Flourish Health & Wellbeing Magazine - Dec23 - Flipbook - Page 86
Step 3
MANAGE
your responses using controlled breathing and self-talk
1. Slowing down your breathing to help calm your body’s anxiety reaction.
2. Ensure you keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
3. Replacing frightening thoughts with more helpful ones.
To slow your breathing
down, take smaller
breaths and pause
between breaths to
space them out. When
you have breathed
out slowly, hold your
breath for a count of
three before inhaling
your next breath.
While concentra琀椀ng on
breathing out slowly,
say to yourself ‘Relax’,
or ‘Stay calm’, or ‘it’s
OK, I’m managing OK’.
These are good words
to use because they
are associated with
feeling relaxed and in
control.
Try not to dwell on the
bad things that might
happen, but instead
tell yourself that the
calmer you are, the
be琀琀er you’ll be at
managing exactly what
needs to be done.
Preparing your property and family in an emergency situation
may affect people psychologically.