What Are Anxiety Straws and How Can They Help?

Feeling overwhelmed or anxious is more common than you might think, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you're struggling with daily stress or navigating more profound anxiety, finding simple and effective tools can make a big difference. One such tool gaining popularity in the mental health world is the anxiety straw.

What Is an Anxiety Straw? An anxiety straw is a breathing tool designed to help regulate your breath during high stress or panic. It typically looks like a slim, reusable straw that you breathe out through slowly. By controlling the speed of your exhale, it helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your body responsible for calming you down. This small change in your breathing pattern can reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, like rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath.

How Do Anxiety Straws Help with Anxiety? Breathwork has long been a staple in therapy and counseling practices for managing anxiety. Anxiety straws support this by offering a tangible way to slow your breathing. When you exhale through a narrow straw, your body is naturally encouraged to take deeper, more controlled breaths. This practice mimics techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, both evidence-based approaches that help with anxiety management.

Using Anxiety Straws in Therapy. At Authentically You Counseling in Concord, New Hampshire, we often recommend simple tools like anxiety straws to clients just starting their therapy journey. Having a concrete, easy-to-use strategy can be comforting and empowering for those new to counseling. Whether you're attending in-person sessions at our Concord office or joining virtually from anywhere in New Hampshire, we strive to offer personalized, practical support.

Where to Start: If you're curious about trying an anxiety straw, speak with your therapist about how to integrate it into your daily routine. It can be especially helpful during triggering situations—before a big presentation, during a stressful commute, or even before a first date.

Why It Matters: Therapy is not just about talking—it's about finding real solutions that work for you. Tools like anxiety straws may seem small, but they can be powerful additions to your mental health toolkit.