Anxiety & Depression The First Step in Taming Your Anxiety How to respond when your brain and your body feel anxious By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW Facebook LinkedIn Twitter 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 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. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts 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 Why Panic Attacks Cause Shortness of Breath By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.