CTFD: Calm The Fuck Down. 

COUNT

An easy and cliché method is to simply take a deep breath in while you count to 3 slowly, and then exhale slowly counting to 3. Repeat a minimum of 3 times, or until you feel a shift in your energy. 

TOUCH

Breath work and mental focus isn't for everyone. Some find it incredibly helpful to use senses like touch to help them regroup. This can be done using an object like a special stone or a mala necklace, mindfully touching different textures like fabric, grass and furniture, or simply touching your own thumb to each finger, one by one. 

FOCUS

Shifting focus entirely to a positive thought, or affirmation, is another method that is highly effective to hijack anxiety in its tracks and rewire your mind to focus on what you DO want instead of what you do NOT want. Some examples of a positive affirmation could be: I am enough, I can do hard things, or everything will be okay. It's best to find an affirmation that resonates for YOU or helps to counteract the specific challenge you are facing. 

DREAM

Dreaming up an alternative reality is another way to calm down the nervous system. Some find it helpful to picture themselves in an old favourite memory and others prefer to envision an entirely made up 'safe place' to go to when they need to CTFD. 

There are hundreds of alternative ways to calm the fuck down, but practicing one, or more, of these four options will work for most people, in a pinch. Plus... The acronym was irresistible.