Tip #1: Practice Deep Breathing A classic sign of the stress response is shallow, crazy-fast breathing. That's why the opposite -- deep, slow breathing -- is such an effective way to calm yourself down. It can help you halt a stress reaction, or at least control it. Plus, it shifts the body's balance of carbon dioxide to oxygen in favor of energizing oxygen. (The integrity of the brain, nerves, glands and internal organs depend on oxygen, and in any shortage in supply will have a profound impact on the entire body, both inside and out.) Breathing goes far beyond just delivering life-sustaining oxygen to the body. Slow, controlled breathing in particular is the foundation for many Eastern practices that aim to return the body to a more balanced state, and one that has removed all signs of stress. When you're focusing on your breathing, you're not thinking about anything else. That shift in your mind helps remove stressors, bringing you to a deeper l...