Examining Common Anxiety Disorders – Worksheet 2

The second worksheet in Dr. Hal Baumchen’s Examining Common Anxiety Disorders series focuses on the practical side of managing stress and anxiety in recovery. It opens with a reflective writing prompt asking readers to look back at periods of sobriety in their lives and identify the techniques that helped them stay emotionally balanced, consider what circumstances might threaten their anxiety management going forward, and think through how to stay on track long-term. The core of the worksheet presents a menu of evidence-informed stress management strategies — including regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, social connection, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and learning to say no — and asks readers to select three to five they are willing to practice and develop. A final section reframes anxiety as something to approach rather than avoid, encouraging readers to break overwhelming tasks into smaller steps, practice calming techniques in low-stakes situations, and gradually build tolerance and confidence. The closing message reinforces that each time a person moves through mild anxiety rather than retreating from it, they grow stronger — and that consistent practice of these skills leads to greater self-assurance and resilience in recovery.