How Breathing Exercises Can Help You Manage Anxiety

bstopham22
Jul 29
2 min read

At Pathway Evaluations, we understand how overwhelming anxiety can feel. One simple but powerful tool you can use anytime, anywhere is focused breathing. Slowing your breath can calm both your mind and your body in just a few minutes.

Why Breathing Helps Anxiety

When you’re anxious, your breathing often becomes fast and shallow. This signals to your body that something is wrong, even if you’re safe. Slowing your breath sends the opposite message: “I am calm and in control.”

Benefits of breathing exercises:

Lowers heart rate
Relaxes tense muscles
Brings your focus back to the present
Helps you manage stress in the moment

Three Simple Breathing Exercises to Try

1. Box Breathing

Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold your breath for 4 seconds
Exhale slowly for 4 seconds
Hold again for 4 seconds
Repeat several times.

2. Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing)

Helps engage the parasympathetic “rest and digest” response.

Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly
Breathe in slowly through your nose, feeling your belly rise
Exhale slowly through your mouth, letting your belly fall
Try for 5–10 minutes daily

This is especially grounding if you’re feeling out of control or disconnected.

3. Extended Exhale (Lengthening the Out-Breath)

Extending the exhale triggers relaxation and reduces fight-or-flight responses.

Inhale for 4 seconds
Exhale for 6 to 8 seconds
Repeat slowly and gently

This can be paired with walking, stretching, or journaling.

Make It a Daily Habit

The more you practice these techniques, the easier it becomes to calm yourself when anxiety appears. Even 2–3 minutes a day can retrain your body’s stress response.

At Pathway Evaluations, we help clients learn simple, effective tools like these to manage anxiety and improve emotional well-being.

When to Reach Out for Help

While breathing exercises can be very helpful, sometimes anxiety can feel too big to manage alone. If your anxiety is interfering with your daily life, relationships, or sleep, it may be time to seek extra support.

At Pathway Evaluations, we offer compassionate, professional mental health services to help you better understand your anxiety and learn tools to manage it. You don’t have to face it alone.