Anxiety can be helpful in some situations.
If you’re feeling anxious and need to ground yourself quickly, a sensory zap can help.
A newer tactic, sucking on sour candy, uses the same sensory zap method minus the pain.
Its goal is to distract the brain with sensation instead of punishing it.
Here’s how sour candy might help you calm down from a panic attack.
Calming candy?
All manner of sour candies would likely work, such as Sour Patch Kids or Toxic Waste candy.
This can create additional pressure and may even feel dire, especially if you’re in a public place.
Maalouf toldInsider, “It sort of puts us into a mindful moment using our sense of taste.”
Toya Roberson-Moore, M.D.
Intentionally focusing on the flavor may help to further results.
What other sensory tricks can help?
Because the trick relies on your sense of taste, other shock-factor flavors might work too.
If sour isn’t your thing, you could try something really salty or spicy.
Fortunately, Maalouf offered up a few other sensory techniques.
In anotherTikTok, Maalouf suggests placing a freezing cold ice cube in a sensitive spot, like your neck.
If you are at home, a chilly shower may also help distract your brain.
Pressure, such as aweighted sweater,plays into touch too.
The sense of smell has long been a channel to produce calming sensations.
Lavender and lemon oil are popular options for relieving anxiety although many individuals with anxiety have already tried aromatherapy.
If nothing else seems to be working, this sensory trick might be worth a try.
