Next, observe your breathing. Sit comfortably on a couch or chair with your legs extended. Place a heavy book on your abdomen, above the navel. Watch the book as you breathe. If it does move, you may be hyperventilating.
Correct breathing is a rather complicated process.
To fill our lungs with air, we have to contract the diaphragm, the muscle that divides the chest and abdominal cavities. Contracting the diaphragm pushes the abdomen out and gives the lungs room to expand. When the lungs are full, abdominal muscles contract, pushing the diaphragm back into its original position and squeezing the lungs to expel air. If you have a severe problem with hyperventilation, you may need to break the habit with some structured breathing exercise. Make sure that your clothes are loose and comfortable and that you are relaxed.