Breathing techniques are commonly prescribed to reduce the severity of panic attacks. Sufferers are taught to breathe deeply and control the flow of each inhale and exhale. The concept is to make the user feel more in control of their body.
The problem with breathing techniques is that they are hard to implement when experiencing a panic attack. The shock and fear that impacts your mind and body makes it hard to focus on other tasks. Since most panic attacks are related to a feared activity, most patients choose to focus on an exit strategy instead of treating the issue at hand. This is a natural result of the body’s flight response to escape a dangerous situation.
While breathing techniques can be useful to control baseline anxieties and stress, it is not nearly as effective in treating panic attacks. The fear and confusion that comes with a panic attack episode make it difficult to concentrate on breathing rythms. That is not to say they won’t work for everyone, but more advanced tactics like the Panic Away Method are better diversified to treat full blown episodes.