I went to see a psychologist yesterday and although I thouhg I was seeing a doctor, I'm glad I did some talk therapy. She suggested some breathing exercises which I have been doing. They seem to help but I start work in a few weeks and I'm afraid of how to do my breathing exercises during the work day.
You see, I'm a special education teacher and the job is stressful at times. New students; demanding parents; meetings, etc. I just want to make sure that I can successfully do breathing exercises while working.
Any input would be helpful.
Thanks to you all who are listening and responding. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have this forum to share my thoughts. You are all a blessing to me.
Well you can do breathing excercises without anyone knowing. Being careful to inhale gently through the nose, making sure your tummy rises and that your lungs don't expand then letting your breath out slowly and for as long as you can to expel air from your body. If you practise in bed at night, lol, if there's nothing more fun going on that is, place your hands on your tummy and start the process and you'll like as not drift off to sleep.
If you get into the habit og good breathing as opposed to bad breathing in the fullness of time it will come naturally
Failing that, a quick slap round the head for new students/ parents that make your teeth clench. Either or both, it matters not Guaranteed to work every time , lol
Since you are working with special needs kids, can you incorporate your breathing techniques into a, let's do this together thing? It would nelp everybody. Think this through, maybe even telling your students you are all having a breathing break. Open talks on breathing...this could go in a very positive direction. Some students may have a new tool to use.
I've been going to therapy for general anxiety disorder and the main thing we have focused on are breathing techniques. Specifically learning to breathe from our abdomen and not just our chest. Taking deep breaths into your stomach can have a tremendously calming affect. But if a person isn't able to focus directly on that and continues to worry, it won't be very helpful. In my case, I've learned to meditate and put a lot of effort into getting as much sleep at night as possible. Learning to shut everything off and escape the daily rigors is important too. If the last thing you do at night is put your phone down and the first thing you do in the morning is pick it up, then that can be problematic.
Im not sure if this helps because i am really bad with breathing techniques, it is hard when people say to me "deep breaths" or "in through the nose out through the mouth" it is really the least of my worries when my anxiety really kicks in. But i got taught take breaths in and count how long you breath in for. And count a few seconds and then release it but make sure it takes the same amount of time you inhaled for. Im not sure if it is a good method or not.
It's mostly a calming method, not really a permanent solution. I think it gives a person the chance to stop in the moment and get a grip on themselves.
Yes. Tummy breathing is very important. I take meds for night time sleep. It's waking up in morning that I have to learn to take a moment to do my breathing. It seems like all I do throughout the day is deep breathing but if that's what I need to do, I'll do it.
A hospital doctor once suggested that if I felt anxious when with other people I should imagine them naked, lol! He said it would make my brain "laugh" at the image...don't know about that! Some folk look better fully clothed! It's the stuff of nightmares, imagining them in full nudity
