Can’t find a bathroom in the midst of a bathroom emergency?

Try these vagus nerve breathing exercises to help calm yourself down.

Think Youve Got Food Poisoning?

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Shes now first to admitalways with a smirk on her facethat sh*t changes you.

It carries signals from the brain to the gut and helps regulate bowel movements.

Its whynervous poopsare a very real thing.

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board-certified gastroenterologist atGastro Health

6 vagus nerve breathing exercises to save you from an urgent bathroom accident

1.

4-7-8 breathing

This technique is also helpful for sleep and relaxation, according to meditation and breathwork expertKristina Headrick.

This Medication-Free Poop Hack Could Not Only Help, but Its Fun Too

2.

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Counting your breaths

Want something simpler?

Count each breath, one-by-one.

If you lose track, you go back to one and start counting the breathing again.

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You do this for a prescribed amount of time.

The longer exhales are how you hack the vagus nerve.

For example, if its a natural count of two, increase it to three.

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board-certified gastroenterologist atGastro Health

Link to a count

Coordinate your breath with a simple movement, says Dr. Kumar-Singh.

Then, to lengthen the exhale, add a second movement.

Then add a pause halfway down before continuing to your sides.

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Link to an affirmation

In your mind, repeat an affirmation as you exhale, says Dr. Kumar-Singh.

Then to lengthen the exhale, add a few words onto the affirmation.

For example, say I am calm.

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Then add on and say I am calm and strong.

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