Breathe Work with Bubbles: An Anxiety Hack

Ingrid Higgins here, the brains and heart behind Campbell Teen and Family Therapy. Today, I’m letting you in on a little secret – a quirky yet seriously effective trick for taming anxiety. And guess what? It involves bubbles!

Now, if you’ve dipped your toes into the therapy pool, you’ve probably been nudged to try out those classic breathing exercises. You know, the deep belly-breathing kind. They’re fantastic, no doubt. They’re like a secret weapon that helps regulate your system and clears the mental fog when emotions are running wild. But, here’s the catch – they don’t always play nice, especially with our pals, Anxiety and Overthinking.

Ever notice how some folks, when told to take a deep breath, end up feeling even more wound up? It’s like, “Thanks for pointing out the tightness in my chest; now it’s all I can think about!” Been there. So, let me introduce you to my absolute favorite anxiety-buster – bubbles! Yep. I keep a trusty bottle of bubbles by my side because blowing bubbles is where the magic happens.

Picture this: instead of the usual therapist drill of “focus on your breath,” we switch things up and blow bubbles together. It’s like a mini celebration of fun and calmness rolled into one. Sometimes, I’ll throw in a challenge, like catching the bubbles or marveling at the colors.

What I love about this bubble-blowing technique is that it’s not just for kids. It works wonders for clients of all ages. It takes the pressure off the whole ‘breathing exercise’ thing and turns it into a playful, enjoyable experience.

So, if you’re battling anxiety and those traditional breathing exercises are leaving you feeling more frazzled than zen, why not give bubble blowing a shot? It’s like a breath of fresh air for your mind – a little moment of joy that might just do the trick. Remember, therapy doesn’t always have to be about serious faces and deep discussions. Sometimes, all you need is a bit of bubble magic to make things brighter. Trust me on this one!

Watch the full video above to hear me talk through how and when the bubble blowing technique can be effective for anxiety and panic control!