Relaxation Breathing Put to the Test
Relaxation breathing is something I've always recommended as one of the first things anyone with anxiety or panic might try. It's a great self-help method to controlling anxiety and it can be done anywhere, at any time.
Now, it seems, the National Institutes of Health have decided to explore which, if either, of two breathing regulation methods is more effective in individuals with Panic Disorder. The two interventions are one to raise CO2 and one to lower CO2 and one group, called the control group, which will not have either of these "treatments." One hundred people will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and they expect to complete the trials in June 2007.
The study is called, simply, Respiratory Therapeutic Procedure in Panic Disorder and anyone interested in more information, or in being considered for the trial can contact NIMH and go to www.clinicaltrials.gov and look for Identifier: NCT00183521.
The idea behind relaxation breathing is that the brain has received inaccurate information in its "suffocation monitor" and it signals back a warning that begins a process of hyperventilation. The effect is an attempt to keep us breathing in life-threatening situations, but there's no threat here. Once the level of CO2, which seems to trigger this alarm, is stabilized, breathing returns to normal. So relaxation breathing, which involves holding the breath for a very short time, is a means of changing this CO2 level.
The study is looking at both people with PD and those who don't have it and it will run for four weeks for each individual.
Related Topics: Feeling Nervous in Social Situations, Chronic Stress: The Mental Connection
Now, it seems, the National Institutes of Health have decided to explore which, if either, of two breathing regulation methods is more effective in individuals with Panic Disorder. The two interventions are one to raise CO2 and one to lower CO2 and one group, called the control group, which will not have either of these "treatments." One hundred people will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and they expect to complete the trials in June 2007.
The study is called, simply, Respiratory Therapeutic Procedure in Panic Disorder and anyone interested in more information, or in being considered for the trial can contact NIMH and go to www.clinicaltrials.gov and look for Identifier: NCT00183521.
The idea behind relaxation breathing is that the brain has received inaccurate information in its "suffocation monitor" and it signals back a warning that begins a process of hyperventilation. The effect is an attempt to keep us breathing in life-threatening situations, but there's no threat here. Once the level of CO2, which seems to trigger this alarm, is stabilized, breathing returns to normal. So relaxation breathing, which involves holding the breath for a very short time, is a means of changing this CO2 level.
The study is looking at both people with PD and those who don't have it and it will run for four weeks for each individual.
Related Topics: Feeling Nervous in Social Situations, Chronic Stress: The Mental Connection
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2 Comments:
Interesting! Thanks for the links and the info on how and why relaxation breathing works!
~Tasker
Glad you found it useful and interesting. Thanks for your kind comment.
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