Anxiety is a typical human reaction to stress. But too much anxiety can get in the way of living a healthy, happy life. If you feel caught up in your anxiety, try one or a few of the following exercises anytime and anywhere to find relief. When you’re feeling anxious, you might notice that your heart rate and breathing get a bit faster. First, you should sit in a quiet and comfortable place. Put one of your hands on your chest and the other on your stomach. Then take a slow and regular breath in through your nose. Watch and sense your hands as you breathe in. The hand on your chest should remain still while the hand on your stomach will move slightly. Breathe out through your mouth slowly. Repeat this process at least 10 times or until you begin to feel relaxed. If it doesn’t work, try think of your ideal place that you find very calming, happy, peaceful, and safe. Think about how the place would smell, feel, and sound. Envision yourself in that place, enjoying it comfortably. Once you have a good picture of your “happy place,” close your eyes and take slow and regular breaths through your nose and out of your mouth. Be aware of your breathing and continue focusing on the place you’ve imagined in your mind until you feel your anxiety lifting. But it can be hard to think clearly when you feel anxious. Sometimes anxious thinking can make us believe harmful thoughts that are untrue or make us do things that make our anxiety worse. Here’s how to avoid so: ask yourself whether endless worry is a problem for you. If the answer is yes, it’s good to be aware of that. Then try different ways such as singing a silly song, , listening to music, reading a book or the like. Counting is also a simple way to ease your anxiety. When you feel anxiety washing over you, close your eyes and slowly count to 10. If necessary, repeat and count to 20 or an even higher number. Keep counting until you feel ease. Sometimes this relief occurs quickly, but other times it might take a while. Stay calm and patient. It’s a great tool to use in a crowded or busy space where you can’t do other anxiety exercises. Choose an anxiety exercise and try it until you’re feeling relaxed. If one exercise doesn’t work, try a different one. But anxiety exercises may not work for those with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). If you have GAD, consult your doctor for more effective treatment options. Anxiety exercises to help you relax Introduction Too much anxiety can ( 3 6 )_______ with your healthy and happy life. One or a few of the exercises can help you relieve yourself anytime and anywhere. Relax by ( 3 7 )______ Controlling your breath can help address your body’s stress ( 3 8 )_____, like increased heart rate and rapid breathing. *Find a quiet and comfortable place, and breathe in slowly and regularly through your nose, with one hand on your chest remaining still and the other on your stomach ( 3 9 )______ slightly Relax by visualizing Paint a mental picture of a place that makes your relaxed and happy. *Find an ideal place to relax and imagine enjoying yourself while thinking of the ( 4 0 )_______. *Take slow and regular breaths through your nose and out of your mouth, with your eyes closed and your attention ( 4 1 )_______ on the happy place. Relax by interrupting your anxious thinking Anxiety thinking can result in a bad ( 4 2 )_____. It’s helpful to break it. *Identify the problem and try different ways like singing a silly song, , listening to music, reading a book and so on. Relax by ( 4 3 )______ When other anxiety exercises might be challenging to ( 4 4 )______ out, counting may work. *Keep counting slowly until you find your anxiety decreasing. Conclusion Choose one anxiety exercises and keep trying until you feel ( 4 5 )_____ anxious. However, it makes sense for those with GAD to consult doctors.