With the influence of Tiktok nowadays, it attracts people to believe and to consider what was on it. “Vick’s Vaporub can help for anxiety” this is one of the hacks spreading all-over Tiktok.
TikTok is full of life hacks that can help you with everything. However, you need to scroll more to find the right and legit for you. Then, Tiktok introduces Vick’s Vaporub to help with anxiety. This information might be true or not. It is skeptical.
Last Month, one of the creators of Tiktok in the name of Mr. Impulsive, posted a hack about applying Vick’s VapoRub to help with anxiety. He recommended applying Vick’s VapoRub on the base of the throat when he has anxiety or anxiety attacks. According to him, the mint smell of the Rub would divert your thoughts back to your body and not your spiraling thoughts. It will help you to breathe well and control your breathing.
According to the report of Sheknows, the Vick’s VapoRub trick is a help for anxiety and many attest to it. For them, it is very effective and would not cost you a hefty bill or require a prescription from the doctor. What could be on Vick’s VapoRub?
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The experts of SheKnows explained on what are the scientific elements that are found in Vick’s VapoRub that help with anxiety. According to psychotherapist Patti Sabla, it has aromatherapy. It contains camphor, eucalyptus and menthol. It has a calming scent that would relieve someone with anxiety. It also had decongestant properties. Another explanation from Amy Braun a Clinical counselor that the scent of Vick’s VapoRub can create a sensory experience that diverts you from anxious thoughts. It really helps with anxiety. She added that the cooling and tingling sensation can alleviate anxiety though the elements on it are not designed for psychological stress
With that, it leads to another explanation that Vick’s VapoRub has a placebo effect. For Sabla, if you are thinking that Vick’s VapoRup is effective to help with anxiety then it could be helpful as long as the practice is not that harmful to you. It might be worth it to deal with symptoms. For Sabla, It is just like eating grapes, It doesn’t matter if eating grapes for her or thinking that it can cure her headache. For her, as long as she has no headache.
According to psychologist Nicole Prause, PhD symptoms of anxiety are shortness of breath or fast heart rate. By that, the menthol smell of Vick’s VapoRub can help you slow down your breathing. She added that breathing rate is also a stress response relating to anxiety which is why they advised slowed breathing as an intervention for anxiety. Vick’s VapoRub can help you to remind to slower your breathing or force you as you inhale the menthol which makes you feel uncomfortable.
Another explanation from Dr. Prause is that a strong sensory experience like VapoRub can have a cooling and distracting effect. When you smell the strong fragrance of it, it turns your mind to turn its attention to sensory stimuli which encourages grounding and distracts from spiraling thoughts. Therapist, Stephanie Baldwin LCSW, said that it can activate your physical senses and can connect to your breath and present moment. Those sensations can help your brain signal safety by triggering the vagus nerve.
On the report published by Sleepopolis, Dr. Prause reminded us that this can be a help for anxiety but this distraction technique is not the solution for anxiety but it can be very effective when a person is happy at the moment.
That is how Vick’s VapoRub hack as a whole, can be effective but in a short span only. applying the rub might give you a break for anxiety or can help for anxiety but you need a long-term plan or treatment to address your anxiety. The coping mechanism from Vick’s VapoRub is only part of the recovery process according to Baldwin. Still, the best plan is to know the origin of your anxiety and know how to address your anxiety and panic attacks. Also, it can help you to know what might trigger you and how can you find a solution to it. Seeing a therapist is the best way to help for anxiety and to help you when you want long-term development when struggling with your anxiety.
What is the best thing about Vick’s VapoRub is that it can serve as your complement when you are having an attack and help for anxiety for your mental health routine. And the experts say that is no harm.
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