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◄ HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR BREATHING
BEHAVIOR?
The following
quotation from a psychologist, Dr. Herbert Fensterheim, recognized worldwide
for his contributions to the field, speaks to the importance of breathing
behavior and its evaluation in the practice of psychology and counseling. His comments reflect our own views about the
importance of evaluating breathing behavior 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, |