This reduction in physiological stress is important because there is likely a relationship between physiological stress and emotional stress, although the exact neuro-mechanism has yet to be determined. When we consider stress management, we can either approach it in a top-down manner (by controlling cognition, which can then trickle down to the body’s stress response) or with a bottom-up approach (by controlling the physiological response, which then affects mental state). The “physiological sigh” is an example of a bottom-up stress management technique that can be used acutely to reduce stress or anxiety.