A New TikTok Trend Claims Sour Candy Diminishes Anxiety

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A new TikTok trend claims that indulging in a piece of sour candy will diminish anxiety and panic attacks. The trend has accumulated countless views of people eating popular sour candy including Warheads, Sour Patch Kids, and Airheads, resulting in a mass amount of users advocating for the clever calming technique . With the mental health awareness becoming more recognized, it’s important to note that anxiety disorders are extremely common, especially throughout the country.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America , 19.1% of people ages 18 and older in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders.

SEE ALSO: 6 Identifying Signs of Anxiety

With some experts referring to anxiety as the “unhappiness epidemic,” it is clear that it’s a significant issue that people are dealing with unnecessarily, despite the perception that they have endless options at their disposal. Certified Psychologist Dr. Justin D’Arienzo, as reported by Boston 25 News , refers to sour candy as a “distraction with a punch.” He explains that the science behind sour candy involves acidic ingredients that trigger a rush of dopamine, known to be a chemical associated with pleasure.

“It is thought-stopping,” D’Arienzo shared. “It’s a grounding technique [and] it also triggers the brain’s natural reward system when you eat it. So, think about spicy foods. It really does the same thing.”

The sour sensation is not a cure, nor is it a quick fix, but moreso a tool used to temporarily alleviate symptoms related to an onset anxiety or panic attack.

“It’s not going to cure your anxiety or depression. It doesn’t replace psychotherapy and medication if that’s needed,” D’Arienzo says.

Check out the reactions to the TikTok trend below.