Breathe to Heal | Max Strom | TEDxCapeMay
TLDRThis script delves into the importance of intentional breathing as a counter to modern society's stress and unhappiness. The speaker, a breath-work instructor, highlights the epidemic of sleep dysfunction and mental health issues, advocating for breath-work as a free, side-effect-free solution. They share insights on the connection between breath and grief, and how suppressed emotions manifest as anxiety. The script concludes with a simple breathing exercise to promote immediate well-being, emphasizing the need for intimacy and genuine human connection in our digitally-obsessed world.
Takeaways
- 🧘 Breathing is an autonomic function, but intentional breathing can influence internal states and emotions.
- 🌐 In a digital and escape-based society, there's a paradoxical unhappiness despite access to global knowledge and entertainment.
- 📉 Studies indicate a decline in happiness levels and an increase in the use of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications.
- 🌍 The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression and anxiety will be the leading cause of disability worldwide.
- 😴 Sleep dysfunction has reached epidemic levels, affecting societies globally from Beijing to Berlin.
- 💡 Breath-work as a daily practice is suggested as a free and side-effect-free alternative to medication for stress and anxiety.
- 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of a sustainable life, home, and body, in addition to a sustainable world.
- 💼 Executives and CEOs, despite their success, suffer from sleep issues, panic attacks, and chronic depression, highlighting the disconnect between success and well-being.
- 🤝 The script points out the irony of feeling more alone despite increased digital connectivity and the importance of physical presence for trust and intimacy.
- 👀 The speaker questions whether the current path of success is one we would want for our children, considering the reliance on medication for mental health.
- 🧘♂️ Intentional breath-work has been shown to have significant benefits for mental health, including reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome in veterans.
- 🤯 The Defense Department and Navy SEALS are advocating and using breath-work for mental clarity and calm, demonstrating its effectiveness beyond traditional therapy.
Q & A
Why is breathing considered a counterintuitive subject to discuss?
-Breathing is considered counterintuitive because it's an autonomic function that usually occurs without conscious thought, similar to blinking or digesting food. However, it also has intentional aspects that can influence internal feelings and states of mind.
What is the speaker's main reason for traveling the world to teach breath-work?
-The speaker travels to teach breath-work because of the current state of society, which is digitally-obsessed and escape-based, leading to unhappiness and a lack of connection despite technological advancements.
What is the projected global health issue by 2020 according to the World Health Organization mentioned in the script?
-By 2020, the World Health Organization projected that depression and anxiety would be the number one disability worldwide.
What percentage of women in the United States are taking antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication according to the script?
-According to the script, 25% of women in the United States are taking antidepressant medication, anti-anxiety medication, or both.
What has the CDC declared regarding sleep dysfunction in the United States?
-The CDC has declared that sleep dysfunction is now at an epidemic level in the United States.
What does the speaker suggest as a daily practice to help with the global problem of unhappiness and mental health?
-The speaker suggests creating a daily practice of breath-work, which is free to learn and has no side effects, as a way to address the global problem of unhappiness and mental health.
What is the relationship between breath-work and the executives the speaker has worked with?
-The executives the speaker has worked with often report issues like sleep problems, panic attacks, and chronic depression. Breath-work is suggested as a method to help alleviate these issues.
How does the speaker describe the paradox of feeling alone despite being more 'connected' through the internet and social media?
-The speaker describes the paradox as feeling alone more than ever before, despite the supposed connections through the internet and social media, suggesting that these digital connections do not equate to deep, meaningful relationships.
What is the significance of the story about the CEO experiencing panic attacks?
-The story of the CEO is significant because it illustrates how suppressed grief can manifest as anxiety or panic attacks. The CEO's experience shows the power of breath-work in addressing underlying emotional issues.
What is the '4-7-8 breath' exercise mentioned by the speaker and what is its purpose?
-The '4-7-8 breath' is a breathing exercise where one inhales for four counts, holds the breath for seven counts, and exhales for eight counts. It is promoted by Dr. Andrew Weil and is used to help with focus, calmness, and non-reactivity.
How does the speaker suggest we should approach someone who is grieving?
