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HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR BREATHING BEHAVIOUR? ►
The following quotation from a psychologist, Dr. Herbert Fensterheim, recognised worldwide for his contributions
to the field, speaks to the importance of breathing behaviour
and its evaluation in the practice of psychology and counselling. His comments reflect our own views about
the importance of evaluating breathing behaviour in
other professional venues. “Given the
high frequency of incorrect breathing patterns in the adult population,
attention to the symptoms of hyperventilation [overbreathing]
should be a routine part of every psychological evaluation, regardless of the
specific presenting complaints. Faulty
breathing patterns affect patients differently. They may be the central problem, directly
bringing on the pathological symptoms; they may magnify, exacerbate, or
maintain symptoms brought on by other causes; or they may be involved in
peripheral problems that must be ameliorated before psychotherapeutic access
is gained to the core treatment targets.
Their manifestations may be direct and obvious, as when overbreathing leads to a panic attack, or they may
initiate or maintain subtle symptoms that perpetuate an entire personality
disorder. Diagnosis of hyperventilatory [overbreathing]
conditions is crucial.” (Herbert Fensterheim, in Behavioral and Psychological Approaches to
Breathing Disorders, 1994) Copyrighted by Behavioral
Physiology Institute, |