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Q: breathing exercises and hunger?
asked by: FlyingJ on October 21st, 2008
New User
The mind is miraculous, but totally annoying. I've been doing 10-minute breathing exercises for close to 2 months now, morning and night. It has reduced my heart rate as well as my blood pressure. I have also found myself much calmer while driving. Also, my recently acquired and completely frustrating fear of the sun was diminishing, too. Great.
Since beginning this regimen, however, I have found myself absolutely ravenous at mealtimes. Then last week I got busy at work and skipped lunch when, boom, a major panic attack blindsided me. I'm talking sitting against the wall, tingling, tie off, gasping, demanding food kind of thing. I thought I was going into hypoglycemic shock. Went to the doctor, blood sugar is normal, I'm not hypoglycemic, and as always, it's in my head. Since then I've been walking around with food everywhere I go to avoid melting down. My question is: Why does anxiety have to manifest itself in these ridiculous ways? I've heard that deep breathing can promote a faster metabolism, but could this be a side-effect? You beat stress one way, it pops up another. Anybody relate?
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goingthruit
replied on October 21st, 2008
Experienced User
Im exactly the same, i carry a snacks in my handbag i find that when im hungry my panic attacks come on fast and hard.

I dont really know why it does it to us but i guess we just have to ride it out
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rooted
replied on October 23rd, 2008
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What a great question. I think that it's possible that just as you start to program the neurological pathways of the mind ... the brain rebels! It seems like it wants to substitute one addiction (worry and panic) for another (eating). My suggestion is to simply keep up with the breathing exercises...this might be a sign that they are working!
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biodrux
replied on November 4th, 2008
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Breathing and Panic Attacks
Flying J, Deep breathing does not cause panic attacks. Actually, it can. Your neurology is such that any experience creates a physiological imprint its a permanent imprint. If you have a traumatic experience, that experience will leave an imprint on your nervous system and obviously your subconscious.

The process of deep breathing ... called dahn juhn breathing in korean, dan tien breathing in chinese, pranayama in india, is there to even out these neural imprints. If during the course of doing the breathing work, you feel a sudden rush of anxiety... you've simply triggered that past imprint. You did not create a new trauma. You are simply regurgitating old emotional baggage.

Dont react to it... let the experience go where it goes. Watch it leave your system. Keep breathing deeply
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