One of the most common techniques used worldwide to help with many mental and physical challenges is breathing modulation. Breathing helps bring down stress, reduces pain, helps with cognitive function, and soothes emotions. Breathing modulations are a massive element in holistic healing used with mindfulness and meditation activities. They help lower anxiety and help you focus on rhythms in your body. In addiction recovery, holistic healing is a modality that influences your cognitive function and emotional process.
Research has long been investigating the anatomy behind breathing. You may have often taken a deep breath when a tense situation occurs, and it helped your brain regain rhythm through controlled and thoughtful intake of oxygen. Deep breathing helps calm your nervous system and lowers your heart rate to activate the link between your brain and body. Breathing exercises don't have to take a long time. You simply need to take measured, intentional breaths that are all the same length.
Breathing is a vital coordination signal that helps regulate electrical brain signals. For example, when you take a deep breath to smell the rain, your brain registers the scent like an orchestra conductor. The conductor of an orchestra is designed to help regulate a tempo and rhythm for the entire musical entourage. The same goes for your breathing, as it helps set a tempo and rhythm for your brain. In addition, breathing promotes a flow of cerebrospinal fluid and blood to your brain.
Since the brain helps connect the rhythm in your body with electrical activity, it can spread the natural rhythm of breathing in the same way. When you take in a deep breath, you can make changes in your brain’s activity and nervous system by engaging in the modulation of the cingulate cortex. By slowing your heart rate, connecting mind and body, and activating good natural processes in your system, you can help deactivate your body's fight-flight-freeze response. Then, you can make more rational decisions and calm yourself out of whatever emotional excess was causing you to need to regulate.
Taking a deep breath can change your mind and alter your body’s reactions subconsciously. Breathing helps slow down your mind when you experience panic or anxiety. When you take in a deep breath, your body activates a relaxed state of mind and sends the message to your body to chill out. It helps reduce tension, relieve stress, and focus on clearing up your mindset.
Breathing is an especially effective treatment in addiction recovery as it doesn’t require special tools or another person to do breathing exercises. For example, anxiety is common in addiction recovery because people in recovery are in the process of changing elements of their life and may feel fearful or nervous about the change. Addiction recovery treatment centers use different breathing exercises to help clients learn to relax and relieve stress so the treatment plan can work like it’s supposed to.
When you are in a more relaxed state of mind, you’re more apt to be attentive and focused on your journey. The breathing exercises help you connect to your whole body with healing, peace, and complete clarity to enter into a new state of consciousness. Anxiety activates the nervous system and pushes it to full steam ahead. It can also affect your ability to control your thoughts and reactions. Therefore it is essential to become aware of your anxiety levels in addiction recovery because you want to heal your entire body to have a successful recovery. Then, you can use breathing exercises to bring down your anxiety.
There are various breathing exercises to consider in and out of treatment through mindfulness and meditation activities. Some exercises include boxed breathing, coherent breathing, belly breathing, breathwork, nostril breathing, and more. Each type of breathing exercise helps channel the energy flow throughout your body one breath at a time. In addition, breathing helps purify and calm your nerves and is a valuable tool to deepen your spiritual- and self-awareness.
Breathwork is used in multiple factions throughout the world. From Navy Seal training to addiction recovery, breathing exercises help you respond to stressful situations calmly and provide you with a tool to concentrate. Additionally, breathing exercises re-balance your blood pressure and encourage natural rhythms throughout your body. Using breathing exercises in and out of treatment will help you realign yourself by heightening concentration, stress responses, digestion, vitality, and will focus you on a positive mindset.
At NorthStar Transitions, we take full advantage of different breathing exercises in our treatment plans. We understand how important it is for you to connect your mind and your body for successful healing to begin and last. Our team is skilled and knowledgeable about breathing exercises in meditation and mindfulness treatment options. We want to help you learn how to do them daily and practice them in practical situations. We believe that by including breathing exercises in our treatment plans, you can take full advantage of linking yourself with a stimulating response technique that will help you make focused, driven decisions now and in the future. If you or someone you know wants to learn more about holistic healing and how you can use breathing practices to help with anxiety, we’re here for you. Make the most of your life and get the direction and guidance you deserve today with NorthStar Transitions. Call us at (303) 558-6400.
