Patient was instructed today regarding distraction technique for management of anxiety as follows:

1. Distraction is an alternative anxiety management technique of shifting the attention away.
2. Distraction can help with masking and reducing the experience of anxiety, but does not completely terminate the anxiety.
3. This alternative anxiety management strategy helps with consciously training the mind to focus on some activity, away from source of anxiety.
4. Since shifting the attention from the source of anxiety could be difficult when the anxiety level is high, start practicing distraction when the anxiety level is manageable or none and gradually move on to practicing it with high anxiety levels, as you gain more control on practicing the technique.