The 75% Nobody Talks About: Breath & Your Mind

Did you know around 75% of people with anxiety, depression, or chronic stress also have dysfunctional breathing? In this short information session — drawing on the work of Patrick McKeown (The Oxygen Advantage), with whom I trained — we explore the powerful two-way link between how you breathe and how you feel. Learn what dysfunctional breathing looks like, why it keeps the nervous system stuck, and three simple principles to start shifting it today. No practice required — just listen and learn. Please note: This session is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical or psychological care.

Transcript

This week, A piece of information worth knowing about your breath and your mental health. On the latest Oxygen Advantage podcast, Patrick McKeown, One of the world's leading voices of functional breathing. The author of Oxygen Advanced. And someone I had the privilege of being trained by. Point it to a statistic that deserves attention. Around 75% of people experiencing mental health challenges, Anxiety, Depression, Panic, Chronic stress, Have dysfunctional breathing patterns. 75%. Three out of four people struggling with their mental health are also often, Without realizing it, Breathing in a way that's working against them. So what does dysfunctional breathing actually look like? It's not dramatic. It's the small habits most people never notice. Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose. Breathing high in the chest instead of low into the belly. Breathing too fast. More than 12 to 14 breaths a minute at rest. Frequent sighing. A lot of yawning. Waking up with a dry mouth. These patterns are so common they've become invisible. Here's what's happening underneath. Every breath sends a signal to the nervous system. Fast, Shallow mouth breathing tells the body there's a threat. Stay alert, Stay ready. Slow, Quiet nasal breathing tells the body you're safe. You can rest. You can think clearly. That's how the loop forms. Anxiety changes the way you breathe, And the way you breathe reinforces that anxiety. Same goes for low mood, Overwhelmed and insomnia. The breath and the mind aren't two separate things. They're one feedback system. The encouraging part of McEwan's message and the research is increasingly backing this up. Is that the loop runs both ways. If dysfunctional breathing keeps your nervous system stuck, Then restoring functional breathing helps unstick it. It's not a magic pill, And it's not a replacement for therapy, Medication, Or any other support someone needs. But it may be one of the most underused, Accessible, And free tools available. Functional breathing isn't complicated. Comes down to three principles. Breathe through the nose, Day and night. Breathe low, Let the belly move, Not the shoulders. Breathe light and slow, Softer than you think you need to. That's the whole framework. So for this week, Something to play with. Just notice through the day. Check in. Is the mouth open or closed? Is the breath up high or down low? Is it audible? The answers are often surprising the first time you start paying attention. And then. . . Gently bring it back. Mouth closed. Tongue resting on the roof of the mouth. A slow, Soft breath in through the nose. A slow, Softer breath out through the nose. That small adjustment repeated through the day. Is where the changes happen. Not on the meditation cushion, Not in a yoga class, In real life, Driving, Working, Scrolling, Talking. The breath taken in those moments is the breath that's shaping mental health. If you'd like to go deeper, Patrick McKeown's book, The Oxygen Advantage, And the podcast on the same name are excellent starting points. Take care of your breath. It's taking care of you.