„Imagine a big box, a container, which is large enough to fit every disturbing thing, without focusing on any specific disturbing thing or image. The box has a locking lid. You can also put a label on the box that says, ‘Not now, later’. You can open and close the lid when you want to take something out or put something in the container, a few things at a time. You may only open the box when it is necessary for understanding things, if thinking about it will help to better grasp the situation, or when you need to address your emotions or solve problems. It would be good to have someone to support you through it. The goal is to make addressing disturbing things manageable for you and for you to be able to choose a suitable time to address them yourself. Because they do need addressing. I have discussed avoidance previously.

You could also imagine a data file that you name and save on your computer. When you need to access the contents of that file, you will find it easily and it will not be able to bother you at an inconvenient time (e.g. when you are in a lesson or studying).

You can also create a container for scents or sounds. You can put disturbing sounds or words on a suitable electronic data carrier.

Imagine a river flowing and taking some leaves with it. Along with the leaves, the current is also taking away your intrusive thoughts – they are going with the flow.

Send strong emotions to space or to the bottom of the ocean.

• Inhale and exhale deeply 3–4 times
• Clench your fists and then relax
• Say ‘I am relaxing’ as you exhale
• Imagine holding anxiety in your fists and letting it go as you unfold your fingers

The last of the tension will go away when you shake your hands.

Name 3–5 neutral things in the room that:

• You can see (e.g. by colour or shape);
• You can hear (e.g. the phone is ringing, a tram is passing by, the clock is ticking, someone is talking);
• Your body is sensing (e.g. a wooden armrest, the chair underneath you, your back against the chair, your toes in the shoe).

• Adjust your body into a comfortable position. Focus on your breathing for a moment, notice how you are breathing in and out. When you notice thoughts, look at them like clouds that are moving and that you are choosing to ignore, and focus on your breathing again. There is no need to strain.
• Observe as your muscles (the muscles in your neck, your shoulders, your abdominal and back muscles) relax and your body calms down. Continue breathing evenly.
• Now imagine yourself being in a place where you feel safe and calm. It can be a place from your current life or an earlier time, and it can also be an imaginary place. It is important that you associate this place with feeling safe and protected in your mind.
• Notice the colours and the sounds, the scents.
• Notice your emotions and experience being overcome with feelings of security and peace.
• When your body feels safe and calm, you can add to that good feeling by gently slapping your knees with each your hands in turn; for example, left-right, left-right, for 6 times in total. This helps to store the good feeling in your corporeal memory.
• Finally, say to yourself ‘When I open my eyes, I will feel secure and calm.
• Adjust your body into a comfortable position. Focus on your breathing for a moment, notice how you are breathing in and out. When you notice thoughts, look at them like clouds that are moving and that you are choosing to ignore, and focus on your breathing again. There is no need to strain.
• Observe as your muscles (the muscles in your neck, your shoulders, your abdominal and back muscles) relax and your body calms down. Continue breathing evenly.
• Now imagine yourself being in a place where you feel safe and calm. It can be a place from your current life or an earlier time, and it can also be an imaginary place. It is important that you associate this place with feeling safe and protected in your mind.
• Notice the colours and the sounds, the scents.
• Notice your emotions and experience being overcome with feelings of security and peace.
• When your body feels safe and calm, you can add to that good feeling by gently slapping your knees with each your hands in turn; for example, left-right, left-right, for 6 times in total. This helps to store the good feeling in your corporeal memory.
• Finally, say to yourself ‘When I open my eyes, I will feel secure and calm.’

• Breathe through your nose – taking long, slow, even, quiet breaths.
• Try to breathe with your diaphragm. The diaphragm lifts on inhalation and lowers on exhalation. Relax your chest. It does not lift or lower much. You may put one hand on your diaphragm and the other hand on your chest. That way, you can observe which area you are using to breathe. Count to four when breathing in and out.
• It is important for the exhalation to last for at least as long as the inhalation. If you are focusing in the exhalation, it is easy to make the inhalation longer.
• Practise for 5–10 minutes every day.

• Bonus exercise. Relaxing breathing: when you breathe in, say to yourself ‘calm’, and when you breathe out, say ‘relax’.