In a state of chronic hyperventilation, various professional, technical, perceptual, peacemaking, psychological, athletic, recreational and other abilities and skills deteriorate. These include: concentration, short- and long-term memory, logical and analytical abilities, the work of all the senses, coordination, precision of movements, balance, abilities to negotiate, to compromise, to be consistent, persistent, disciplined, self-organized, etc.

There is only one real world, but a person, in conditions of over-breathing, sees it differently at different moments in time. That usually means that people also see their own positions and places in this world differently. Some people experience mood swings. Sometimes, they can feel helpless and weak; sometimes they can feel themselves powerful and invincible. In such conditions they are likely to deny one state while being in another. Realization and acceptance/self-analysis of these changes can lead to periods of depression and confusion. Addictions can develop as ways to avoid this abnormal perception.

A meaningful life means, among many other things, an ability to be realistic, the absence of addictions, having good and healthy relationships with others, the ability to work productively, to enjoy physical work, to achieve certain goals in life, etc. Let us consider those dimensions, which are not discussed above.

Meaningful relationships with others are possible when the person has a long-term caring and respectful attitude towards others. He/she can clearly see:

- one’s own and others’ abilities and limitations (who is who);

- how they can help each other;

- the impact of relationships on both sides;

- the dynamic or future trends in interactions.

Seeing these things clearly is more difficult in an abnormal mental state. Hyperventilating people are more likely to be inconsistent (or moody), choose the wrong friends, pay attention to wrong or non-existent problems in their relationships with other people, etc.

Do we accomplish less in a personal life when breathing is heavy?

The achievement of personal goals (e.g., in business and employment, personal life and hobbies, arts and sports) requires:

- an ability to perceive reality normally and to be objective when considering one’s skills, growth potentials and limitations;

- an ability to choose an optimum plan to achieve the selected goals;

- an ability to work diligently and persistently towards these goals day after day, month after month, and often year after year while being under the influence of different outer and inner destabilizing factors and processes.

Chronic over-breathing negatively affects the whole goal-achieving complex. An objective perception of the real world, including one’s own place and qualities, is more difficult or nearly impossible. Choosing the optimum plan of actions and its execution become problematic. (If one cannot see oneself clearly, how can one make a good plan?). Finally, an inconsistent state of mind (“spontaneous and asynchronous …”) makes self-discipline, diligence and persistence, in relation to daily work for many days/months/years, impossible or too difficult.

What problems in society would be solved if normal breathing were again, as long time ago, a norm of life for most people?

During the 1910’s the commanding officers of British Air Force personnel used breath-holding time as a test for pilots. When the pilots failed the test, they were barred from flying planes. It was expected that after full exhalation and a usual inhale, a pilot should be able to keep his breath for at least 50 s (That corresponds to about a 35 s CP). Military medical doctor Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Flack conducted thousands of such measurements. The results of these studies were described in his article Some simple tests of physical efficiency published in one of the most respected medical magazines, The Lancet in 1919 (Flack, 1919). Why was the test important? They found that pilots with short breath holding time could crash their planes and kill themselves due to stress.

Since modern people have on average a 20-30 s CP, should we be surprised by our performance in many areas, from families to states? In my view, the high rates of personal conflicts, lawsuits, divorces, number of children growing in broken families, rates of numerous mental disorders, addictions, international conflicts and wars, and many other similar phenomena and effects could be reduced 5-10 times or more or completely eliminated, if everybody has normal breathing. Obviously, these claims need more scientific and clinical research.

Many historians, religious persons, politicians, psychologists, philosophers and humanists have been concerned about the variety of social problems that have appeared during the last 100 years due to fear. Fear, as it was acknowledged, has been a nightmare for humanity. It has expressed itself in the destructive tendencies found in various social units (families, communities, countries, societies, etc.). Fear is another by-product of hyperventilation.

Note that the breathing characteristics of ordinary people during previous centuries were better than those of the upper classes, including political, social, military, economical, and other leaders. Indeed, upper class people and leaders have always been affected by less exercise, more sitting, abnormal changes in diet especially due to overeating and cooked and processed foods, overheating, more speaking and other activities and conditions considered unnatural for a human being. The influence of these factors on breathing will be discussed in the next chapter.

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