon disappears.)

All the best,

Cheers,

Russ

www.actmindfully.com.au

www.thehappinesstrap.com

From: ACT_for_the_Public

[mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of Ivor Bateman

Sent: Monday, 19 July 2010 4:46 PM

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: Re: Re: Control

Hi

Leonie

I

didn't say or even infer that over-breathing causes anxiety but I would not be

surprised if people with breathig problems did not become anxious.

Life

is probably not quite as simple as some would have us believe.

LOL

ivor

P

S what I did say was 'if I suffer with anxiety and therefor over-breathe...'

again LOL ivor

-----

Original Message -----

From: ellemeffe

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Sent: Sunday, July 18,

2010 10:33 PM

Subject:

Re: Control

Hi Ivor,

So, overeating causes weight problems and drinking too much causes alcoholism

but does 'over breathing' cause anxiety, or is it more just a symptom?

I think what our mind does in response to incoming messages (what we perceive

with our senses) causes anxiety. If we keep a check on what our mind's up to

and practice letting unhelpful thoughts pass by or if they insist on sticking

around, then consciously defusing from them and use 'expansion' to accept the

feelings that inevitably come up... this is what will prevent anxiety.

It's such a beautifully simple set of ideas, but takes a fair bit of effort to

keep doing it. Worth it though, don't you think?

Leonie.

>

> I'd like to introduce a new topic here which I hope will take us away from

the discussion of religion which has nothing whatsoever to do with this group

but seems to have created more than a little anger.

> I'd like to raise the issue of breathing in relation to anxiety and

panic:-

> If I were 5 feet tall and weighed 22 stone (300lbs) I am sure my Dr would

tell me to eat less to control my weight.

> If I was an alcholic I am sure my Dr would tell me to control my drinking

in order to cure my problem.

> If I suffer with anxiety and/or panic and therefore over-breathe should I

learn to control the amount I breathe just as control of food intake and intake

of alcohol are accepted by everyone.

> ivor

>