When was the last time anxiety completely overwhelmed you? Maybe it was before a big presentation, after an argument with your partner, or in the middle of a crowded store? Anxiety sucks. It can strike anytime, anywhere, leaving you jittery, lightheaded, short of breath. Your heart races and your thoughts spin out of control.
Well, I’ve got good news. There’s a super-simple way to soothe that awful feeling whenever it pops up—a quick, physiological “chill pill” that tells your whole body to relax. It’s one that you can use anytime, anywhere, without anyone even noticing.
Turns out, you’ve had this secret anxiety-calming weapon all along. It’s called your voice – and it might be the most powerful tool in your mental health arsenal.
The Voo breathing technique to calm anxiety and feel happier
The vagus nerve connects your brain to your gut. It controls heart rate, mood, and digestion. Stress can make the vagus nerve stuck in anxiety-inducing fight-or-flight mode.
But you can fix this by stimulating your vagus nerve. Psychotherapist Dr. Peter Levine developed the “Voo” method to do this using your voice. Here’s how:
Tips
The “voo” sound stimulates the vagus nerve, shifting you out of fight-or-flight within seconds. Studies show similar humming sounds, like a bumblebee, “omm,” or “humm, have the same calming effect by slowing sympathetic activation.
The vagus nerve reacts to these long, low vocal vibrations. The sound doesn’t matter – any slow, deep humming works. Pick a sound that feels good and repeat it to soothe anxiety quickly.
This easy vocal breathing hack taps into your body’s built-in relaxation system. In just 20 seconds, humming can move you from stressed to calm. Give it a try next time you need a quick mood booster.
Leave feedback about this