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Breath to Breath: Your Path to Inner Calm

Deep breathing is a powerful tool for calming the nervous system and promoting overall well-being in children and adults. This simple yet effective technique offers numerous benefits for physical and mental health.

Benefits of Deep Breathing

For Adults

Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce stress and anxiety[1][2]. It can lower heart rate and blood pressure and even decrease the production of stress hormones like cortisol[1]. Regular practice of deep breathing exercises has been shown to:

  • Improve cardiovascular health
  • Enhance respiratory performance
  • Boost emotional well-being
  • Increase relaxation responses
  • Promote better sleep

Studies have found that just one minute of slow, deep breathing can significantly lower physiological arousal, making it an excellent tool for managing stress in everyday situations[4].

For Children

Deep breathing exercises can be particularly beneficial for children, helping them develop essential coping skills:

  • Reduces anxiety and stress
  • Improves focus and concentration
  • Enhances emotional regulation
  • Promotes better sleep
  • Builds resilience

Research has shown that guiding children through brief deep breathing exercises can significantly lower their physiological arousal, even in everyday settings[4]. This makes it an invaluable tool for helping children manage their emotions and stress.

Introducing Calm Breath: A New App for Children

We’ve developed a new app called Calm Breath to help children learn and practice deep breathing techniques. This interactive tool makes deep breathing exercises fun and engaging for kids. You can try it out at https://calm-breath.replit.app/

Calm Breath joins a growing list of digital resources to teach children mindfulness and relaxation techniques [6][9]. Incorporating technology can make these valuable skills more accessible and appealing to young users.

How to Practice Deep Breathing

To get the most benefit from deep breathing, follow these simple steps:

  1. Find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down.
  2. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly.
  3. Breathe in slowly through your nose, feeling your belly expand.
  4. Exhale slowly through your mouth, letting your belly fall.
  5. Repeat for several breaths, focusing on the sensation of your breath.

Remember, consistency is key. Incorporating deep breathing exercises into your daily routine can lead to long-term benefits for you and your children.

By teaching children the importance of deep breathing early on, we can help them develop lifelong skills for managing stress and promoting overall well-being. With tools like Calm Breath, we’re making it easier than ever for children to learn and practice these essential techniques.

Citations:
[1] https://www.onestep.co/resources-blog/deep-breathing-better-physical-mental-health
[2] https://positivepsychology.com/deep-breathing-techniques-exercises/
[3] https://www.apaservices.org/practice/business/technology/tech-column/children-mindfulness-apps
[4] https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_four_deep_breaths_can_help_kids_calm_down
[5] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98736-9
[6] https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-meditation-apps-for-kids
[7] https://www.childrenscolorado.org/just-ask-childrens/articles/breathing-to-change-mood/
[8] https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-4-7-8-breathing
[9] https://parentingchaos.com/anxiety-apps-kids/
[10] https://copingskillsforkids.com/deep-breathing-exercises-for-kids
[11] https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/07/07/its-not-just-inspiration-careful-breathing-can-help-your-health
[12] https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-6-best-meditation-and-mindfulness-apps-for-kids
[13] https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/five-deep-breathing-exercises-for-kids-and-teens.html

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25 Coping Skills for Children with a Highly Sensitive Nervous System

Here are 25 tools for a coping skills toolbox that can be helpful for a child in managing their emotions and coping with challenging situations:

