Anxiety – 5 Simple Coping Strategies

Anxiety doesn't wait for a good moment. It turns up in the middle of a lesson, in a queue or at 3am, and you need something that works right there.

Here are five you can use on the spot, for yourself or with a child: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 grounding, five-finger breathing, belly breathing, a safe space visualisation and progressive muscle relaxation. Five-finger breathing needs nothing but your hands, and a child can do it under the desk without anyone knowing. None of them will fix what's behind the worry, but they can get you through a hard moment without it taking over.

Pick one or two to practise while things are calm, so they're ready when you need them.