Stressed? Who isn’t? The world is in pain and so are we in response. As we follow recent news, we experience feelings of stress. And with fear or stress come changes in our breathing. Our breaths come faster, and they are shallower. These changes are a normal, automatic and instinctual response to emotional and mental stress. It’s part of what scientists call the “fight or flight” response … Our Neanderthal ancestors very likely experienced the same reaction when they noticed a cave bear lurking around their living rooms.
What is important to know is that the opposite causal reaction is also an innate, natural biological process. That is, changing our breathing can reduce our level of mental or emotional distress.
