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Managing anxiety

About anxiety, how to manage it and preventing panic attacks (40 minutes).

What you will learn

Anxiety can affect your body, thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

You will learn:

  • about unhelpful coping strategies and how to face your fears
  • about panic attacks and how to prevent them
  • a relaxation exercise for anxiety

Things you can do

You can practise some strategies to help you manage anxiety:

Challenge unhelpful thoughts

Take some time to notice your thoughts and if you see any patterns in your thinking.

To challenge worry or anxious thoughts, you can ask yourself 3 questions:

  • Is there any evidence the thought is true?
  • Is there another way of looking at this situation?
  • What advice would I give my best friend if they were having this thought?

Change your thinking and improve your mental health

Try a relaxation exercise

When you feel anxious, try a guided exercise to create a positive and calm mood.

Guided exercise for anxiety (video, 4 minutes)

Use tension down

When you notice physical symptoms of stress, try the tension down breathing exercise.

Tension down (video, 3 minutes)

Find out more about anxiety and panic

Anxiety - tips and self-help

How to deal with panic attacks