  1. Stress Ball: A squeezable stress ball can help the child release tension and reduce anxiety.
  2. Breathing Exercises: Include a visual guide or a simple breathing exercise card to help the child practice deep breathing techniques.
  3. Fidget Toys: Small, quiet fidget toys like spinners, cubes, or putty can provide sensory stimulation and promote focus.
  4. Sensory Bottle: Create a sensory bottle filled with glitter, beads, or calming colors for the child to shake and observe when feeling overwhelmed.
  5. Positive Affirmation Cards: Include a set of cards with positive affirmations and encouraging messages for the child to read or recite.
  6. Sensory Brush: A soft sensory brush can be used for gentle tactile stimulation to help regulate the child’s sensory experiences.
  7. Calm-Down Corner Sign: Designate a sign or visual cue for the child’s calm-down corner, signaling a safe space for retreat.
  8. Feelings Journal: Provide a personalized journal for the child to express and reflect on their emotions through writing or drawing.
  9. Noise-canceling Headphones: Noise-cancelling headphones can help the child reduce sensory overload in noisy environments.
  10. Sensory Putty: Offer sensory putty or clay for the child to manipulate and engage in tactile play.
  11. Guided Imagery Recordings: Include audio recordings of guided imagery or relaxation exercises for the child to listen to when needed.
  12. Visual Timers: Use a visual timer to help the child understand and manage time, particularly during transitions or waiting periods.
  13. Comfort Object: Encourage the child to include a comfort object, such as a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, for reassurance.
  14. Coloring Sheets: Provide coloring sheets and colored pencils for the child to engage in calming, creative activities.
  15. Coping Skills Board Game: Introduce a coping skills board game that the child can play to learn and practice different coping strategies.
  16. Sensory Socks or Gloves: Soft, textured socks or gloves can provide comforting tactile input for the child.
  17. Coping Skills Workbook: Include a coping skills workbook with activities and exercises tailored to the child’s needs and interests.
  18. Mindfulness Bell: A small bell or chime can be used as a mindfulness cue for the child to pause and focus on the present moment.
  19. Sensory Chew Necklace: Provide a safe, chewable necklace for the child to use as a sensory tool for oral stimulation.
  20. Nature Sounds Playlist: Curate a playlist of nature sounds or soothing music for the child to listen to for relaxation.
  21. Emotion Cards: Use cards with various emotions depicted to help the child identify and express how they are feeling.
  22. Sensory Tactile Cards: Create tactile cards with different textures for the child to touch and explore when seeking sensory input.
  23. Coping Skills Puzzles: Include puzzles that showcase coping skills or positive affirmations for the child to assemble.
  24. Sensory Bubble Timer: Provide a sensory bubble timer for the child to watch as a calming visual sensory tool.
  25. Coping Skills Journal Prompts: Develop a list of journal prompts to inspire the child to explore their emotions and coping strategies.

These tools can be tailored to the child’s preferences and individual needs, providing a diverse array of options for managing emotions and promoting self-regulation. The coping skills toolbox serves as a resource for the child to access when they need support in navigating their emotions and finding comfort during challenging moments.

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Grounding Exercises

Grounding exercises are short, simple techniques that focus attention and distract from intense emotions.

They often involve focusing on environmental stimuli or pleasant, calming topics or objects.

They can usually be done with minimal equipment, such as a pen and paper, or nothing at all except one’s thoughts and imaginations.

Therefore they are versatile exercises that can be performed anywhere.

Grounding exercises quiet down extreme emotions and help survivors of trauma shift to a more rational form of thinking.

People with trauma will, from time to time, experience high stress or emotional overload.

This is true for people with acute trauma, complex trauma, even traumatic grief.

The goal is not to eradicate feelings of intense anxiety, sadness, or anger. Instead, learning how to respond to those emotions, in the moment, is key to our healing.

In the video above you will learn 5 powerful Grounding Exercises:

Item Listing

The 54321 Game

Task Visualization

The Method of Loci

The 5 Senses Technique

It’s always best to have multiple grounding techniques in your toolbox.

What works best for one stressful situation (a trauma flashback, for example) might not work best in another (such as prior to a job interview).

A technique that you use frequently may become less effective over time. It is best to use a variety of techniques to avoid becoming acclimated to them.

Some grounding exercises may not be a good fit for your temperament.

For example, some people find the Ice Cream Technique frustrating because they get stuck and can’t remember any additional flavor examples.

Other people find the 54321 Game unhelpful because it can draw attention toward unpleasant feelings or sights in their environment.

For each technique, there are modifications to help expand their usefulness. But some techniques might just not be for you.

Get more tools for your Trauma Toolbox at http://www.TraumaToolbox.com/

Looking for a speaker on Trauma-Informed care for your next workshop, conference, or event? Contact Ron Huxley for more information at rehuxley@gmail.com