Deep breathing exercises and panick attacks are they correlated?

Question

Hello!

I've just read that hyperventilation can be a cause for panic attacks, and an effect of deep breathing. On the other hand, in all relaxation techniques deep breathing is an important element. So, how come a core element of relaxation techniques can actually trigger you a panic attack? Am I missing something here?

I also know that people with anxiety disorder are encouraged to try to relax but, won't this lead to hyperventilation, trigger a panick attack and enter into an endless vicious circle?

Thanks

By the way, I've read about these things on Wikipeidia (articles: "Panic attack" and "Hyperventilation")

Answer 1

Hyperventillation occurs when there's too much oxygen in your blood. That usually occurs when there's a rapid breathing, shallow or deep. Usually such breathing is involuntary and can you feel dizzy and nervous. In my experience, it's the panic attacks which cause hyperventillation, not the other way around.

In relaxation techniques, the breathing is usually very slow and unlikely to trigger hyperventillation.

Answer 2

Deep breathing exercises and hyperventilation are not the same thing, in fact they could almost be considered total opposites.

In deep breathing, especially when done correctly, you breathe slowly and your entire diaphragm expands - right down to your stomach. You take in as much air as is needed *when it is needed* and let it out naturally - thereby meeting your body's natural needs.

In hyperventilation, you breathe quickly and shallowly and only your upper chest expands. Your breath tends to get faster and faster. You often get a little light-headed as you take in more oxygen than carbon dioxide. If they haven't already, people tend to panic then, especially when they just can't seem to stop hyperventilating!

I saw where the Wiki definition of hyperventilation said "breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary." The truth is if a person was breathing deeper than necessary, they would still have to be breathing faster than necessary, in order to hyperventilate.

The deep breathing techniques used to combat anxiety and panic attacks DO NOT advocate breathing deeper than necessary and definitely not faster. ;-)

Answer 3

You can have a panic attack if you have a reason for it. It won't appear without any reson. And I read a lot of things like sports provoke panic attacks... Nonsence. I do sports a lot but had panic attacks always in the morning after I was sleeping. You can't breath fast in your sleep. Don't believe it, you can relax in a lot of ways. What is true - fear of a panic attack provokes a panic attack. Absolutely true.

Answer 4

Depends on your situation, personality and the nature of the attack. If it were for work then it's company policy, if it was personal and wrong then swing away. The only advice I can give is don't make it personal in response, if someone attacks you your defending your position and the integrity of that is what counts. Then again if your position is comfortable and you couldn't be bothered, then ignore it.