The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why

by Amanda Ripley

3. Lower Your Anxiety Level: People with higher everyday anxiety levels may have a greater tendency to overreact or to misread danger signs, as I explain in chapter 6. If you can learn to control your anxiety, you will benefit in all kinds of ways. Your health should improve and, if you ever find yourself in a life-or-death situation, you have a better chance of being able to control your fear response—and maintain your ability to make decisions and process new information. Thousands of books have been written on how to lower anxiety. I find that the best place to start is with the activity we do every minute of every day. As I explain in more detail in the chapter on fear, the breath is the only reliable bridge between the conscious mind and the subconscious. So it makes sense to learn how to manipulate it to your advantage. Police officers are now trained to do rhythmic breathing whenever their guns are drawn. They perform better as a result. Yoga or martial arts can achieve the same ends. The best athletes use their breath to relax, focus, and win. Next time you are immobilized in a traffic jam, practice breathing in for four counts, holding for four counts, and breathing out for four counts. Then repeat. Your driving will improve, and possibly your day.