Do Breathing Exercises Really Help With Anxiety?

You've probably heard the advice to take a deep breath if you've ever felt anxious. Come to find out, there's a good reason behind this suggestion, as breathing exercises are a healthy way to cope with anxiety (via Mayo Clinic).

How you breathe affects your entire body, which is why it's important to be aware of how you are doing it. Deep breathing is one of the best ways to help your body relieve tension. According to experts, when you take a deep breath, you are telling your brain to relax, which in turn delivers the message to your body (via University of Michigan Medicine). Taking deep breaths when you feel stressed can decrease high blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.

On the other hand, shallow breathing, which uses the chest muscles instead of the diaphragm to do most of the breathing, can increase stress because the lower part of the lungs do not receive enough oxygen. This lack of oxygen often leads to stress and anxiety (via Harvard Health Publishing).

Many forms of breathing exercises work to lower anxiety. Some of them involve movement, but others are quite simple and can be done almost anywhere.