The feeling of anxiety can only escalate to a certain point if you allow it. Do you know you have the ability to stop the escalation of your anxiety? Before I had that knowledge and my anxiety would kick in I would dwell on that anxious feeling. I would hate that nervousness feeling, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, sweaty palms. The more I was in my head about it the more intense the feelings would get, the mental fog, shaking, pacing, dizziness, feeling like I was going to faint. But I had to learn to be ok with that anxious feeling. The days I would feel anxious, I tell myself,”I’m having a bad moment, this feeling will pass”. And go about what I was doing, I wouldn’t dwell on what was happening. Eventually that feeling of anxiousness would subside. When I practice this, not fearing the anxiety and letting it ride out, that anxious feeling wouldn’t last long. I have the power, anxiety doesn’t have power over me. You can learn it too.

Exercising calmness in the face of anxiety is a powerful practice that helps you regain control over your thoughts and emotions. Anxiety often thrives on a sense of urgency, fear, and overwhelm, but calmness allows you to pause, reflect, and respond rather than react impulsively. When people experience anxiety, their breathing often becomes shallow and rapid. This is a natural part of the body's "fight or flight" response, where the nervous system reacts to perceived threats by increasing heart rate and breathing to prepare for quick action. However, this type of quick, shallow breathing can actually exacerbate anxiety, leading to feelings of lightheadedness or increased panic. Practicing deep, controlled breathing helps counter this by signaling to the body that it’s safe to relax, which can reduce the intensity of anxious feelings.