Do you recognize this?

Sometimes it feels like you've "forgotten" how to breathe. There’s a tightness in your chest, and you find yourself yawning or sighing just to get enough air. You might feel dizzy, experience tingling in your hands, or even feel like you’re about to faint. It often comes on suddenly, and can be frightening. Yet, medical tests usually show nothing out of the ordinary.

You're not alone. Many people experience this. For some it’s a daily struggle, for others it comes in waves. And although it may seem harmless, it can seriously impact your daily life.

What are the symptoms?

Dysfunctional breathing and in some cases hyperventilation, means that your breathing pattern has fallen out of balance. This can happen consciously or unconsciously, often as a reaction to stress, tension, or anxiety. Your nervous system becomes overstimulated, and your body expresses this through symptoms like:

• A feeling of breathlessness or “not getting enough air”

• Fast, shallow breathing (often high in the chest)

• Frequent sighing, yawning, or the urge to take deep breaths

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Tingling in the hands, feet, or around the mouth

• Chest tightness or palpitations

• Muscle tension or trembling

• Restlessness, anxiety, or panic

• Fatigue or “waking up exhausted”

• A distinct sense of “losing control” over your body

These symptoms can arise spontaneously or in specific situations, such as crowds, driving, public speaking, exercising, or even during quiet moments.

Recognizable situations

“I keep having to take deep sighs, otherwise it feels like I’m suffocating.”

“While driving, I suddenly feel like I might faint.”

“My breathing spirals out of control the moment I sit still.”

Does this sound familiar? If so, it’s likely that your breathing is chronically out of balance. The good news is: this can be retrained.

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What causes it?

Dysfunctional breathing often develops gradually. A period of stress, burnout, anxious experiences, or even long-standing poor breathing habits (due to pain, posture, voice use, or sports) can reinforce the pattern. Your body adapts to breathing too quickly or shallowly, creating a vicious cycle: the breathing causes symptoms, and the symptoms increase tension.

Our approach: breathing the way you're meant to

Psychosomatic physiotherapy is especially suited to help restore healthy breathing. We don’t just address the breathing itself. We also focus on the underlying stress responses and body awareness. Steps may include:

1. Becoming aware of your breathing pattern

We’ll examine how you breathe during rest, activity, and stress. Often, you’re not even aware of how much it's affecting you.

2. Breathing therapy and relaxation exercises

Through targeted practice, your body learns to breathe “healthily” again. Slowly, deeply, and rhythmically.

3. Body-focused coaching

We connect breathing to posture, movement, and emotion. You’ll learn to use your breath as both a guide and a calming tool.

4. Self-regulation & home exercises

You’ll receive practical tools to apply during moments of tension, at work, in daily life, or when symptoms begin to rise.

What does a treatment plan look like?

• Intake & analysis: We explore your breathing issues, triggers, and habits.

• Breathwork & relaxation: Aimed at restoring natural breathing reflexes.

• Stress regulation & coping: Insight into how stress, posture, and behaviour affect your breath.

• Integration & relapse prevention: We ensure you feel confident in your breathing, even in challenging situations.

Regain control of your breath and yourself.

Your breath is the most direct tool you have, always with you. When it’s out of sync, everything can feel out of balance.

Want peace of mind and body again? Want to trust your breath to support you instead of holding you back?
Feel free to reach out for an introductory session, no strings attached.