7. Reduce Cortisol:
Stress and sanity are negatively correlated… the more stress you have, the less sanity (typically) you have when held at high levels over time. Psychoneuroimmunology studies suggest that stress causes and exacerbates mood disorders over time. So let’s keep it to a minimum, okay?
Cortisol is a steroid hormone the body releases during states of high stress. High levels over time cause major problems (bruising, osteoporosis, etc). Medical News Today, and specifically Dr. Daniel Murrell, support simple breathing exercises as a top way to reduce stress, thereby supporting one’s mental health and wellbeing (AKA: sanity).
If you’ve tried the other breathing technique on here and are looking for one more mentally stimulating, try Guided Visualization. If you’re at a loss, simply Google the term for a list of many audio or YouTube clips for free. Basically, while deep breathing, one will imagine their happy place.