The First Step in Taming Your Anxiety How to respond when your brain and your body feel anxious By Amy Morin, LCSW facebook twitter linkedin instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, the author of the bestselling book "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," and the host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. Learn about our editorial process Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on April 16, 2021 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Friday Fix: Episode 65 Whether your anxiety spikes every time you have to make a phone call or you experience panic attacks that come “out of the blue,” anxiety feels uncomfortable. Anxiety tends to trigger worrisome thoughts and a physiological response, like a rapid heartbeat and an increase in pulse. Those responses have the power to increase anxious feelings. It’s a vicious cycle that can be tough to break. The way you respond to an uncomfortable feeling makes a huge difference in how intense those emotions become and how long those feelings last. There may be some mistakes you’re making that are actually making your anxiety worse. Fortunately, learning about anxiety can help you figure out how to respond to your anxious feelings in a helpful way. On today’s Friday Fix, I share one of my favorite strategies for taming anxiety. It’s a great first step for any time you feel anxious. It works well for people of all ages in all different types of circumstances. And it can be an effective strategy for all different types of anxiety. Links and Resources Follow Amy Morin on Instagram Check out Amy’s books on mental strength The Characteristics of High Functioning Anxiety Anxiety: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications Why Panic Attacks Cause Shortness of Breath Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.