I'm going to tell you something that seems contrary...you need to slow down on the slowing down. If you're driving 60 mph and you slam on your brakes its not going to feel to good.

Slowing down and learning to breathe is beneficial for us. Its the easiest, safest way to calm ourselves.

Start out by just noticing your breath. When you breathe, where is it going? Do your shoulders or stomach move? When I started this process I was breathing into my shoulders and this was irritating my already high anxiety, which drove my racing thoughts which compounded my anxiety which which which....

If you take a deep breath you will notice your chest puff out which is better but still not the action we are looking for. When you inhale, you want it to feel like you are pulling the air in by extending your belly and filling up from the bottom up.

Just doing this a few times each day you will find it easier to breathe and later will help you to relax while you do your body scan.

Now, when I find myself in an anxiety provoking situation I find my breathing takes care of itself. But I started out slowly.