Stress, Trauma, and Breathing

From Mad in the Netherlands: Our bodies reflect our relationship to stress. When you’re under pressure, your sympathetic nervous system kicks into gear, causing you to inhale quickly and forcefully high from the chest (chest breathing). This breathing pattern prepares you to flee or fight imminent danger. There is wisdom in your body’s protective defense patterns – but you are not meant to live in them for long periods of time. Ideally you will have the opportunity to reset, relax and restore your body and mind. This does require you to feel safe. Experiences of chronic stress or trauma (such as during the pandemic, due to systemic racism, or due to the ongoing impacts of climate change) can cause us to feel anxious or panicked for extended periods of time.

Read the original article here and the English translation here.