Struggling in Breathwork? Here's Why That Might Be Exactly the Medicine You Need | Charleston Breathwork: Trauma-Informed Breathwork
- Stephanie Burg
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 9

Have you ever struggled in a Breathwork session?
Maybe you felt that:
— Your mind wouldn’t quiet
— The breath pattern was odd or uncomfortable
— Your physical sensations were too much
— Your emotions came on too strong
You’re not alone.
Your discomfort in Breathwork might be showing you exactly why you need it most.
In my Charleston Breathwork sessions (both online and in person), I’ve supported so many people through these exact experiences.
These moments of resistance?
They’re not wrong. They’re often the doorways to the deepest breakthroughs.
Let’s talk about the most common reasons people find Breathwork hard—and why those same reasons are often the invitation to go deeper into the practice...

Why Breathwork Feels Hard...
...and what It’s Really Showing You
Charleston Breathwork | Nervous System Support + Emotional Healing
1) Letting Go of Control
If you struggle with letting go of control in Breathwork (and in life), you’re likely incredibly intelligent and thoughtful. But when it comes time to slow down, your powerful mind can be hard to quiet.
What you might not know is this: if you stick with the rhythm of the active breath for just a few minutes, the mind’s grip begins to soften.
Your nervous system shifts.
Your energetic system comes online in a heightened way.
With consistent practice, letting go becomes easier. And as a result, you can create a new experience of yourself, stop overanalyzing, and find peace in the present moment.
2) Overthinking
Overthinking often comes from emotional protection—an unconscious way to stay safe and in control while avoiding what’s under the surface emotionally.
Too much thinking can keep your nervous system locked in stress.
A rhythmic breath pattern, like the one we use in my Breathwork sessions, gives your mind something to follow.
By working with a specific breath pattern, your mind focuses on the breath, allowing you to release thoughts, make space to feel your emotions, and connect to your intuition.
Too much thinking can also leave you overextended—mentally and physically.
Breathwork quiets the mind so your body can recharge and your Spirit can fly free.

3) Physical Discomfort / Feeling Too Much in Your Body
Breathwork can sometimes create physical discomfort or strong sensations that may feel intense, unusual, or even scary if they come on without warning.
Tingling, buzzing, tension, tightness, or involuntary gripping in your hands or around your mouth—these sensations may be pointing to where you’re holding excess tension without realizing it, or showing you where your energy may get stuck.
While completely normal in a transformational Breathwork session, these physical sensations can be alarming the first time you experience them.
If your body feels overwhelmed, it may register Breathwork as “unsafe.”
Some of us were taught to push through discomfort—and when inexperienced Breathwork facilitators encourage you to bypass your body’s signals, it can backfire.
That’s why trauma-informed guidance is essential.
Done with care, Breathwork helps you expand your edges and feel safe—without overriding your body’s wisdom.
With the right support, Breathwork moves energy and tension through your body, leaving you lighter, more relaxed, and free.
4) Emotional Discomfort
If you’re afraid of the emotions that might come up in a Breathwork session, you are not alone.
Many people try to process emotions through the mind—and in doing so, those emotions become “stuck” in the body.
Breathwork helps bypass the mind so your emotions can move.
Grief, rage, sorrow, joy—it all belongs.
You don’t have to dive into the deep end every time.
Start slow.
Build your capacity to be with the unknown.
Watch how your nervous system, your intuition, and your ability to trust yourself grow stronger.

The Gifts of Breathwork
Some of what a consistent Breathwork practice offers:
The ability to feel, know, and work with your energy system
Sharpened mental focus
Discernment between what’s truly yours and what you may be carrying from your external environment
A feeling of “coming home to yourself,” along with peace, release, gratitude, and enhanced self-love
If you’ve been navigating stress, burnout, overwhelm, or emotional heaviness—and you’re ready for something different—my Breathwork sessions are here to support your healing.
Whether you’re local and looking for Breathwork in Charleston, or joining a virtual event from across the globe, this practice can meet you exactly where you are.
Join us for our next Charleston Breathwork online or in-person healing journey.
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