Anxiety, panic, worry & stress...
When we become anxious or worried, our palms may become sweaty, our muscles tense and our mind and emotions become totally focussed on the anxiety-causing event. Another physiological change in our bodies at this time is an increase in the rate and depth of breathing. We enter what is termed the 'Fight or Flight' state and this is a normal response to stress.
In a person with a normal anxiety response, once the anxiety-causing event has passed the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems return the body to normal physiological baselines
If a chronic state of hyperventilation exists (that is, if we breathe more than physiologically required all or much of the time) then this will trigger changes in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, producing a chronic state of anxiety. We may feel as though we are in a permanent state of 'Fight or Flight' and have a permanently elevated level of anxiety and worry
Hyperventilation and anxiety and panic form a vicious circle, one leading to the other. The process may be initiated from either end. Some will experience anxiety and panic, which then leads to hyperventilation -- others will hyperventilate, leading to feelings of rising anxiety and/or panic. One feeds the other in an increasing spiral
The Buteyko Method acts like a circuit breaker, teaching people how to reduce acute anxiety producing hyperventilation, so reducing the resultant anxiety and panic. It also teaches participants how to retrain their breathing back to a normal level with the result that they no longer have to live constantly in the 'Fight or Flight' state. Their body is then able to return to normal after cessation of the anxiety-causing event and their condition ceases to be chronic
In a person with a normal anxiety response, once the anxiety-causing event has passed the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems return the body to normal physiological baselines
If a chronic state of hyperventilation exists (that is, if we breathe more than physiologically required all or much of the time) then this will trigger changes in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, producing a chronic state of anxiety. We may feel as though we are in a permanent state of 'Fight or Flight' and have a permanently elevated level of anxiety and worry
Hyperventilation and anxiety and panic form a vicious circle, one leading to the other. The process may be initiated from either end. Some will experience anxiety and panic, which then leads to hyperventilation -- others will hyperventilate, leading to feelings of rising anxiety and/or panic. One feeds the other in an increasing spiral
The Buteyko Method acts like a circuit breaker, teaching people how to reduce acute anxiety producing hyperventilation, so reducing the resultant anxiety and panic. It also teaches participants how to retrain their breathing back to a normal level with the result that they no longer have to live constantly in the 'Fight or Flight' state. Their body is then able to return to normal after cessation of the anxiety-causing event and their condition ceases to be chronic
