128: The Truth About Anxiety TikTok Trends

In this episode, I unpack why your TikTok anxiety hacks might actually be keeping you stuck.



I get into the good, the bad, and the harmful when it comes to viral mental health content, like anxiety dance trends, “cortisol cocktails,” and trauma confessionals set to sad songs. I talk about why these things can help in the short term, but also why they fall short if you’re serious about actually healing your anxiety. I explain how most of these trends miss the deeper point: your anxiety isn’t just in your head; it lives in your body. And if you’re only reaching for quick fixes, you’re probably just kicking the anxiety can down the road.

You’ll Learn: 

• The real reason TikTok anxiety hacks can keep you stuck in chronic symptoms
• What happens when emotional expression online turns into performative pain
• The quiet damage of reframing panic attacks as “just anxiety”
• Why movement and music help anxiety, but only up to a point
• How dance trends disrupt your freeze state and shift nervous system patterns
• The surprising link between lemons, cold plunges, and present-moment awareness
• Why most viral “cortisol cocktails” are a placebo at best
• What it feels like to rely on comfort instead of doing the deeper work
• How misusing therapy language online confuses discomfort with pathology
• A practical framework for evaluating mental health advice on social media

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[02:44] The TikTok anxiety song trend and its impact on mental health

[04:48] The TikTok anxiety dance trend and its benefits and drawbacks

[07:58] The "It’s just anxiety" TikTok trend and how it impacts coping and healing

[10:44] DIY sensory hacks for anxiety

[14:14] Therapeutic life hack trends and why comfort is not the same as healing

[15:39] Misinformation and misuse of therapy language on TikTok

Resources Mentioned:

MBRX Program by Russell Kennedy | Website

Find more from Russell:

Russell Kennedy | LinkedIn

Russell Kennedy | Facebook

The Anxiety MD | Website

The Anxiety MD | Instagram

The Anxiety MD | YouTube