Great Yarmouth Samaritans have been looking at practical ways people help themselves cope - the first in the series looks at controlled breathing
When people are going through a tough time they often experience negative thoughts about themselves and feel they have no-one to turn to.
Everyone feels low at some point in their lives and if you’re struggling to cope it may be difficult to see beyond your current situation.
During calls, when exploring how our callers feel, we often explore what they can do to help themselves
Phil, listening volunteer
Volunteers at Great Yarmouth Samaritans have been exploring what people can do to help themselves cope when they are struggling - these ideas have come from branch volunteers and their experiences of talking to callers, as well as friends and family. We start our series of practical ideas that can help yourself cope with...
Controlled Breathing
It might sound simple, but controlled breathing can be a useful tool for feeling calmer quickly and reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. This technique is easy to do and can be practised almost anywhere.
To practise this technique, all you need to do is this:
- Breathe in for four seconds
- Hold your breath for four seconds
- Breathe out for four seconds
- Wait four seconds before repeating
Practise this for as long as you need to feel the benefits.
You could use the video below to help you with the timings - just follow the process...
But remember: we are here to listen at any time of the day or night.
Talking about how you’re feeling can help put things into perspective and help you to feel more positive about the future.
Even if you don’t have family or friends close by, you are never alone. Samaritans volunteers are here for you every day of the year, round the clock.