Tools for coping with anxiety

When someone tells us to breathe because we’re anxious, it can be irritating. The kind of deep breathing that actually helps relieve anxiety is a specific technique or techniques. Here are a couple of videos that provide practical techniques for dealing with anxiety. This video is a good example of how to breathe for anxiety relief and this one provides a good guided meditation. The breathing style depicted in the first video is extremely helpful if you find yourself feeling tired while studying, reading, or taking notes for long periods. If you aren’t in a position to take lengthy breaks, taking two minutes to focus on that variety of deep breathing can be both calming and energizing.

If you find yourself unable to stop thinking about a past or future event and becoming increasingly emotional, this video can help. If, for example, you are worried about a test, watch the video while thinking about the room you will be taking the exam in, the professor who will be administering the test, the subject being examined, etc., until the associated emotions diminish and you can relax.