Recovering addict shares £4 hack to help people struggling with anxiety and panic attacks
- The video has 3.1 million views, with commenters calling the hack a ‘life saver’
- READ MORE: Therapist shares tip for ‘snapping out of’ a panic or anxiety attack
A recovering addict has revealed a £4 hack to help those who struggle with anxiety.
The American man who goes by Mr Impulsive (@themrimpulsive) on TikTok, often makes videos about how to help others who suffer from addiction and mental illness, by drawing on his own experiences.
In a clip about how to manage anxiety and panic attacks, he recommended an unlikely product that has helped him and he believes could help others.
The video has been seen by more than 3.1 million people, with commenters calling the hack a ‘life saver’.
The TikToker explained ‘One of the best hacks ever is Vicks Vaporub, if you’re struggling with anxiety and you struggle with panic attacks’.
A recovering addict who shares his journey on social media has revealed a simple hack to help those who struggle with anxiety
‘If you struggle, Vicks Vaporub can break you right out of that. How? Take Vicks, open it up, rub a little bit right here,’ he demonstrated by putting his hands on his lower neck and chest area.
He explained ‘Next thing you know, you’re breathing in that menthol, you feel the coolness on your skin.
‘All these thoughts, all this fear, all this worry, all this panic in your brain, shifts to the sense of smell, the sense of touch and it shifts your memory process to even times when you were sick or times as a kid.’
He claims: ‘It gets you to start breathing and controlling your breathing, even through the menthol.
‘Now, it lets you regain control over your breathing, which can kind of freak out and even add to our anxiety.
‘Now you have control over that feeling, you feel the touch on you, you smell the menthol and it can calm you down and it can help ground you through an anxiety attack.’
He admitted that Vicks, which costs from £4 to £6 in supermakets, isn’t meant for this purpose but he believes it can help with it and ‘it’s trial and error to find what works for you’.
Concluding on a positive note, he told his followers ‘because you matter, because you are stronger than the anxiety and you can fight through it’.
The TikToker explained ‘One of the best hacks ever is Vicks Vaporub, if you’re struggling with anxiety and you struggle with panic attacks’
Some viewers agreed that it was useful, writing ‘it’s a life saver since I’ve come off sertraline’ and ‘I put this on every night before bed, really helps me calm down and go to sleep’.
Another added ‘tried and tested! I always bring Vicks wherever I go.. I always make sure there’s a Vicks on my bag or purse before leaving home’.
Someone else chimed in with ‘My therapist would describe this kind of treatment as a “circuit breaker” for anxiety spells. Holding an ice cube can do similar too!’
Others who had not heard the advice before, thanked the TikToker.
One user penned ‘I have major anxiety. I’m soooo going to try this!!!! Thank you!!!!!!’
Another said ‘Omg thanks for this info I suffered sometimes form anxiety.’
Meanwhile, someone else wrote ‘I used Vicks growing up, but never for anxiety…..I’m going to try this, thanks!’
Symptoms of a panic attack
- a racing heartbeat
- feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded
- feeling that you’re losing control
- sweating, trembling or shaking
- shortness of breath or breathing very quickly
- a tingling in your fingers or lips
- feeling sick (nausea)
SOURCE: NHS
Dr Hana Patel, NHS GP and GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness, explained that tips she gives to patients who struggle from panic attacks include to ‘stay where you are and if possible breathe slowly and deeply.
‘Remind yourself that the attack will pass, try and focus on positive, peaceful and relaxing images and finally to remember it’s not life threatening.’
She explained ‘Vicks or similar vapor rubs contain ingredients with decongestants and camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol.
They do not necessarily help with anxiety, however the smell and cool touch of the ointment divert your thoughts back to your body and away from being present during your panic attack.
‘It may help with the acute symptoms of a panic attack but not long term.
‘Touching and massaging Vicks can help signal safety and well-being to the brain by triggering the vagus nerve.
Concluding that ‘it’s more action of touching and breathing that is soothing rather then the Vicks’.
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