Breathe
My breath is my unconscious life force that I can control when needed. Noticing my breathing makes me deepen and slow it down. Then my body relaxes when I notice the tension and release it with the breath.
It also helps when I panic. Concentrating on breathing makes me stop worrying. All I need to do is breath and realize everything will be okay.
Forewarning it may cause more anxiety being afraid to stop focusing on the breath but I assure myself that I will continue breathing even if I stop consciously thinking about it.
It reminds me of the first time scuba diving. All suited up in diving gear I started to have intense anxiety about not being able to breathe fresh air for myself and I wasn't even underwater yet. Talk about traumatization, the instructor pushed me under water while I was freaking out and then... I took a breath and I was Okay. All my anguish was for nothing. I was the only one to blame for putting myself through that. It ended up being an awesome experience.
