How To Calm Your Anxious Thoughts

How to Calm Your Anxious Thoughts (Without Spiraling Into a Google Diagnosis)

Anxious thoughts are like raccoons in your brain—noisy, persistent, and suddenly convinced that your heart palpitations mean you're dying. Before you get tangled in a web of worst-case scenarios, here’s a naturopathic truth: anxiety isn’t just in your mind—it’s in your nervous system. And the fastest way to calm it? Work with your body, not against it. Step away from the caffeine (you know it’s not helping), take a few slow breaths where the exhale is longer than the inhale, and maybe go for a walk like you're the mysterious lead in a romantic drama set in a foggy forest. Bonus points if you hum while doing it—vagus nerve stimulation for the win.

If your thoughts are racing like they’re training for the Olympics, try naming what you can control (like drinking water or texting that one friend who always sends weird memes). Magnesium, L-theanine, and nervous system-loving herbs like passionflower or skullcap can also be your botanical backup crew. But most importantly—remember anxious thoughts aren’t facts. They’re just thoughts wearing little anxiety hats. You don’t have to believe everything they say.