Therapist's 'wet noodle' tip helps ease physical symptoms of anxiety and stress

This technique could help ease the physical symptoms of anxiety and stress in minutes.

We've all felt anxious or stressed at some point in our lives, but the symptoms that you feel can vary from person to person. For some people, anxiety can feel similar to getting butterflies in your stomach when you're nervous or excited, but for others, there can be more severe physical symptoms. These can include sweating, a tight feeling in your chest, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, shaking, nausea, and feeling dizzy.

It's important to see your GP if you regularly feel the physical symptoms of anxiety, but there are some home remedies that could help calm you down in the moment. One woman has gone viral for sharing a "game-changing" tip from her therapist that has helped her in daily life - and it's all about "wet noodles".

READ MORE: 'I'm a dog trainer – these 3 breeds are perfect for busy people as they sleep all day'

READ MORE: Best winter supplements to take daily – and one 'definitely helps with gut health'

Influencer Kali Thompson, who boasts 267,100 followers on TikTok, took to the site to share her therapist's advice – saying it had "really helped" her, so she wanted to share it with other people who might need the hack.

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 idea behind the technique is that it encourages you to release all the tension in your body, as both anxiety and stress can make you tense up. It also helps you focus your mind on something other than whatever is making you anxious.

Commenters on Kali's video praised the "game-changing" technique, as many said they would give it a go the next time they felt anxious themselves. However, others said the idea of being a wet noodle made them feel "yucky" and only served to make their symptoms worse.

One person said: "I don't think I ever want to feel like a wet noodle, it's a sensory nightmare," but another added: "This is great, trying this next time!"

If you find yourself feeling anxious or panicked often, you can refer yourself for therapy via the NHS. The health body also recommends seeing a GP if you are struggling to cope with anxiety or you've tried at-home methods like breathing exercises and don't feel that they're helping.