3 self-help tricks to relieve anxiety

By Gwendolyn Purdom, Buzz60

Try these tricks to calm yourself down:

Anxiety Reappraisal

Look at your anxiety as a good thing. If you're nervous about a big date, meeting or performance, tell yourself you're excited about it instead. Both feelings cause things like sweaty palms and a pounding heart, so it's easy to make the mental switch. Since excitement is a positive feeling, experts say we do better with that mindset.

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Bilateral Tapping

Stimulating the brain can help you chill. First, focus on a calming image. Then tap your hands on your thighs in a right-left pattern, or do a cross-body move called a butterfly hug, or tap your toes if you want to be more discreet. These movements activate both sides of your brain and they're designed to distract you from anxious thoughts.

Worry Period

Don't fight it, postpone it. Schedule a set worry time for 30 minutes each day. If an anxious thought pops up, write it down and tell yourself to think about it later. Pros say this breaks the habit of obsessive worrying, so you can focus on more important stuff.