The other day I was in the dentist office. Within minutes of being placed in the chair, the hygienist’s gloved fingers were inside my mouth. There was an immediate emotional reaction of anxiety as I tried to divert my thoughts from biting her fingers. (Yes, even therapists have strange phobias.) Fortunately, that same week a client presented with severe anxiety so the steps for overcoming an attack were in my mind. Here is what I did to calm down in the moment: Be aware. Anxiety can manifest in different ways. There are physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, sweaty palms, tightness in the chest, and a knot in the stomach. And there are mental symptoms such as foggy thinking, confusion, obsessive thinking and racing thoughts. Become aware of the early signs of anxiety before it reaches an attack. Welcome the feeling. Instead of becoming anxious about being anxious which only increases the tension, see the anxiety as a friendly reminder. Sometimes the

Source: 7 Tips on Overcoming Anxiety