eli5: why do most, if not all, breathing techniques specify ‘out through the mouth’?

Question

i can understand in ‘through the nose’, since dust and other bits can be blocked by the nose hairs and mucus, and apparently the air is more likely to warm up when passing through the nose first, reducing irritation of the throat.

but what difference, if any, does exhaling through the mouth make?

In: 676

Answer 1

You can *ground* yourself (before/during/after) an anxiety attack/panic attack/psychosis/stressful/depressive states by hearing your own breathing. It let’s the mind know you are safe and you’re in control despite feeling otherwise.