With the breath holding, or other things in your body, it takes a few stages. First is just noticing when something happens in a non-judgmental way. Just a neut

With the breath holding, or other things in your body, it takes a few stages. First is just noticing when something happens in a non-judgmental way. Just a neutral awareness of it. For me this was a challenging part because if I did notice the breath holding I would mentally chastise myself and try to force the air more violently. After that it’s becomes more about taking that neutral awareness and doing something for it. Either taking some deep breaths or checking in with myself to see if I’m feeling anxious. It’s a continual practice, no one ever gets perfect at it. But building up the skills let’s you ride that bicycle :) As for therapists it’s really a personal call. Research some ones in your area. Most will list their qualifications and their therapy modality. And then give them a call and ask for a consultation. Kinda like a first date you chat over the phone or in-person. You will get a personal sense on how they respond to your question or needs. I called 5 and picked one after those consults. My main reason was I felt more at ease with the sound of their voice https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists