I was reading a study called ‘Hyperventilation Syndrome: A Diagnosis Usually Unrecognized’ by Morton E Tavel and I was blown away by these stats:

‘The results [of treatment designed to regulate one’s breathing using CO2 sensors] were striking, for after 12 months, 68% of patients were panic-attack free, 96% of patients had reported a significant reduction in their panic symptoms, and all patients experienced long-lasting reductions in panic attack frequency and severity, anxiety symptoms, and avoidance behaviors, all of which were coupled with improvements in mood and quality of life. If confirmed by similar studies, this could provide a major step toward diagnosis and management of many-if not all-panic syndromes. 

This observation accords well with the likelihood that the panic and hyperventilation are often inextricably associated, providing a vicious cycle between the two, i.e., panic initiates hyperventilation, and symptoms from the latter then trigger more panic. As a practical matter, simple measures, as described above, may suffice to prevent and control the entire sequence of symptoms associated with panic in the vast majority of afflicted patients.’

I don’t know about you guys but my posture is awful (working on it though) so my breathing is already not optimal as it is. I don’t always consciously feel like I’m breathing wrong or that my body is tense but maybe I am, and that’s also what is contributing to my symptoms of unsteadiness. 

I was wondering if any of you have personal experience of working on your breathing and experiencing any improvement in your anxiety as a result?