Following on from my post SELF HELP ANXIETY TIP: THE LONG EXHALE I wanted to go into greater depth about how the simple act of adjusting your outgoing breath really can help calm stress and anxiety.

Everyone experiences anxiety at some time or another. At such times your breathing tends to become shallow and rapid, but the chances are you may not notice as your attention is more drawn to physical sensations of discomfort. Yet your breath holds a vital secret to calming down - by slowing and regulating your breath you engage what scientists call the parasympathetic nervous system and set in motion a sequence of events that can help you feel relaxed and calm.