If you are one of the 25 million who suffer with bouts of anxiety you likely have developed certain patterns for coping with the condition.
The problem is that at least some of these methods may not be good for your overall health.
A few examples of these potentially damaging coping strategies are overeating, overspending, smoking, and having a few too many drinks either before or after the big anxiety laden event.
In this informational article titled Alternative Anxiety Treatment - Controlled Breathing we explore a valuable tool that is free and can be used in addition to other more conventional medical treatments.
The ability to manage breathing works to help your body reduce the heart rate thus reducing blood pressure.
Once the rate of breathing is decreased the amount of oxygen required for the body to function efficiently is reduced leading to a quieting of the anxiety riddled thoughts you may be experiencing.
Controlled breathing which focuses on the diaphragm has been around for thousands of years and is a main component in many alternative anxiety treatments such as yoga.
By using the diaphragm to breathe, a person's physical and mental state can be transformed by activating the areas of the brain responsible for relaxation.
Let's go though a 10 step approach to help you find a happier place through the alternative anxiety treatment known as controlled diaphragm breathing.
* Find a quite, comfortable area to sit or lie down.
* With your feet slightly apart place one hand on your abdomen near your navel.
Place the other hand on your chest.
* Inhale through your nose and let the air out through your mouth * Concentrate on your breathing as it relates to your hands.
Which hand is rising and which hand is falling? * Slowly release the air from your lungs * Inhale while counting to four.
As the air flows gently into your lungs slightly extend your abdomen, causing it to rise about one inch; while keeping the shoulders and chest still.
* As you breathe in imagine a peaceful ocean setting where the tide is gently flowing in.
Imagine the warm water gently caressing all parts of your body.
* Pause for one second, the slowly exhale to a count of four.
As you exhale your abdomen should move inward.
* As the air flows out imaging the tide washing all your anxiety out to sea as all tension leaves your body.
* Repeat the process until you achieve a sense of deep relaxation.
In summary, in the hectic anxiety riddled world we live in sometimes it is easy to discount alternative anxiety treatment such as controlled breathing.
In addition many natural health minded individuals are choosing to combine breathing with natural herbal remedies.
For some this has proven to be an effective way to manage mild to moderate anxiety and is a combination worth considering.