I Tried Alternative Therapies to Treat My Anxiety

Alternative therapies are no longer a way for yoga pants wearing yuppies to throw expendable cash at their discontent. They’re getting trendier, sleeker and more acceptable as spirituality and wellness become a normal part of everyday life.

VICE UK’s Hannah Ewens has watched the rise of these treatments and having spent thousands on talking therapy over the years, decides to investigate whether they have worth for those who want to manage their mental health and wellbeing. Finding that all of them are close to her house, she goes to get gonged into peace of mind by sound therapist Louise Shiels and float away in an isolation tank at Floatworks. She later deep breathes into any bodily-held trauma and anxiety at Breath Pod and visits Rachel Welford to learn how to tap away fears with Emotional Freedom Technique.

Are any of these alternative therapies worth our time and money? Could they be a viable option for shifting our low-level anxiety and boosting our poor wellbeing? Or are they all overpriced fads?

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[cecilyerker]

Honestly human life is so full of suffering that anything that helps no matter what it happens to be is worth pursuing as long as it doesn’t hurt you or anyone else

[itsmuimui]

all these therapies are about ultimately acknowledging the emotion and letting it go, accepting the emotional experience allows for letting it go

[Shellsterxx]

That sound bath thing seems super calming. Reminds me of grounding techniques I learned in therapy by focusing on senses and not thoughts. Though, personally, grounding techniques don’t always help my level of anxiety and all the exercises in the world can’t calm me down.

[Eylulbalkanci]

the sound bath thing gave me anxiety...

[lVladness]

My mom does energy healing .. shes does this running dork therapy that helped me with my anxiety when I had it really really bad

[Emmabruceofficial]

When I did the floatation tank at a spa I was told being completely naked was the best way. Is that normal? I notice she had her swimming costume on.

[micaelperini]

CBD's have helped me fight back against my own anxiety.

[cecilyerker]

Stop drinking a lot of coffee, sleep more. Take days off from caffeine so you don’t become dependent on it. Spend time in nature, pet an animal, take CBD daily. Cut meaningless destructive things out of your life.

[nicknick]

I am the cure of your anxiety. I will make you happy

[liammichaelneill]

Lmao this girl got anxiety like pretty much everyone else in the world these days and she’s like “can it SAVE ME”

[bentorodrigues]

Sexy is your next "alternative therapies" roll. I bet.

[norwegiansmores]

this is how to deal with trump being president.

[RESET]

Your anxiety is fully centered around money. I would gladly relieve you of your

[timmiehawkins]

I get terrible anxiety it's crippling at times

[MrSamshy]

I wonder if you fart inside, it must
stink lol. You get anxious then the cycle continues.

[CrprCrp]

Pretty little white girl has anxiety, shed a tear yalls

[LilBaab]

🙏🏾I Hope Who Ever Reading This Comment Right Now God Help You Make It Through With Your Dreams And Become Successfull.

[Dinglerotti]

Stop drinking coffee learn how to breathe spend most of your time in nature

[texasghost]

Stay off the phone, live in the moment, breathe, put yourself in situations that give you anxiety and accept the anxiety not fight it. Everyone tells me it’s not that easy, but it’s easier than staying off your phone, it’s easier than taking pills everyday. Anything worth it takes time and practice, not instagram and medication.

[VT-zzik]

All bs therapies. Stop the caffeine and go to sleep. Sleeping is the best cure for most anxiety.