A Sigh Is A Breath Of Love Addressed To Those We Miss

They say that every sigh is a breath of love addressed to those we miss. The sigh is considered a daily act that allows us to release ourselves from the stinging pain of our pains, to free ourselves from the weight that suffocates our soul with a breath, a fleeting relief for too strong a pain.

Well… are sighs really the physiological catharsis of our emotional problems? Only partially. Man sighs when stressed, frustrated, or wrapped in the gray veil of sadness. It is in those moments that our subconscious, almost like a reflex, seems to activate that mechanism to provide us with new oxygen, to temporarily free us from pain.

One might be led to believe that man makes this biological gesture simply to give vent to his emotions. However, this is not always the case, as if we did not sigh, we would die. Sighs, in fact, are a specific type of breathing that we carry out all day involuntarily.

Each breath of air that we let out with a sound, allows us to start the cycle of life again. With today’s article we want to share this curious discovery with you.

The involuntary sigh: a breath of life

There are voluntary and involuntary sighs. The latter are actually a fundamental element for our health and the maintenance of our lungs. These are reflections that, while seeming insignificant, actually respect a fascinating sequence of steps that are worth knowing.

According to a study carried out at the Stanford University School of Medicine (United States), our brain “chooses” the type of breathing we need at each moment. The neurons responsible for this delicate task are two and are positioned in the brain stem ; scholars have renamed them “sigh buttons”.

Here is a rather curious fact: at certain times our alveoli collapse. When this happens, the passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide into our lungs is seriously compromised. The solution? The “sigh buttons” give the order to sigh in order to open the alveoli, allowing twice the air to enter the circulation compared to normal breathing.

It is a survival mechanism that we make without realizing it, once or twice an hour. An incredible mechanism, there is no doubt.

Emotional sighs: what we lack

Karl Teigen, a famous scholar at the University of Psychology in Oslo, was awarded for a study relating to “emotional sighs”. In fact, in 2010 he carried out some research that led to the following conclusions:

• Man is incredibly sensitive to the sighs of others. In fact, we tend to feel a strong empathy towards those who emit a deep sigh.

• However, the most surprising aspect is that this connection reaches very high levels of intensity as we tend to associate that act with emotional pain.

• Our brain interprets involuntary sighs as a source of release caused by frustration, disappointment, pain, defeat, desires or towards those we miss. Because of this, we tend to worry about those who sigh, “What’s up, what are you thinking, what’s bothering you?”   

Man is much more likely to feel empathy when pain is involved rather than happiness. It is an instinctive and subtle mechanism that has always served our species to survive within society. Knowing how to read the needs of others, in fact, is essential in order to be of help.

Sigh to free ourselves mentally and physically

We now know that sighs are vital for not interrupting the life cycle in our lungs, an intimate and perfect connection between our brain and respiratory system. Well, according to a study carried out at the University of Leuven, if we spent several moments of the day simply relaxing and sighing, the benefits for our health would be numerous.

This should not surprise us, as the science of slow and deep breathing already includes relaxation techniques, yoga and other exercises related to Mindfulness. According to the study authors, the following steps should be taken:

• Look for a quiet place that allows us to mentally rest.
• Sit with your back straight.
• Bring your chest out and place your hands in your lap.
• Breathe in deeply through your nose for 4 seconds. Hold the air for another four seconds, then release it with a long, loud sigh lasting seven seconds.

In addition to making us relax, this simple exercise will allow us to be more present, improve our cognitive abilities and turn off the annoying buzz of our mind.

As we have seen, each sigh embodies a fascinating dimension that defines who we are, how we function, what we feel and even how we interact with the environment around us. Do not hesitate to sigh every day and every moment to start a new cycle of life and happiness.