When anxiety attacks you unexpectedly you are caught unawares and put in a spot where you really don't know what to do to stop anxiety. As much as it is really handy to call people and rely on support, where possible, it is always handy to be prepared and armed with tips to combat anxiety - it helps you deal with anxiety in a prepared manner.

Here are some tips that you can try straightaway:

1. Stop whatever it is you are doing, become completely present to whatever it is that is happening to you. Find the nearest comfortable spot and sit down. Pretend you are a very limp and lifeless rag and let your arms and legs hang really loose. Slowly, expel the air from the the pit of your stomach. Slowly, very slowly inhale air through your lungs until it reaches your abdomen. Do this a few times.

Lots of times, lack of oxygen can trigger off anxiety symptoms or a resemblance of anxiety symptoms. This should help you in relieving anxiety. Plenty of times not breathing in properly, especially in the abdomen area can create similar symptoms of anxiety.

2. If you are at home when you feel an anxiety attack coming on, indulge in a soothing and relaxing bath. This should help in relieving anxiety. Warm water has healing and calming properties and invariably you come out feeling much more relaxed. Include soap bubbles and aromatherapy oils if they are handy. Even a warm shower can help overcome anxiety.

3. Keep a bottle of pure chamomile aromatherapy oil. When you need to control anxiety, just open the bottle and inhale the aroma from the bottle. Chamomile has very calming and soothing properties and should help you to overcome anxiety and earn a good night's sleep.

4. Try basic natural energy healing techniques. One of the simplest and basic things you can do for yourself is lie down comfortably. Rub your energy point in the middle of both your palms with your thumbs, rub the tips of your fingers and visualise a calming light blue healing energy flowing through your palms and finger tips. Rest your palms on your abdomen and visualise that the healing energy is melting away the anxious energy in your abdomen. Visualise yourself having overcome anxiety and feeling very relaxed and calm.

5. Living in the present moment can be the most powerful way of dealing with anxiety. Lots of times, we indulge in the negative past memories or we catastrophize the future or want to get rid of our current feelings of anxiety. None of these help. Think of it this way, this is what we have always done in the past and it has not helped you - if anything, it could possible have led you to the current anxiety situation. However, if you experience the feeling, be with it, and simply observe - it can disappear. Usually, feelings and thoughts are transient and have a short span of life. Sometimes the feeling that is being watched - simply disappears. Before you know it, you would have overcome anxiety.

6. Simple Physical Exercises can help you significantly in relieving anxiety. If committing to fitness regimes in a gym seems formidable, at least make the effort to go out for a walk regularly, even 15 minutes a day can do the trick. Physical activity certainly releases endorphins in the brain that makes you feel calm and uplifted.

7. Draw your anxiety - you certainly do not have to have pretty pictures or a professional artist. Keep a stack of colour pens/pencils/crayons. Express yourself in colours. Your anxiety may look like a grey cloud, or an angry black dog, or a brown rock or just a grey rough ocean. Whatever, it feels like just draw the first picture that appears in your head. The beauty of this is, having completed the drawing of your current state of mind - you can change that state of mind - by simply changing the drawing to something cheery - a sunshine filled flower patch, a simple smiley face, a huge cat chasing the anxiety down the road etc. Drawing actually interrupts your thoughts and can be used as an external tool to direct your thoughts towards sunshine, energy and cheerfulness. Try it for what it is worth!!

However, do not forget to ensure you seek professional help to talk through your problems.