Treating Social Anxiety Advice - Deep Breathing

Treating Social Anxiety is one of the most important components to increasing your natural energy levels. When we are anxious or stressed it uses valuable physical and psychological energy that could otherwise be applied to productive activities. Aside from herbal stress relief supplements, there are a number of simple lifestyle changes you can practice for treating social anxiety. The first of these practices is deep breathing.

How to Feel Happier & More Relaxed in One Minute...

Most of us don't breathe properly. Sound funny?

Well, it's true. Learning to breath properly can have an immediate and dramatic effect on how you think and feel; and learning to do this consistently can help reduce all forms of anxiety (not just social anxiety) and have a lasting impact on your overall health.

Oxygen is a great source of energy. Although you're always breathing, you may not be doing so effectively.

Dr. Andrew Weil recommends learning to breathe longer, deeper, quieter, and learning to do all three things regularly. When possible, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

I like to practice what is known in yoga as The Four Part Breath. The complete yogic breath itself has four parts: the inhalation (puraka), the retention (kumbhaka), the exhalation (rechaka), and the absence of breath within the body (shunyata). By simply becoming aware of their existence and distinction as we breathe, we strengthen and slow our breath.

Your breathing is inextricably tied to your physical and psychological state. If you are a person who typically takes short, fast, and shallow breathes you may find it difficult to escape feelings of anxiousness and unease.

Conversely, if you are a person who habitually takes long, slow, deep breaths you probably have an easier time thinking clearly and remaining calm under stress.

The fastest way to shift from feelings of anxiousness to feelings of relaxation is through your breathing.

Take the next 60 seconds to practice this simple and effective deep breathing technique:

Through your nose, inhale with a deep breath that completely fills your lungs with oxygen. Concentrate on filling your chest first, stomach second, and belly third. Once you've completed your inhalation you should not be able to fit any more oxygen inside your lungs. It takes roughly 3-5 seconds to complete the inhalation. Pause for a second. Now, through your mouth slowly exhale emptying (in reverse order) the belly first, stomach second, and chest third. Repeat this process taking 5-6 deep breaths in the next 60 seconds.

How do you feel? Can you notice a difference?

The key is slowing down your breathing and allowing air to completely fill the lungs. It can be as simple as taking a few slow, deep breaths to start the process of treating social anxiety.

Meditation, Yoga, and Qigong are all excellent ways to improve your overall health and start integrating these simple breathing and relaxation practices into your life.

Use this tool anytime your feeling stressed or scattered. This simple breathing technique can have you feeling happier and more relaxed almost instantly, and you can do it anywhere.