Exploring fear and anxiety bundle

Fear is a response to danger or perceived danger, but anxiety is a response to danger that could happen in the future, or remembrance of past danger. Anxiety is like a false fire alarm but it can seem just as loud as an alarm would be for a real fire. Anxiety gives us a lot of physiological energy that our body does not need to survive, and so we are left with it, and it can feel scary and unpleasant.

When we feel anxiety, we can try to calm ourselves down as the energy passes, by engaging in breathing practices or sensory strategies, or we can repurpose the energy and put it to good use by moving our bodies or our minds to do activities (occupations) that give us meaning or make us stronger.

Here are a list of resources in this bundle:

Fear infographic

Anxiety decision tree

Body sensations cards

10 Breathing practices for calm

Fear and anxiety lesson

Breathing pattern worksheet

Sensory and self regulation checklist

What makes me feel safe sensory strategies

Interest checklist