12/05/2026
How Simple Breathing Techniques Can Help with Panic Attacks
Many people think panic attacks and anxiety are all in the mind, but because of the mind body connection, the body plays a huge role in creating and maintaining those feelings.
One of the fastest ways to influence the mind is through the breath.
A technique I often suggest to clients is taking two short inhales, followed by one much longer slow exhale through the mouth.
This helps because your nervous system has two main states.
The sympathetic nervous system controls your fight, flight or freeze response. When this state is triggered heart rate increases, breathing becomes more shallow than normal and muscles can tense as the mind scans and prepares for any potential danger (real or perceived).
The parasympathetic nervous system does the opposite. It lowers stress signals and communicates safety to the mind.
We move between these states as our subconscious minds decide whether we are safe or under threat.
When our breathing becomes rapid and shallow, the brain often interprets this as danger.
But when you deliberately slow the exhale, especially after those two smaller inhales, this mimics calming signals to the nervous system that says “We are safe enough to relax.”
This in turn can help interrupt the cycle of anxiety and help us focus on calmness.
To find out more about how anxiety is triggered feel free to take a look at my website for more information on this subject and others.
https://paulmillerhypnotherapy.co.uk/blog/