Sally, if listening to something doesn't appeal to you or isn't an option and you don't or can't take anti-anxiety meds (which do really help), you might try some simple breathing and counting techniques.

My brother is a Zen buddhist and he suggested I simply count my breaths in groups of ten. Take long slow breaths, intoning the number in your head. Let each one out for a good long time. When you get to ten, start back at one. Don't think too hard about it, just let it happen and try to maintain the count.

Might be something to try.