Mental Health Monday - Breathing
Working in arts and culture, our lives feel constantly busy. With Season Launches, Festivals, Holidays, Opening Night, and Galas, they seem to never end. When you are over the optimal stimulation and on the downward slope of being overwhelmed, some of the most effective and simple ways of getting your feet under you again is to focus on intentional breathing.
Taking a deep breath when you are stressed can sometime feel like gasping for air1. Slow deliberate breathing into the deeper parts of your lungs and lower back can help reset your racing thoughts. Thinking about your breath and body is all part of mindfulness, and a great way of centering your thoughts, removing stress and getting back on track.
For those of us who love a good visualisation a slowly looping gif can be just the thing to centre your focus and slow down your breath. You may remember these from the TLCC selfcare sheet, and even if you don’t, here they are again2. Focusing on the slow loop of the animation is a great guide to get you back to a steady breathing pattern and bring your mind back to the present.
Screen presenting coach (and Heath’s old acting buddy) Olivia Solomons talks about using breathing techniques to centre yourself before public speaking3.
“Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange — that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.”
Therapy focusing on breath has been shown to have a positive effect for many people, including people with anxiety4, ADHDers5 , but remember to do what’s best for you as we are all different and not all mindfulness techniques work equally for all people.
There are plenty of reasons for this6, such as abstract language being a barrier, interoception being experienced differently, and obsessive thoughts about breathing can become an issue for some people with OCD7. As always, trust yourself and ask for professional advice when you need it. Your feelings are valid.
Mindfulness has something to offer the world. Neurodiversity has something to offer mindfulness.
Stay well,
-- Shelly & Heath