CO2 is heavier than normal air and so will tend to sit at the bottom of your lungs unless you exhale it.

John Wemmie and Michael Welsh of the University of Iowa, Iowa City, reported in the November 25, 2009 issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, that they have discovered a chemical sensor for carbon dioxide deep in the brain’s emotional center – the amygdala. This part of the brain, when it senses an acidic condition (ph) created by higher levels of CO2 in the body, triggers fight-or-flight behaviors we label panic attacks.

I’ve discussed before in this blog the impact of chemistry, particularly CO2 levels in the body on mood and behavior. This is not a new concept – it’s been known for at least a century (the Chinese knew it millenia ago) that chemical imbalances in the body affect behavior.

If you’re experiencing panic attacks fairly often, it could be that your amygdala is hypersensitive to CO2 levels. You may need to breathe differently to expel excess CO2 and increase the oxygen levels in your body.

If you experience frequent panic attacks, I recommend that you practice breathing slowly into the depths of your lungs – making your belly extend only slightly with each breath. If you normally breathe into the top of your lungs (shallow breathing), the remaining air in the bottom of your lungs will tend to turn into CO2 over time. CO2 is heavier than normal air and so will tend to sit at the bottom of your lungs unless you exhale it. You don’t have to do this often, but here’s how you can clear your lungs of residual CO2:

1. Gently inhale into your gut – just make your navel extend outward with the breath and the air will naturally go there.
2. Exhale naturally – all the way. That is, empty your lungs completely – until you feel you absolutely must inhale.
3. Return to breathing normally. You’ve now cleared out the stagnant CO2 in your lungs and replaced it with normal air.
4. That’s it. Repeat once a day – perhaps more often if you still are feeling panicky now and then.

You might find it useful to visit a hypnotherapist who can teach you self-hypnosis. Deep relaxation has shown to be useful in relieving symptoms of panic attacks. You can also program yourself to breathe normally in a way that may be more beneficial to you. I’ve also found Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) effective – completely eliminating panic attacks altogether in some cases. Many report similar results with Rapid Eye Technology as well. Each may be worth investigating if you suffer from frequent panic attacks.

“It has been proposed that panic and anxiety disorders involve a suffocation alarm gone haywire,” Welsh said. “Now, this work may shed some light on this well-known phenomenon and suggests strategies for further exploration.”

Further research by Wemmie and Welsh and colleagues will focus on chemical treatments for brain ph imbalance leading to panic attacks as well as strategies for dealing with hypersensitivity to ph levels. Until they come up with a reliable pharmaceutical treatment – as panic seems to be directly related to chemicals in the air – breathing exercises may indeed be the best hedge against panic attacks.