Most of the stress management recommends breathing techniques as one of the effective stress management techniques, however, overbreathing could produce some very worrying symptoms. Breathing is something that happens automatically in our body that we all take it for granted. But as soon as we become aware of air passing into and out of our lungs, we tend to breathe more frequently and more deeply. If this overbreathing is done for a few minutes or more, we will experience peculiar feelings. This condition is also known as hyperventilation.

Overbreathing often occurs in stressful situations. Patients might go to their doctors with a variety of symptoms, and it can prove very difficult for the doctor to diagnose overbreathing as the cause. It is a rare condition in the very young and elderly and is most commonly see in young women between 15 - 30 years.

Normally, an adult breathes in and out about 15 - 20 times a minute when he or she is resting. Breathing rate will increase naturally under stressful conditions and with some lung disorders. However, some people hyperventilate with stress and experience strange symptoms which can be very worrying.

The symptoms caused by hyperventilation are the result of breathing out too much carbon dioxide gas. Increased breathing reduces the carbon dioxide in the tissues, causing narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain and reducing the blood flow.

Faintness, visual disturbances, nausea, cramps, unsteadiness, headache, shortness of breath, palpitations, hot flushes, cold sweats and tingling sensations are the symptoms experienced in overbreathing.

Treatment

The quickest way to cure overbreathing is to breathe in and out of a paper bag, taking in the air and carbon dioxide that has just been breathed out. This increases the carbon dioxide level in the blood and the symptoms of overbreathing may disappear. Mild tranquillizers may also help to control anxiety.

If the symptoms of overbreathing persist, long-term psychiatric treatment is necessary. Avoiding stressful situations could also help in easing the overbreathing symptoms.

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There are several ways to manage your stress naturally and meditation is one of the techniques that you can practice in the comfort of your own home and at your own convenience. Although the techniques of meditation vary from religion to religion, the basic techniques and effects are similar. You don’t have to be an Eastern mystic to explore this age-old path to mental and physical calm.

Meditation method

Meditation should not be done less than 2 hours after a heavy meal. A hot bath is recommended, If a bath is not possible at least wash your hands and face, blow your nose, brush your teeth and splash your eyes with cold water. your clothing should keep you warm, but be loose-fitting, and you should remove your shoes.
You need a comfortable and relax position but one where there is no danger of falling asleep. The best meditation posture is the eqyption posture: sitting in a chair with an upright back to support you, with your feet placed flat on the floor. Locate the balance point where your weight presses most fully on the chair seat. Place your hands cupped in your lap with the palm of one over the back of the other, or rest your palms on your thights, whichever is most comfortable. Your body should be straight but not rigid, with your
head in line with your spine and the chin kept level. During mediation, remain as still as possible.

Breathing Techniques

All techniques agree that meditation should begin with slow, regular, quiet and gentle breathing. Always breathe through your nose, taking the air deeply into the abdoment so that your stomach swells slightly as you inhale and then flattens again as you slowly exhale.

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Going through life a stressed out mess is no way to live. Work, home life, social life, raising kids and just driving in heavy traffic can turn someone into a bundle of nerves; but put it all together and you have a one way ticket to the nut barn. How does one person handle all that stress? One way to handle stress is to go through a stress management training course. Stress management training will teach you how to handle stress so that you can live life and actually enjoy it. When you’re constantly stressing out, you’re not doing your job effectively, you’re not thinking clearly and you’re only going to end up tiring yourself out. Actually, too much stress can age you prematurely and can even lead to sickness, disease and eventually death. Yes, it’s that serious. A little bit of stress is natural and can even help you perform in some instances, but too much stress is no good for anyone and stress management training can help you deal with it so that you can once more enjoy the life you’re living.

Meditation and Deep Breathing

Most stress management training classes will teach you how to step back and put things into perspective. When you are really stressed out, you often feel suffocated. You feel as if the walls are closing in. By stepping back and distancing yourself from this closed in feeling, you will be able to breathe once more. Your heartbeat will slow down and that stressed out feeling will pass. To help yourself step back and put things in perspective, stress management training classes will often teach meditation and deep breathing. Meditation will cause you to go into a deep hypnotic state where you can sort out your thoughts and completely distance yourself from what ever is bothering you. Deep breathing acts as a calming agent, which will slow down your heartbeat and will help you completely relax so that you can better handle what ever is piling on top of your shoulders.

Any Situation

The meditation and deep breathing exercises taught in stress management training classes can actually be applied in any situation. Once you get good at them, you’ll be able to handle anything with a cool head and you’ll likely find that really stressed out feeling is a thing in the past. You’ll be healthier, you’ll enjoy life more and you’ll find that your thought processes actually work better, which will help you in all sorts of life’s situations.

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