Which technique is used to divert attention from anxiety, including short-term strategies like counting bricks or puzzles?

• A. Chaining
• B. Biofeedback
• C. Diversion
• D. Exposure Therapy

Answer: (C)

Diverting attention during anxiety works by redirecting focus away from distressing thoughts and bodily sensations and onto a simple, engaging task. When you’re anxious, your mind ruminates and your body stays aroused; activities like counting bricks or solving a puzzle occupy cognitive resources and interrupt that loop, producing a quick, temporary reduction in distress. This is a practical short-term coping strategy you can use in the moment to prevent escalation and buy time for more deliberate strategies (like deep breathing or grounding) afterward.

This differs from other approaches: exposure therapy involves confronting feared situations to reduce fear over time; biofeedback teaches you to recognize and control physiological responses; and chaining is a technique used to teach a sequence of behaviors. The scenario described fits diversion because the aim is to shift attention away from anxiety through a distracting task.