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Understanding Anxiety

What Happens During Anxiety

Your body activates the "fight-or-flight" response, increasing heart rate, speeding up breathing, and releasing stress hormones like adrenaline. This often triggers unnecessarily during everyday situations, leaving you feeling on edge.

How These Techniques Help

These evidence-based techniques activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which naturally counteracts the stress response. Regular practice can reduce both the frequency and intensity of anxious feelings.

Tips for Best Results

  • Find a quiet, comfortable space where you won't be interrupted
  • Start with shorter techniques (2-5 minutes) if you're feeling very anxious
  • Practice regularly, even when you're not anxious, to build your skills
  • Be patient with yourself - these techniques get easier with practice

Help

When professional help is especially useful

Daily life has become more difficult

  • Anxiety interferes with work, relationships, or daily routines
  • Difficulty concentrating on important tasks
  • It's hard to make everyday decisions

Physical manifestations of stress

  • Frequent or intense panic attacks
  • Significant changes in sleep - insomnia, nightmares, or excessive sleepiness
  • Noticeable changes in appetite or weight
  • Unexplained aches or physical discomfort

Emotional changes

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or detachment for more than 2 weeks
  • Loss of interest in activities that used to bring joy
  • Strong outbursts of anger or irritability
  • Feeling emotionally 'numb'

Behavioral changes

  • Avoiding important places, people, or activities
  • Withdrawal from social contact and isolation
  • Difficulty performing normal daily tasks

Intrusive experiences

  • Recurring distressing memories of the event
  • Dreams or nightmares related to the experience
  • Sudden vivid memories (flashbacks)

When it's important to seek help urgently

If you notice in yourself:

  • Thoughts of not wanting to live or harming yourself
  • Using alcohol or other substances to 'cope' with feelings
  • A complete inability to take care of yourself
  • A feeling of complete loss of control over the situation

24/7 Hotlines with Professional Teams

All listed organizations provide anonymous and confidential consultations. Most have teams of professional psychologists with appropriate licenses and experience working with PTSD.

  • Lifeline Ukraine — National Suicide Prevention Hotline

    7333 (24/7) Crisis counseling, support for PTSD, suicidal thoughts.

  • People in Need (PIN) International Humanitarian Organization

    0 800 210 160 (24/7) Psychological support, PTSD consultations.

  • La Strada-Ukraine

    0 800 500 335 (landline) or 116 123 (mobile) — 24/7 Certified psychologists and social workers.

  • Sion Clinic (Kyiv)

    +38 066 837 29 85 (24/7) In-home psychiatric care, PTSD treatment.

  • Ukrainian Veterans Foundation

    0 800 332 029 (24/7) Crisis assistance and support for veterans and their family members.

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This site provides general anxiety information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a healthcare provider for persistent anxiety.