Travis Barker Shares How Breathwork Has Helped Him ‘Get Through a Lot of Trauma’ (Exclusive)

**Travis Barker Finds Healing Through Breathwork Amidst Personal Trials**

Famed drummer Travis Barker has revealed a transformative approach to addressing long-held trauma: breathwork. In an interview with PEOPLE during the recent Tribeca Festival, Barker opened up about how this practice has aided him in dealing with emotional scars dating back to his childhood. The 50-year-old musician is set to share his journey in the upcoming documentary, *Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear*, which will be released this summer.

Directed by Justin Krook and Michael Dwyer, the documentary delves into Barker’s rise to fame as a member of the iconic band Blink-182, alongside the personal challenges he has faced throughout his life. Notably, it captures the aftermath of a harrowing plane crash in 2008 that left him grappling with severe fears associated with flying.

Barker disclosed that the journey towards completing the documentary was hindered by his apprehensions about flying. However, with encouragement from his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, he managed to confront and eventually conquer these fears. “I knew in the back of my head, the end of this documentary is me getting on a plane again and facing my fear, which I didn’t know was ever going to be possible,” he shared. He continued, “But years later, I fell in love with one of my best friends, and amazing things happened. Who would have known?”

A significant aspect of Barker’s healing has come from his commitment to breathwork, a therapeutic practice that utilises breathing techniques to alleviate stress and enhance mental wellbeing. Barker explained that this approach has been instrumental in helping him navigate emotional trauma. “It really helped me get through a lot of trauma I have held onto since I was a child,” he mentioned during the interview.

The practice was introduced to him by a massage therapist, who was perceptive to the emotional weight Barker was carrying. He recounted a pivotal moment after his plane accident when his therapist urged him to explore breathwork. “I can massage you all you want, but I can feel how much trauma you hold onto, and you need to do something about it,” he recalled the therapist saying. “That just eats you inside, and it’s going to turn into disease, and you deserve to be relieved of all this trauma. You need to try breathwork.”

Taking this advice to heart, Barker embarked on a new path, participating in eight sessions of breathwork that led to profound emotional breakthroughs. “I was bawling my eyes out and dealing with a ton of stuff I never dealt with. Honestly, it changed my life,” he reflected.

The upcoming documentary, *Louder Than Fear*, has been in development for over a decade, with its inception announced in April of this year. It promises to showcase interviews with various music industry figures, alongside intimate insights from Barker’s family and friends.

Barker has openly shared his journey of overcoming his long-standing fear of flying, a phobia that had kept him grounded for many years following the tragic crash. In July 2023, he acknowledged significant progress in this area, thanks ultimately to the unwavering support of Kardashian, who stood by him as he boarded a plane for the first time in 13 years in 2021.

His candidness about the challenges he faced is echoed in other interviews he has participated in. In a September 2021 conversation with Nylon, Barker discussed how breathwork assisted him in preparing for a two-hour flight, while a prior interview with Men’s Health highlighted his commitment to therapy immediately following the crash. Describing his experience, he mentioned undergoing three months of therapy to grapple with post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor’s guilt.

Breathwork, as supported by medical resources like WebMD, offers extensive benefits that include better mental focus, balanced blood pressure, and a reduction in symptoms associated with PTSD. For Barker, it has become a pivotal element of his mental health toolkit.

Fans eager to learn more about Barker’s extraordinary journey will not have to wait long. *Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear* is set to premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on August 13. Through this deeply personal film, Barker aims to inspire others facing their own battles and to emphasise the importance of healing and self-discovery.