Psychological Influences Upon Breathing

An introduction to the emerging field of respiratory psychology for professionals in any branch of the healing professions, synthesizing the knowledge of how emotions may inhibit breathing. Focuses on the clinical aspects of hyperventilation syndrome and panic attacks. The therapies explained range from the physical to the behavioral, the cognitive, and the psychodynamic. The editors are also involved in plans to form an international society (with journal) of respiratory psychology. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The book describes how to use breathing as a medium for self-regulation and self-reflection and how balanced breathing thus helps to promote mental and physical health and alleviate symptoms resulting from imbalanced breathing. The authors describe applications of psychophysical breathing therapy in many areas of life, developed by both themselves and other professionals trained by them. The approach of the book is based on the interactional aspects between mind and body. A person's breathing style influences their relation both to themselves and to others - and vice versa, and thus mental and also physical health. A comprehensive theoretical description of the psychophysical regulation of breathing and the consequences of imbalanced breathing is complemented by material derived from the authors' extensive clinical experience. Psychological orientations used by the writers include object relations theories, and psychodynamic, cognitive, brief and group therapy theories. As a new aspect the writers introduce how breathing patterns are learnt in early interaction. The writers also acknowledge how physical factors affect and interact with psychological factors in producing imbalanced breathing.

We start life with a breath, and the process continues automatically for the rest of our lives. Because breathing continues on its own, without our awareness, it does not necessarily mean that it is always functioning for optimum mental and physical health. The opposite is true often. The problem with breathing is that it seems so easy and natural that we rarely give it a second thought. We breathe: we inhale, we exhale. What could be simpler? But behind that simple act lies a process that affects us profoundly. It affects the way we think and feel, the quality of what we create, and how we function in our daily life. Breathing affects our psychological and physiological states, while our psychological states affect the pattern of our breathing. For example, when anxious, we tend to hold our breath and speak at the end of inspiration in a high-pitched voice. Depressed people tend to sigh and speak at the end of expiration in a low-toned voice. A child having a temper tantrum holds his or her breath until blue in the face. Hyperven tilation causes not only anxiety but also such a variety of symptoms that patients can go from one specialty department to another until a wise clinician spots the abnormal breathing pattern and the patient is successfully trained to shift from maladaptive to normal breathing behavior.

Advances in simulation technology have enabled an interesting amount of training and instruction to be conducted on training simulators instead of on real systems. However, experiences with the procurement and use of training simulators has not always been as successful, often owing to a lack of knowledge of didactics and of training programme development, and also to inadequate simulator specifications. The Handbook of Simulator-based Training represents the first comprehensive overview of the European state of the art in simulator-based training. It also comprises a well-founded and systematic approach to simulator-based training and the specification of simulator requirements. The multi-disciplinary research project described in this book combines the expertise of specialists in human factors, information systems, system design and engineering from 23 research and industrial organizations from five countries - France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK. The authors have synthesized and documented the project results to ensure that this handbook provides not only many valuable guidelines, but more importantly a common frame of reference. It will be a key resource for the many specialists who are concerned with simulator-based training: researchers, engineers, and users; military training institutes and training system development departments; military staff responsible for the procurement of training devices and simulators; the simulator industry; the training research community; and the human factors and ergonomics community.

Structured for optimal use as a clinical reference and text, this comprehensive work reviews effective stress management techniques and their applications for treating psychological problems and enhancing physical health and performance. Leading experts present in-depth descriptions of progressive relaxation, hypnosis, biofeedback, meditation, cognitive methods, and other therapies. Tightly edited chapters examine each method's theoretical and empirical underpinnings and provide step-by-step guidelines for assessment and implementation, illustrated with detailed case examples. The volume also explains basic mechanisms of stress and relaxation and offers research-based guidance for improving treatment outcomes.