The Relaxed Breathing Record Form supports client monitoring of the impact of relaxed breathing exercises on their anxiety.
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
The Relaxed Breathing Record Form is designed to complement the relaxed breathing instruction worksheet. It serves as a practical tool for therapists and their clients, providing a structured method to track the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on anxiety. Clients are encouraged to note their subjective anxiety levels before and after practice, offering visible insights into their progress.
Relaxed breathing practices can offer significant benefit to clients experiencing anxiety. This resource:
Testing the efficacy of relaxed breathing in managing pervasive anxiety.
Implementing breathing techniques in people who struggle with panic.
Assisting clients in managing daily stress through effective breathing practices.
Using relaxation techniques to alleviate physical symptoms associated with anxiety.
Share the concept and benefits of relaxed breathing with clients.
Provide instructions on proper diaphragmatic breathing techniques.
Encourage the regular use of the Relaxed Breathing Record Form to document anxiety levels.
Review records in sessions to identify patterns and progress.
Modify therapeutic approaches based on documented client experiences.
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises are a commonly taught strategy in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The clinical rationale is grounded in psychophysiological models which suggest that slow, controlled breathing can regulate autonomic arousal by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS acts to counterbalance the sympathetic “fight or flight” response, reducing physiological symptoms such as elevated heart rate, muscle tension, and hyperventilation (Nestor et al., 2020; Ma et al., 2017).
In generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), where excessive worry is accompanied by chronic physiological tension and hyperarousal, breathing retraining can be a useful component of a broader treatment strategy. Research indicates that individuals with GAD often display irregular breathing patterns, such as sighing or shallow respiration, which may contribute to the persistence of symptoms (Thayer et al., 1996; Suárez et al., 2009). Techniques such as slow diaphragmatic breathing can help correct these patterns, reduce somatic symptoms (e.g., tension, restlessness), and support downregulation of the stress response.
Although widely used by clinicians, the empirical support for relaxed breathing as a standalone treatment is mixed. Some studies demonstrate that it can effectively reduce acute anxiety and physiological arousal (Zaccaro et al., 2018), while others suggest that its benefits may be modest when used in isolation, especially in the context of chronic or severe anxiety (Conrad et al., 2007). Instead, relaxed breathing is often most effective as part of a broader therapeutic approach, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where it can enhance interoceptive awareness, reduce somatic reactivity, and support emotional regulation (Tolin, 2010).
