Hi akimbo

I agree with what Lara has written.

I live with anxiety though I have not been formally diagnosed with GAD.

I don't know if this is an option for you but finding a psychologist who has experience of using CBT methods with his/her clients could well help. My psychologist taught me CBT - she calls that my "toolkit". By that she means that if I am experiencing anxiety or if I notice that things are not right with my clinical depression I can choose the right CBT tool and put it into action - almost always this works.

I also agree with Lara about breathing. I am not meaning to diminish your feelings of anxiety but often they can have a physiological basis - breathing shallowly can lead to an accumulation of CO2 in the blood. Deep breathing exercises can help here.

Finally, whole body relaxation exercises are a great idea. I do them every night in preparation for sleep - they work for me.

All the best.