I used to rely on the usual stuff. Breathing exercises. Meditation. Journaling. Therapy. Working out. All good things. All helpful. But sometimes they didn’t cut it.
I’d be sitting there, trying to breathe deeply, and my mind was still screaming. I needed something else. Something faster. Something weirder.
So I started experimenting. I tried things that sounded ridiculous. Some of them worked. Some didn’t. The ones that did, I kept.
Here’s the thing about anxiety. It’s stubborn. Sometimes you need to shock your system out of it. You need to do something that forces your brain to switch tracks. These strategies do exactly that.
Quick Answer: What are some unusual ways to deal with anxiety?
Some unusual ways to deal with anxiety include dunking your face in ice water, eating sour candy, spelling words backward, wrapping yourself in blankets, and staring at something moving like a fan or candle flame.
Body-Based Tricks
Anxiety lives in your body. So start there.
Turn down the temperature. A cold room can help your body calm down. Someone once told me they stand in front of a fan for ten minutes. It works.
Chug a bottle of water. Dehydration makes anxiety worse. Drinking water forces you to pause and rehydrates you at the same time.
Dunk your face in ice water. This is the big one. It triggers your “dive reflex.” Your heart slows down. Your nervous system calms. It sounds extreme, but it works.
Hold ice cubes. The cold sensation pulls you out of your head and back into your body.
Sit on the floor. Just plop down. It can make you feel more grounded.
Lay on your right side. If you’re on your left side, you can feel your heartbeat too strongly. Flip over. It stops you from hyper-focusing on it.
Mind Tricks
When your brain is stuck in a loop, you need to break the pattern.
Spell words backward. Pick a word like “elephant.” Spell it backward. Repeat with different words. It distracts your brain long enough to break the cycle.
Count things. Look around and count how many blue objects you see. How many round things. It gives your brain a simple task.
Force a smile. Even a fake smile can trigger endorphins. It tricks your brain into thinking you’re okay.
Do math. Start at 100 and count backward by 7s. Do a times table. Anything that forces your brain to focus on something neutral.
Behavioral Tricks
Anxiety makes you feel stuck. So move.
Rearrange something. Flip your environment around. Push your furniture. Rearrange your desk. Clean your space. It shifts your mindset.
Play “The Floor Is Lava.” Jump around like you did as a kid. It’s a great distraction.
Eat something crunchy or sour. The texture and taste give your brain something else to focus on. Sour candy works especially well. One commenter said their therapist actually recommends Warhead candies for panic attacks. They redirect your brain instantly.
Wrap yourself in a blanket. Weighted blankets are ideal. Regular ones work too.
Try gratitude. Think about what you’re grateful for. It pulls your attention away from your insecurities.
Environmental Tricks
Your surroundings matter more than you think.
Turn on white noise. The background hum can calm your brain when silence feels too loud. But be careful. It can sometimes lead to hyperfocusing.
Dim the lights. Swap harsh lighting for something softer. Blue or green tones work well.
Smell something strong. Peppermint. Citrus. Vinegar. A strong scent can shock your senses and pull you out of your head.
Interactive Tricks
Carry something heavy. The weight helps ground you.
Balance on one leg. It’s weird. But it forces your brain to focus on something else.
Scribble. Grab a pen and scribble as hard and fast as you can. It releases energy and calms you down.
Stare at something moving. Watch a fan. A candle flame. Snow falling. Something repetitive and calming. Just be aware that it can sometimes lead to hyperfocusing.
What Worked for Me
I used to rely on breathing exercises and meditation. They helped, but they weren’t always enough. Now I know that I can hold ice when my mind is racing. I can spell words backward when I feel a spiral coming. I can chug water and force a smile.
I also found that understanding my anxiety patterns made a huge difference. One book I read, Miles Carter’s Break the Anxiety Circle, helped me identify what was keeping me stuck. It gave me a framework for breaking the loop instead of just managing the moment.
If traditional methods work for you, great. Keep using them. But if you ever feel stuck, try something weird. You might be surprised.
You’re Not Broken
Anxiety is stubborn. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.
These tricks aren’t cures. They’re tools. Sometimes you need a hammer. Sometimes you need a screwdriver. Sometimes you need to dunk your face in ice water.
The point isn’t to find the perfect method. The point is to have options. Try one. If it doesn’t work, try another. Something will stick.
