3. Calm Down
So why might you be breathing incorrectly? A common cause is that you are panicking. When we’re scared or stressed, our body responds by producing numerous hormones and neurotransmitters which cause the heartrate and the breathing to accelerate, while the muscles contract and tense up.
This makes you ready for action but it also means you can end up hyperventilating – breathing in too much and too quickly, thereby flooding the brain with oxygen.
To solve this problem, try to stay calm. Use the breathing technique mentioned previously (this will engage the parasympathetic nervous system or ‘rest and digest’ state) and try to think calming thoughts. If you struggle with this, consider seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist who might be able to give you some useful exercises and tools to help overcome your anxiety.