The connection between acute hyperventilation and anxiety is well-known. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the often-present but overlooked, chronic, ‘hidden’ form of hyperventilation, which creates on a day-to-day basis, a fundamental disturbance in physiology and biochemistry. This ‘baseline-overbreathing’ drives sympathetic-dominant state, interferes with cognitive function, depletes energy, and primes a person for acute stress-response. It may underlie loss of resilience, relapse, or failure to respond to therapeutic intervention.

By restoring physiologically normal breathing, ‘breathing retraining’ down-regulates primitive systems in the medulla – breathing and heart rate, balances blood chemistry, optimises oxygenation, and promotes the parasympathetic state. This is a vital key to effectively working on higher-order systems – emotions and cognition.

This theoretical, interactive and experiential workshop provides an understanding of relevant neuroscience and physiology, and tools to identify and address dysfunctional breathing habits.

Clinical and research findings on the incidence and nature of abnormal respiratory parameters in patients with anxiety disorders are reviewed and discussed. Case studies are used to illustrate application, results and benefits of breathing retraining in anxiety disorders. You will practice basic skills to apply in a clinical situation to defuse the stress response and to improve and stabilise breathing for immediate and long-term benefits.

Format and Learning Outcomes

Relevant neuroscience and physiology of breathing - 20 mins

The link between dysfunctional breathing and biochemical and neurophysiological imbalance, sympathetic dominant state, tissue hypoxia, and common mental and physical symptoms of anxiety disorders- 15 mins

Understanding the breathing retraining process - 10 mins

Identification and evaluation of dysfunctional breathing patterns (interactive, practical) –15 mins

Strategies to defuse the stress response and relieve breathlessness, panic attacks and insomnia (interactive, practical) - 15 mins

Integration of better breathing into psychotherapy, meditation, yoga and everyday life (interactive, practical)- 15 mins

The knowledge and practical skills you learn today may advance and enhance your practice. There is new information, but also old, very powerful and often overlooked information that is highly relevant to you. The presentation will dispel damaging myths and misinformation about breathing.

ALERT: It does not contain any traditional deep breathing exercises!