From personal experience, I've found that anxiety often feels like a relentless spotlight on every little discomfort or worry. This narrow tunnel vision amplifies fear, making it hard to see any relief. What helped me was practicing the technique of softening my focus, as described in the video exercise outlined here. Sitting quietly and choosing a fixed spot to rest my eyes on, then gently expanding my awareness to the peripheral space around it, I noticed a subtle but powerful shift in how my body responded. Instead of tension and rapid heartbeat, there was a surprising relaxation — my jaw unclenched, and my shoulders eased down. Repeating this practice regularly made my brain register moments of safety and calm, counteracting the constant alertness anxiety breeds. This subtle cue to the subconscious acts like a message: "There's no immediate danger; you can relax." What’s key is that this practice doesn't try to push away anxiety directly. Instead, it teaches your nervous system that it’s okay to explore the wider environment beyond the anxiety triggers. By giving yourself these repeated experiences of calm, you gradually retrain your brain’s habitual scanning for threat. If you catch yourself spiraling, try this technique: find a spot to gaze softly without moving your eyes, notice what you can see around it in your peripheral vision, and consciously relax your muscles. Over time, this simple approach can become a powerful tool in your anxiety recovery toolkit, promoting nervous system regulation and genuine relief. Remember, even small practices like widening your gaze can open up a greater sense of peace in moments where anxiety usually feels overwhelming.