I have been reading about using paper bags for hyperventilation that is occurring for panic. An article written by M Tavel and published in an internal medicine journal (2017 ) has recommended paper bags or breath-holding. There is no mention of any of the other breathing techniques that are commonly used in mental health practice.

" Once recognized, prevention and control of at least this part of the disorder are usually successful through explanation of symptom causation and how the symptoms can be aborted by either breath-holding or rebreathing into a paper bag. Before one recommends paper bag rebreathing, however, diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome must be secure, for adverse events may occur if one overlooks serious underlying conditions of acute Myocardial Infarction (MI), pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, and others".

It is understandable that Paramedics stopped using paperbags whilst in an emergency situation and until the diagnosis of hyperventilation in panic was established. But when the diagnosis has been clearly established, it is unclear to me as to why paperbags have become so unfashionable in mental health practice in Australia? Does anyone else use them? At Sensory Modulation Brisbane , Julie and I find paperbags and other simple sensory techniques are very effective, even for mild hyperventilation.