Which should be avoided in someone with severe anxiety?

• A. Breathing exercises
• B. Grounding techniques
• C. Hydration
• D. Caffeine

Answer: (D)

When anxiety is severe, anything that boosts the body’s arousal can intensify symptoms. Caffeine acts as a stimulant that increases adrenaline and sympathetic nervous system activity, which raises heart rate, makes you feel jittery, and can trigger or worsen feelings of panic or dread. It can also disrupt sleep, and poor sleep often amplifies anxiety the next day. So avoiding caffeine helps prevent adding fuel to the anxiety fire.

In contrast, the other approaches support calming the nervous system: breathing exercises slow and regulate breathing, which reduces hyperarousal; grounding techniques bring attention to the present and reduce ruminative worry; staying hydrated supports overall physical function and can prevent headaches or fatigue that worsen anxiety.