Many anxiety sufferers find that learning an anxiety exercise or two helps them regain control and calm down when they're feeling stressed. Here's one for you to try:
Whenever you feel a hint of anxiety: fully exhale and empty your lungs, then breathe in to the count of seven, hold your breath for a moment and breathe out for the count of eleven.
Try it, and you'll soon see that controlling your breath really can help you calm your mind.
You can find more anxiety exercises like this in the anxiety breathing techniques section.
Photo by Andrea Manor Castelletti
Breathing is a unique physical act, it's the only automatic function your body performs that you can directly influence. When you learn to direct your breath you can have a positive impact on your well-being. You can use your breath to diffuse stress, slow your heart rate, calm your nerves and look after your immune system.
Here's one simple way to work with your breath that can help you feel more calm in just a few minutes. The great thing about this technique is it's really discreet - no-one can see you're doing it, so you can practice at traffic lights, on a train, while standing in a queue, in meetings, or at school pick up time. You can try it if some one is irritating you, or any time you feel anxious or angry and within a couple of minutes you will begin to feel more relaxed.