Just Breathe

Feeling anxious?

Anyone else feeling anxious about returning to school, overwhelmed by all of the work that needs doing, or just generally feeling a bit uneasy about what each day will bring?

You're not alone!          This past year has been overwhelming for us all - and that's understandable. With things changing week to week, it's important to know how we can manage that anxiety - so here are some tips!Find your 5 - Use your senses to bring your breath back, or bring that heart rate down when it starts to race. Look around the room you're in and find  - 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. Focus on these things, and by the time you get down to taste - hopefully all your tasting is relief! Deep breathing! Breathing is an amazing way to slow your brain and body down - You can use different methods - like Take 5  - trace up and down each of your fingers as you breathe......go up your thumb and breathe in.....down your thumb and breathe out...up your pointer finger breathe in.....down your pointer breathe out....Mindful breaths  - breathe in for four counts...think of one thing you're doing well*....breathe out for four counts.....*YOU CAN BE DOING WELL AT ANYTHING! Even just trying these methods means you're doing amazing!*Identifying Triggers!   Beginning to recognise certain events or "things" that are escalating your distress is a great way to start to decrease the effect they have. You can do this tracking your mood - noting down when your mood changes happen, and then what was around / happened before the change....using a worksheet like the attached....or discussing your concerns with someone like our wellbeing team or myself! Remember - this is a hard time for most of us right now - but we're doing the best we can. Continue to keep working hard, asking for help, and being proud of everything you're doing. As always, with love and support Kaitlyn Einam    | she / they

Health Promotion Nurse