If youve ever been to therapy or live with anxiety or stress, you probably understand the importance of mindful breathing. Deep breathing can slow and help control your heart rate as well as quiet your mind.

But just because breathing exercises can help some, that doesnt mean its the go-to strategy for everyone in every anxious moment. Here, therapists who frequently see patients for anxiety explain why casually telling someone to take a deep breath sometimes isnt a solution or even useful:

It can come off as condescending or dismissive