If there’s one thing TikTik is great for, it’s life hacks. From beauty and wellness to fashion and lifestyle, there’s a whole world of information on whatever it is you’re looking for.
One thing that’s been doing the rounds lately is stress-reducing methods. A few techniques such as ASMR and the 5-4-3-2-1 method have gone viral on the video-sharing app, but do they actually work? Wellness expert Mel Braham from B-Well CBD trolled the web to give us her take on the most effective stress-busting methods.
ASMR
With over 234.1 billion views on the hashtag, ASMR is extremely popular on TikTok. ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is a relaxing, often sedative sensation triggered by sounds such as whispers, crackles and repetitive movements. According to Mel, ASMR helps relieve negative mood symptoms, feelings of depression or stress.
Stress balls
When feeling stressed, squeezing a stress ball activates the muscles of your hand and wrist, and releasing the grip allows the muscles to relax. The repeated pattern of grip and release helps alleviate tension and stress, improving the nervous system functioning and reducing essential hormones that control and curb stress levels.
Breathing technique
This next technique can help to relax your body and reduce stress and anxiety. The 4-7-8 breathing technique involves breathing in through your nose for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds and exhaling for eight seconds. This will calm your body and control your breathing.
Holding ice
Holding ice to distract yourself and suppress feelings of anxiety is another trick shared on TikTok. Rather than holding the ice still in your hands, Mel suggests wrapping it in a towel to avoid irritating the skin. Temperature changes may help you experience a sense of relaxation to cool the body and reduce stress.
5-4-3-2-1 method
This viral hack helps to soothe anxiety as well as stress. When feeling anxious the hacks suggest using this simple 5-4-3-2-1 method which focuses on the following: 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell and 1 thing you taste. This helps to distract your mind and allows you to focus your energy on something else, therefore reducing stress.
