Breathing Through the Chaos
Hey everyone—I wanted to share something small that's been on my mind lately. You know those moments when you're suddenly hit with a wave of chaos? Anxiety creeps in, your thoughts start racing, and it feels like you're competing with yourself just to keep up. You might even wonder, “How am I even breathing right now?”—and not in a good way.
But here's a quick trick we can practice together—something simple that cuts through the chaos and brings back some calm.
Start here: Take a long, deep breath in through your nose—really fill up your lungs. Then push it out strong through your nose, letting it all go. (If breathing out through your mouth feels better, that's perfect too—do whatever works.) Then repeat—slow in, strong out. It’s like giving your brain a big gulp of oxygen, shaking off that fear or tension that's biting at you.
Here’s the step-by-step, if you want it handy:
Pause, wherever you are. You can sit or stand—just stop for a moment.
Breathe in deep through your nose; counting slowly to 3 or 4 if that helps.
Push it out strong through your nose (or mouth), imagining you're clearing the slate.
Repeat this 3-5 times, or until you feel your head lighten up a bit.
And hey, you mentioned those middle-of-the-night moments, when stress and sadness wake you up—your mind racing, unable to drift back to sleep. Trust me, I’ve been there too. Next time it happens, try this:
Breathe in slowly for 5 seconds.
Hold that breath for another 5 seconds.
Exhale slowly for 5 seconds.
Repeat this rhythm 10 times, gently and steadily.
Think of it as pressing a reset button—it calms the storm in your head and chest, giving your body something simple to focus on instead of spiraling thoughts. Chances are, you'll drift right back to sleep.
These breathing techniques aren’t fancy, but they're real. When you're stuck in that chaotic loop—with your teeth clenched, chest tight, or wide awake at night—these little breathing exercises pull you back into balance. Oxygen in, chaos out.
What do you think—wanna give it a shot the next time that chaos hits, day or night?
I’m right here with you.
— Dominic
