ABSTRACT
The purpose of this exercise is to reduce unwanted emotions in difficult situations.
Description
When facing difficult situations, this breathing exercise provides the client with a strategy that enables them to remain calm by countering the negative biological tendency to produce unhelpful stress hormones such as adrenalin and noradrenalin in stressful situations. These hormones are associated with what has been termed the ‘stress response’. When stressed, individuals are likely to experience unhelpful emotions such as anxiety or anger and this breathing exercise helps them manage and gain control over such feelings. It trains the client to breathe in a way that takes the edge off negative feelings and is not noticeable to others. It can therefore be used even when the client is engaged in conversation, for example while they are listening to what the other person is saying.
