What can we do to shift the anxious thoughts instantly?

Gratitude! verbal or thought shifts our focus to being more thankful. with gratitude you can easily shift your focus and change even the brains wiring to a point that it is easier to move into thankfulness. Love is a good one! picturing memories that you love and of people you love and also being thankful to them verbally or thoughtfully will assist in shifting anxiety. its not about beating the thoughts its about changing them so that your mind gets stronger at being less anxious to a point of not being anxious any more and being at peace...visualize what you love and want. verbally thoughtfully be thankful for these things even if you have not got them yet.

Empathize with them. Try to calm them down by having them figure out some action plans. Listen to the details and help them figure out what to do next. Try to relay some of my experience and help them figure out what to do next. Have them do some breathing exercises and some relaxation exercises. Have them talk about their experiences and help them figure out how past experiences might be helpful at this time. Explain that anxiety is a temporary state and that eventually the anxiety will pass. Talk to them about eating well and exercising and sleeping well and how to create those good habits. Maybe share some of my experiences with anxiety