Today's M1 Accident The Crash That Reminded Me Why I Do This Work

Today's M1 Accident

The Crash That Reminded Me Why I Do This Work

This morning reminded me why I do the work I do.

After returning from an early surf, I was sitting on the verandah enjoying a cup of tea when I heard the unmistakable sound of screeching tyres, followed by an almighty crash.

My house overlooks the M1, and I could immediately see that something serious had happened.

After calling emergency services, I headed down to see if there was anything I could do.

As the emergency crews were attending to those directly involved in the crash, a short distance away stood a young woman in obvious shock. She had been driving just ahead of the accident and had witnessed the entire event unfold in her rear-view mirror. A lady she works with just happened to be walking past was standing with her, offering comfort.

The young woman was shaking, breathing rapidly and struggling to process what had happened. After she managed to call her mum and we pieced together the events, I asked if she would like some help with her breathing, which she accepted. 

We began simply. I asked her to gently cup her hands over her nose and mouth and look out across the water, noticing the sun sparkling on the surface. At first, her breathing was fast and uncontrolled. When she felt ready, I encouraged her to breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth. Her nose was blocked from crying, making it difficult, so rather than forcing anything, I simply held her in a hug while quietly guiding her breathing.

I reminded her:

"You're safe."

"People are here to help."

"There's nowhere you need to be right now, there's no rush."

Slowly, her breathing softened. The trembling eased. Her shoulders relaxed. Within a few minutes she was calm enough to think clearly again and make a plan to with her co-worker to drive to a nearby friend's house.

During our conversation she mentioned that she experiences panic attacks, and we spoke briefly about how frightening they can feel.

It reminded me of something I see regularly in clinic.

We all experience shock and panic differently. When we are in a shock, fear or panic state, our breathing is one of the first things to change. It becomes fast, shallow and often through the mouth. This response is completely normal, it's part of our body's survival system.

The challenge comes when this breathing pattern becomes the brain's default response.

Every time we breathe rapidly during stress, the nervous system strengthens the connection between feeling anxious and breathing anxiously. Over time, the brain can begin to interpret even relatively safe situations as threats, automatically triggering the same breathing pattern. The breathing then reinforces the feelings of panic, creating a cycle where the mind and body continually amplify one another.

Many people describe panic attacks as feeling completely powerless, as though their body has taken over.

The good news is that breathing is one of the few automatic functions we can consciously influence.

Learning how to recognise the early signs of panic and gently guide your breathing back towards a slower, calmer rhythm doesn't just help in the moment, it helps retrain the nervous system over time. With practice, your brain begins to associate stress with control rather than overwhelm.

Breathing isn't about "just taking a deep breath." It's about teaching your body that it is safe again.

This morning was a powerful reminder that sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer another person isn't advice or answers.

Sometimes it's simply helping them find their next calm breath.

I think this story is especially powerful because it shows the real-world application of breathing, not in a clinic, but in one of the most stressful moments a person can experience. It also subtly demonstrates that breathing retraining is about changing how the nervous system responds, rather than simply "relaxing."

Sal

Sleep, Breath and Airway Educator

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