The Idea of the Week
“Your breath is the one true thing that is present in the moment — you can’t breathe ahead, and you can’t breathe backwards.” —Megan Elizabeth Riehl, PsyD
When we are anxious, we tend to take rapid, shallow breaths that can contribute to our anxiety.
On the other hand, deep breathing “turns off” the stress response (a.k.a. the fight-or-flight response) and allows us to relax and recharge.
This article, The Benefits of Deep Breathing, shares the benefits of deep breathing and explains how deep breathing works. The article also includes three apps that will guide you through breathing exercises (so you don’t have to remember them all!), including iBreathe, Breath+ Simple Breath Trainer, and Breathe for the Apple Watch.
Practice of the Week
This week, we encourage you to make space in your day to breathe.
Find a breathing technique that you like, and incorporate it into your day-to-day life.
Here are 8 Deep Breathing Exercises for Anxiety you can try, and here is a 9-minute TED talk that guides us through a 5-minute breathing exercise designed to reset, renew, and rejuvenate our energy.
Tip: Implementing a deep breathing technique into your morning and night routine may help make this powerful tool a daily practice.
News of the Week
Melissa Compton LCAT, LPMHC has joined our staff!
Melissa offers art therapy in addition to traditional talk therapy and offers play therapy for children. She is now taking new clients in person in our Erieville office on Saturdays and via telehealth on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Please call 315.516.8644 to request an appointment with Melissa!
The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
