Ease anxiety and stress symptoms in minutes with therapist's 'wet noodle' tip

This unique method could relieve the physical discomfort associated with stress and anxiety swiftly.

Anxiety and stress are common experiences, though their manifestations can range widely among individuals. While some might experience relatively mild sensations, others may encounter far more intense physical symptoms such as sweating, a constricting sensation within the chest, racing pulse, breathlessness, trembling, nausea, and bouts of lightheadedness.

If the physical symptoms of anxiety affect you often, seeking the advice of your GP is vital. However, there are some home remedies that could ease the symptoms, such as this "game-changing" technique one woman shared online.

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Influencer Kali Thompson, who boasts 267,100 followers on TikTok, uploaded a video to the site where she shared the helpful tip her therapist told her - and it's all about "wet noodles".

She said: "I get really bad anxiety like I think 99% of the population does. But I feel it very physically, so [my therapist] told me that whenever I feel like I'm really anxious physically, I should pretend like I'm a bowl of wet noodles. Just relax your whole body and think, 'I am wet noodles'.

"Try it. Release your tongue from the top of your mouth. Just release everything and imagine you're a big wet noodle. It works, doesn't it? It helps. So if you see me on a train or walking around and it looks like I'm pretending to be a bowl of wet noodles, I probably am. It just really helps to relax your body."

The concept behind this technique is that it prompts you to let go of all bodily tension, as both stress and anxiety can cause you to stiffen up. It also diverts your mind away from whatever is causing your anxiety.

Kali's video received praise from viewers who hailed the technique as "game-changing", with many vowing to try it out the next time they felt anxious. However, some found the idea of embodying a wet noodle off-putting, claiming it exacerbated their symptoms.

One individual commented: "I don't think I ever want to feel like a wet noodle, it's a sensory nightmare," while another countered: "This is great, trying this next time!"

If you frequently experience feelings of anxiety or panic, you can self-refer for therapy through the NHS. The health organisation also advises seeing a GP if you're finding it difficult to manage anxiety or if at-home methods, such as breathing exercises, aren't proving effective.