My top 2 antidotes to fear

1) I move my body. Any way that suggests itself. Fear lives in my body and that's where it has to be met. Movement turns fear into energy. It restores my connection to my body - dissolves the disembodiment, disconnection, paralysis, that fear brings.

2) I sniff things. The things I crave when I'm afraid - chocolate, coffee, cake. Often, sniffing them is enough - I don't want them anymore. Or my objects of comfort - my dressing gown, my sandalwood-silk sari, my favourite books. Or whatever's at hand - sweater, BART ticket, inner wrist. Go on - try it. When's the last time you sniffed your own skin?

I've figured out that sniffing makes me take deep breaths. They do the same thing as movement - meet and embrace fear where it sits in my body. Smells short-circuit the thoughts in my brain, open a neural pathway to useful ideas and effective action.