What’s Happening When You Feel Anxiety, Stress or Panic?

What happens in your body when you are feeling stressed, anxious or panic?

If you’re feeling stressed, you probably notice you feel sick. Your mouth goes dry, your heart races, you start to sweat. So what’s happening when you feel anxiety/stress/panic?

When stress or anxiety hit, adrenalin is produced. This sends the blood to your large muscles, making your body ready for flight or fight. This means the blood is diverted away from your digestion which is why you feel sick. It also makes you have a dry mouth and feel sweaty, often while also feeling cold. You also feel your heart racing, to keep those large muscles supplied with oxygen and energy.

What’s happening when you feel anxiety/stress/panic is very similar to what happens if you are an Olympian about to compete. It’s great for when we are facing real danger, but it’s not helpful when it interferes with normal life. So, what can we do to control these feelings when they aren’t helpful?

How can you stop adrenaline being produced?

Adrenalin is broken down in the body in less than three minutes. So the whole effects of it can be over that quickly. First we need to STOP the adrenalin being produced. As daft as that sounds, you can do this just by controlling your breathing. You will notice that when you’re feeling stressed/anxious/panic your breathing rate increases. 

Let’s practice to reduce that stress, anxiety or panic.

Now STOP and take a long and really slow deep breath in. Fill all the space in your lungs and even inflating your stomach, take at least four counts to do this. Then breathe out just as slowly, push all the old stale air out and repeat. Do this at least five times and notice how you’re feeling? Has your heart rate slowed, are you feeling less stressed/anxious/panicked?

How do you keep that stress, anxiety or panic at bay?

You’ve stopped the production of adrenalin and the adrenalin in your blood stream is being broken down. Now you have to keep this slow deep breathing going for up to three minutes. This allows all the adrenalin to be broken down and you’ll feel better. No one even needs to know you’re doing it.

Like every skill, it takes practice

I’m not saying this will be easy. You’ve spent years learning the stress/anxiety/panic response. Now you need to learn and practice the calm and relax response, it’s a skill. Every opportunity you have, STOP and breathe slowly. Learn how to do this at the drop of a hat. Until it becomes second nature when you’re feeling any stress/anxiety/panic. 

As you become good at doing this, you can picture situations where you’ve felt stressed/anxious/panic in the past and recognise how it makes you feel now. If necessary you can practice this technique to make yourself feel calmer. Take every opportunity you can to practice.

How Can Hypnotherapy Help With Stress/Anxiety/Panic?

In a session we will explore what is causing your stress/panic/anxiety. Then I will help you to find ways to take back control of what’s going on in your body in these situations. As you try different techniques, you can practice these in a safe environment. This practice will help to make them easier to access and work better.

When to Seek Extra Support?

If you’re looking for some support in making positive changes in your life, book your free consultation below and take the first step towards feeling lighter, calmer, and more you again. Feel free to message me to find out more.

07757 604348 or karenpbaker13@icloud.com