HEALTH Women's Health October 12, 2025 0 Comments

Unlock the Hidden Power of These 2 Breathing Hacks That Melted Away Her Anxiety for Good!

Ever wondered if something as simple as breathing could be your secret weapon against anxiety? Monique Lonner, at 60, found herself trapped in a relentless cycle of stress, sleepless nights, and digestive woes—a triple threat that had her feeling beaten down despite trying everything under the sun. But then… she stumbled onto deep breathing techniques that flipped the script completely. It’s crazy to think how just tuning into your own breath can switch your body out of panic mode and into a calm, restorative state. If you’re tired of tossing and turning or battling the nagging worries in your head, Monique’s story might just inspire you to breathe new life into your own wellness journey. Ready to discover how a few mindful breaths can bring lasting relief? LEARN MORE

After decades of being plagued by constant stress and worry, Monique Lonner, 60, began having issues with her digestive system and losing sleep. Exhausted and in pain, she felt like she’d tried everything to relieve her symptoms. Only nothing brought real, lasting anxiety relief or helped her sleep at night—that is, until she discovered deep breathing techniques for anxiety. Here, her inspiring story and how you, too, can reduce anxiety naturally.

How Monique’s anxiety started affecting her health

Now stress is upsetting my stomach, Monique thought. Something has to change—I can’t keep going on like this. She had been struggling with anxiety since her 20s, and as she got older, it was fueled by marital troubles and long hours as a big-city event planner.

She started experiencing sleepless nights, tossing and turning in a cycle of worry that left her exhausted the next day. She loved her job and didn’t want to risk losing it, so Monique tried NyQuil, Valium and having a nightcap. To her frustration, none worked and some actually made her feel even worse (like alcohol, which, while some people feel it helps them fall asleep, can actually disrupt overall sleep quality). When her anxiety got so bad that it began causing digestive pain, Monique became determined to find a natural and permanent solution.

Have you ever used breathing techniques to manage stress or anxiety?

Deep breathing exercises for anxiety finally brought relief

After relaying her concerns, a friend suggested Monique try yoga. Monique was stunned by how good she felt after her first class. The mental reset is amazing, she thought, walking out of the studio feeling refreshed.

Soon, she was practicing daily and discovered yogic breathwork, or pranayama—intentional breathing that calms the nervous system, improves focus and restores balance. By slowing and deepening the breath, pranayama activates the vagus nerve, which tells the body it’s safe. This shifts the autonomic nervous system away from fight-or-flight and into the parasympathetic “rest and digest” state. Research shows this not only reduces the stress hormone cortisol and gently lowers your heart rate, but it also improves digestion and mental clarity.

Her go-to breathing exercises for anxiety

Monique began relying on two deep breathing techniques to manage her anxiety: belly breathing and alternate nostril breathing. With belly breathing, she sits or lies down, then breathes in through her nose so that her stomach (not her chest) rises on each inhale and relaxes on the exhale—signaling to the body that all is well.

Alternate nostril breathing involves inhaling and exhaling through one nostril while closing the other, then switching sides and continuing the pattern for five minutes to calm her body’s stress response.

Shocked, Monique realized the results were better than any pill. Her mind quieted, her stomach settled and the anxiety eased. Now, whenever she feels anxiety building, Monique takes five minutes to practice deep breathing techniques, and the relief is immediate. “I no longer pile on worrisome thoughts,” she beams. “And it’s free to adjust my mental state!”

3 other health benefits of deep breathing

Whatever types of breathing exercises you prefer (there are lots of great beginner-friendly how-to videos on YouTube!), they can deliver powerful health benefits. Here are some of the perks you can expect:

Sharper thinking

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that people who practiced mindful breathing for 40 minutes a week improved their focus and short-term memory by lowering stress hormones, letting the brain store information more easily.

Lower blood pressure

Mindful breathing helps relax blood vessels, easing strain on the heart. In fact, researchers reporting in the journal Frontiers in Physiology discovered that people with high blood pressure who practiced deep, mindful breathing techniques daily experienced a significant drop.

A stronger immune system

Looking to ward off colds, the flu and other viral illnesses? Deep breathing techniques can help. A study in the journal PNAS revealed that just 10 days of daily breathwork boosted anti-inflammatory signals, helping calm the type of immune response that can make flu-like symptoms more severe.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.