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Practice Breathing

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When symptoms begin to arise, your breathing is often the first change that occurs in your body. Shortness of breath and hyperventilation are some of the most common physical symptoms of panic and anxiety.﻿﻿ But experiencing accelerated breathing in public can make you feel more alarmed and potentially increase your feelings of anxiety.

Breathing exercises can help you to slow your breath down, eliciting feelings of calm and relaxation. Deep breathing can also greatly help keep other symptoms from escalating, such as rapid heart rate or chest pain.﻿﻿

In order to be prepared to use this technique during a panic attack, it's important that you practice at times when you're not experiencing high anxiety.

For example, you may want to start your day off with a few minutes of deep breathing, use it to recharge in the afternoon, or practice this exercise in the evening to unwind from the day and prepare for a ​better night’s rest.