5 things to reduce anxiety
Here is a simple set of things that can help if you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. They work for adults and children, although a child may need someone older to guide them through. Do this AS SOON AS you notice the anxious feeling - waiting allows your thoughts to get too deeply engaged in the anxious feeling.
This is great to do when you know you are entering a stressful event/time/place.
The steps work to ground you and in doing so can lessen the unwanted feeling.
The 5 things ….
First notice 5 things you can see. If you can make a note of them. Repeat them to yourself.
Next, 4 things you can/could touch
Then,3 things you can hear
Then, 2 things you can smell or taste
Next, 1 good thing about yourself
Lastly, wiggle your toes.
If you have been able to note them, re-read them, are they still all there? What else do you notice?
Now check how you are feeling, how much better do you feel? You can repeat this as many times as you need.
This can help to reduce anxiety by moving us out of our thoughts and into our senses and focussing our brain on a specific task that is unrelated to the situation.
