02/11/2025
Ever felt your heart racing, chest tight, or thoughts spiralling so fast you canât catch your breath? Thatâs your nervous system stuck in survival mode - and it needs help to regulate again.
Here are 5 simple ways to calm your body when you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or overstimulated:
1ď¸âŁ Stroke a pet â The repetitive motion releases oxytocin, the âbonding hormone,â which literally tells your body youâre safe.
2ď¸âŁ Use aromatherapy oils â Scents like lavender or frankincense travel straight to the brainâs emotional centre (the amygdala), signalling it to calm down.
3ď¸âŁ Try the 2-1 breathing technique â Two short breaths in, one long breath out. This mimics the natural rhythm your body uses when itâs crying or releasing tension. Itâs your built-in reset button.
4ď¸âŁ Chest tapping (the butterfly hug) â Link your thumbs and gently tap across your chest. This bilateral stimulation sends calming signals across both brain hemispheres, helping to ground you during panic or overwhelm.
5ď¸âŁ Hum a tune â Yep, literally hum. The vibrations stimulate your vagus nerve, shifting your body out of âfight or flightâ and into ârest and digest.â Bonus: you canât overthink while humming âHappy Birthday.â
These might seem small, but they work because they speak your bodyâs language, movement, breath, rhythm, vibration.
Your mind follows once your body feels safe again. đŤ
đ Which of these have you tried before? Or do you have your own go-to way of calming your nervous system?
Share it below â it might help someone else who really needs it today. đ