ScienceDaily: How breathing shapes our brain

“Breathing can affect our mental health

Understanding how breathing shapes our brain, and by extension, our mood, thoughts, and behaviors, is an important goal in order to better prevent and treat mental illness.

"Difficulty breathing is associated with a very large increase in the risk for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. We know that respiration, respiratory illness, and psychiatric disorders are closely linked. Our study raises the possibility that the next treatments for these disorders might be found in the development of new ways to realign the rhythms of the brain and body, rather than treating either in isolation," explains Micah Allen.

Stabilizing our mind through breathing is a well-known and used tactic in many traditions such as yoga and meditation. The new study sheds light on how the brain makes it possible. It suggests that there are three pathways in the brain that control this interaction between breathing and brain activity. It also suggests that our pattern of breathing makes the brain more "excitable," meaning neurons are more likely to fire during certain times of breathing"

Some Insights From This Article

• Out of all the processes of our body, researchers found the most akin to our brain’s functioning is our breathing. Oftentimes the conscious act of breathing brings a certain level of conscience to our surroundings that we may ignore during our daily activities.

• The act of deep breathing has been implicated as a legitimate practice in meditation, mindfulness and controlling certain issues such as panic disorders and anxiety. The connection isn’t just made up either.

• Evidence shows there is a neuronal connection between breathing and our mental states and the simple act of deep conscience breathing can promote healthy emotions and relieve stress and anxiety is no myth. Of course there must be more research to fully elucidate the mechanism.

Full article is here!

#Breathing #MentalHealth #Relaxation