Trauma changes the way that the brain functions. Luckily, conscious breathwork allows you to balance out your central nervous system (CNS). You can incorporate deep breathing into your daily life for the best results.
The Brain and Trauma
The CNS is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. Within the CNS, the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system play important roles in daily life. The prefrontal cortex provides logic and impulse control. The limbic system controls memory and emotions.
When you have been through trauma, it infiltrates the whole CNS. Your brain begins operating on evolutionary instinct. The prefrontal cortex functions less effectively. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) takes over, putting you into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode. The limbic system becomes highly reactive, releasing high amounts of stress hormones. Trauma can leave an imprint on many memories that do not relate to the initial event.
Breathwork and the Central Nervous System
As a person living with trauma, it is important to find effective solutions to calm the CNS. Breathwork holistically treats trauma responses. Deep breathing decreases the over-activation of the amygdala. It lowers stress hormones like epinephrine and cortisol.
In addition to decreasing negative symptoms, deep breathing adds positive outcomes. The prefrontal cortex becomes more functional, improving focus. Deep breathing releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), allowing you to rest and recover from stress. Overall, it helps you feel physically and mentally better.
Incorporating Breathwork Into the Day
You can create a routine that incorporates conscious breathwork by adding it to your schedule. Set four to five alarms on your phone or watch. This will offer you consistent times for mindfulness every day. When the alarm goes off, mentally scan yourself for emotions and tension. Then, engage in one to five minutes of conscious breathwork. When you are finished, do a second mental scan. You should feel more emotionally balanced after each breathwork session. Additionally, you can add extra breathwork sessions when you are feeling extra stressed or emotionally volatile.
If you’re coping with the after-effects of trauma, conscious breathwork can assist you in regulating your central nervous system. Deep breathing offers many psychological health benefits, including lower stress levels and improved focus. You can add breathwork to your daily schedule to help keep yourself levelheaded and calm. At The Guest House treatment center, you’ll learn breathwork as one of the many holistic therapy modalities offered. Through the combination of traditional and holistic treatment methods, you’ll start down the path to recovery. When you’re ready to start treatment, call (855) 483-7800.