Question:
I suffer from depression and panic disorder.
I'm on antidepressants and tranquilizers.
I have been looking for methods of dealing with anxiety and panic?
Answer:
You might want to try stomach breathing. The best way to learn is
to lie flat on your back and breathe without moving your chest up
and down. This forces you to use your diaphragm so your stomach
goes up (In breath) and down (out breath) instead. This is a
centuries old Yoga technique, and a surprising number of people
know that it is relaxing. I ran across it in Burns' book ("Feeling
Good,...) and my therapist understood it immediately from her
experience.
After a little practice I can now calm down pretty much whenever I
want to, even in freeway traffic. Only a few breaths are needed,
although some claim that this is the proper way to breathe all
the time.
I'm 53 years old and have had panic attacks since college. However, in
the last few years, I find they are finally abating. I think age finally
teaches you you're not going to die during them, and then the attacks
subside (like a 2-year-old who is not encouraged in his tantrum). I also
find deep breathing helps; three deep breaths OUT tend to slow the pulse.
