From the research
Check your breath with a hand on your belly
Shared by Pocketful editors
Published 2 October 2026
When anxiety spikes, move somewhere quieter if you can. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then let it out slowly through your mouth, with a hand on your stomach to check it rises as you breathe in and falls as you breathe out.
Source
- Title
- Quick Tips to Reduce Anxiety (opens in a new tab)
- Published in
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Year
- 2021
If you're struggling right now, you don't have to handle it alone. In Canada or the US, call or text 988 any time. If you're in immediate danger, call 911. In Canada, 211 can connect you with local mental health and addiction services.
Tips shared here are personal experiences, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before changing your care. Read the full disclaimer