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1. Think in detail about a place where you felt safe and at peace, remember during an anxiety/panic attack

2. Be aware of cognitive distortions and create balanced thoughts (find a cognitive distortion worksheet online)

3. Acknowledge an intrusive thought, breathe, dismiss and envision putting it on a leaf far away

4. Do the things that make you anxious (1,3,5 method if applicable, do it for one minute then break then three minutes then break etc)

5. Assign a color, shape, location to individual emotions in your body. Imagine shining a healing light from the top of your head on them

6. Ask your inner child what’s wrong when you’re anxious and imagine holding them

7. Set worry periods for five minutes at the end of everyday and when you worry about things say you’ll worry about it then

8. Force yourself through life on hard days. You won’t enjoy eating or living or making the bed but do them anyway. Recovering requires discipline.

9. Find a physical, meaningful activity you enjoy (pole and yoga has been mine)

10. When suicidal, choose an accountability buddy you can count on when you’re feeling you’re about to do something

11. Choose a date when you’ll start thinking/worrying about something to alleviate anticipatory anxiety

Bashar Shglila captures life in the Libyan deserts, from the sky—sundown.