Why Deep Breathing Isn’t Working for Your Anxiety (And What to Do Instead)

You’re in the middle of a stressful moment—your kids are fighting, your inbox is overflowing, and you feel that familiar tension rising in your body. You remember what you’ve heard a hundred times: Just take a deep breath.

So you inhale deeply… and nothing changes. You’re still overwhelmed, your heart is still racing, and now you’re even more frustrated because deep breathing is supposed to work—right?