In today's Tidbit we want to take you to Vegas!

And we're not talking about where bachelors go to lose their money.

Same word...different spelling.

You know that feeling you get when you're anxious, scared, or angry?

The one that makes you feel like you're going to spiral out of control?

It's part of your body's autonomic nervous system and kicks in when you get surprised by something.

When your brain thinks you are in danger, it stops your body's normal systems and sends out chemicals on purpose to create an action anxiety so you will get yourself to safety.

The bad news...

Sometimes your brain gets it wrong.

It will mistakenly interpret a new experience or unexpected circumstance as dangerous, when it really isn't, and leaves you with anxiety you don't want.

This automatic response, known as the fight, fright, freeze response, can really ruin a good day!

The good news...

Your beautiful body has a built-in natural healing (and trainable) counter-calming response to anxiety.

The fabulous nerve, named Vagus, transmits signals from your brain to your body AND from your body to your brain about whether it should be stressed out or calm.

This is crazy amazing good news because it means when you're feeling anxious, you actually have the power to activate Vagus signals from body to brain and feel better fast!

Here's how:

1) Breath on purpose.

Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds...squeeze your arms in tight and hold your breath for 4...then exhale it all out for 8.

2) Engage your peripheral vision.

Soften the muscles around the eyes by squeezing them tightly closed...then relaxing them and opening softly and slowly. Expand your awareness to the sides of your vision while keeping your eyeballs straight ahead.

3) Increase pressure in your chest.

Take a deep breath...then plug your nose and push out like you are going to stifle a sneeze or pop your ears and hold it for 5 seconds. Also known as the Valsalva Maneuver, this triggers the heart to slow down.

4) Yawn.

Open your mouth really big and try to lift your soft palate in the back of your mouth and make the "r" sound. This should trigger a yawn.

These are quick and effective ways to activate your very valuable Para-Sympathetic body response and TURN OFF the automatic Sympathetic-Anxiety response you don't want.

Think of it like a parachute you can deploy whenever you need...

and leave the anxiety and worry behind!