-The speaker suggests that we should be present for someone who is grieving without trying to cheer them up or fix their feelings. Instead, we should acknowledge their pain and offer consistent support, showing that we are there for them through their grief.
Outlines
🧘♀️ The Importance of Intentional Breathing
Breathing is often overlooked as an automatic process, much like blinking or digesting food. However, unlike these functions, breathing can be done intentionally to change how we feel internally. The speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching breath-work not just for relaxation but to help people cope with the stress and anxiety prevalent in our digitally-obsessed society. The rise of depression and anxiety globally, as noted by the WHO, highlights the need for sustainable practices like breath-work.
🤔 Questioning Our Modern Success
The speaker raises a thought-provoking question: 'Will you survive your success?' Many people live stressful lives reliant on medication, which they wouldn't want to teach their children to emulate. Studies show that breathing exercises can significantly reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, as evidenced by research from the Stanford Research Institute. The Defense Department even advocates for breath-work and yoga for veterans, showing its effectiveness. The benefits of intentional breathing include improved focus, calmness, and reduced reactivity.
💡 The Connection Between Breath and Grief
The speaker shares a story of a CEO experiencing panic attacks due to unresolved grief over his brother's death. By addressing the root cause—grief—the CEO found relief through breathing exercises. The speaker observes that many people suppress grief, which later manifests as anxiety. He advocates for acknowledging and expressing grief, noting that societal norms often discourage this. By allowing ourselves to feel and process grief, we can alleviate related anxiety.
🌬️ Practicing a Simple Breathing Exercise
The speaker introduces a basic breathing exercise, the 4-7-8 breath, which can be done to quickly alleviate stress. This involves inhaling for four counts, holding for seven, and exhaling for eight. This technique helps calm the nervous system and can be done before or after challenging situations. The exercise is accessible and can be practiced anywhere, offering an immediate way to improve well-being. The speaker emphasizes the importance of incorporating breathing breaks into daily routines, much like cigarette breaks.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Autonomic Nervous System
💡Intentional Breathing
💡Digitally-Obsessed Society
💡Depression and Anxiety
💡Antidepressant Medication
💡Sleep Dysfunction
💡Breath-Work
💡Sustainable Life
💡Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD)
💡Navy SEALS
💡Grief
💡4-7-8 Breath
Highlights
Breathing is a counterintuitive subject as it is typically an autonomic process, but intentional breathing can change internal feelings.
The speaker travels the world to teach breath-work in a society that is digitally obsessed and unhappy.
Worldwide, depression and anxiety are predicted to be the number one disability by 2020, affecting both the U.S. and globally.
25% of U.S. women and a similar percentage of men are taking antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication.
Sleep dysfunction has been declared an epidemic by the CDC, indicating a global problem.
Creating a daily practice of breath-work is suggested as a free and side-effect-free solution to societal issues.
Executives and CEOs face issues like sleep problems, panic attacks, and chronic depression, which they often hide.
Despite being connected through the internet, people feel more alone than ever, questioning the depth of our connections.
Physical spaces like kitchens are becoming more luxurious, but actual social dining has decreased, indicating a lack of intimacy.
The speaker questions whether people can survive their success and if they would want their children to live the way they do.
Breathing exercises have been shown to help with post-traumatic stress syndrome in veterans, reducing symptoms significantly.
The Defense Department is advocating breath and yoga for veterans, acknowledging the effectiveness of these practices.
Navy SEALS use breath-work for focus and calm before battle, indicating the practical effectiveness of these techniques.
Intentional breathing can lead to benefits such as focus, calm, and non-reactiveness.
Mindfulness programs often teach meditation first, but the speaker suggests that teaching breathing first can be more effective.
Breathing exercises can help people process grief, which is often suppressed and expressed as anxiety.
The speaker shares a personal story of a CEO who overcame panic attacks by addressing his suppressed grief through breathing exercises.
Society should focus on building stronger friendships and supporting those who are grieving, rather than avoiding them.
Learning breathing exercises can have immediate effects, making a difference in people's lives right away.
The speaker introduces a simple breathing exercise called the 4-7-8 breath, demonstrating its practice.
Transcripts
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