Anxiety Coping Cards

LENGTHEN THE EXHALE Inhaling deeply does not always work to calm you down. If you take too many deep breaths too quickly, this can cause you to hyperventilate and this hyperventilation decreases the amount of oxygen-rich blood that flows to your brain. Therefore, next time you're feeling anxious, before taking a big, deep breath, try a big exhale instead.

Find a position that is comfortable for you, either standing, sitting, or lying down. Forcibly, push all the air out of your lungs, then let your lungs naturally fill up with air. Next, inhale for a count of 4 and then exhale for a count of 6. Repeat this for 2 to 5 minutes.