If you have an anxiety disorder like paruresis, you know how difficult it can be to gain control of yourself once you become overly stressed or worried about something. These feelings of stress and panic are what create the physical problems associated with paruresis; they are what makes someone with an anxiety disorder feel physical effects.
Knowing that excessive anxiety is at the root of the problem for a disorder like paruresis means that, naturally, the first thing you need to do is deal with that negative feeling.
“Taking control of your anxiety” sounds very well, but we all know it’s easier in theory than in practice. The problem is that many of us don’t truly understand what it is that we need to do to calm ourselves down once we have become overwhelmed by stress or anxiety.
This is why yoga is such a great tool for people with high stress or anxiety. Yoga teaches you to deal with the negative physical effects that stress can have on your body. By practicing yoga, you can learn how to release tension in your body and also to handle the unpleasant emotions that create the tension.
An article from NPR describes a key strategy used in yoga: deep, methodical breathing. Just by learning to take controlled, calming breaths and allowing your mind to rest, you can attain a sense of peace. With regular practice, the techniques taught in yoga can become second nature. Then you will be able to use them whenever you’re feeling like you have too much to deal with and you need a moment of peace.
Read more about how breathing techniques in yoga can benefit your mental and physical health by clicking the link below.
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131734718/just-breathe-body-has-a-built-in-stress-reliever
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