TikTok trend with a serious backgroundGen Z relies on “fear pockets”

When panic comes, the contents of the bags should help

After a stressful day at work, Hannah Fowles (22) feels panicked. The young American suffers from a diagnosed anxiety disorder. In moments like these, her thoughts race and her cheeks turn red. “I started to feel extremely overheated and I couldn't calm down,” Fowles explains in the New York Post. “Nothing I normally do, like breathing exercises or lying down in a dark room, helped.”

But the 22-year-old relies on a tip that she saw herself on TikTok. A few days ago, she and her therapist packed a small “fear bag”. In addition to her medication, there are small supplies such as ice packs, a small pocket fan and a spiky fidget toy. Things to help calm you down in acute situations.

More and more young people are diagnosed with anxiety

According to the German Health Atlas, anxiety disorders comprise a group of psychological disorders that are characterized by an excessive sense of fear. In 2024, 8.1 percent of adults in Germany received a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder in outpatient care, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

Among those under 30, around 8.9 percent of women and 4.4 percent of men are affected – and the trend is rising, which, according to the RKI, may be due to the current considerable burden caused by various crises. However, the development that those affected are now more likely to seek help is also leading to more diagnoses, it goes on to say.

Doctor calls method “brilliant”

Others Hannah's age find relief in the same way. “Things like mindfulness and body scans are great, but you have to remember to do them,” says Dr. Kyra Bobinet, physician and behavioral neurologist, in the New York Post. Having a self-regulation aid at your fingertips in moments of high stress and sensory overload is, in Bobinet's words, “genius.”

The aids in the “fear bag” would give those affected an opportunity to distract themselves and calm down. “It creates other sensations to focus on so you don’t feel completely overwhelmed by the racing thoughts of an anxious or depressed mind.”

Not every aid works for everyone. “Knowing what triggers the feelings of anxiety helps identify what can calm your 'worry center,'” says Dr. MaryEllen Eller, Psychiatrist, New York Post. She recommends experimenting with different techniques in a quiet environment to find what works best.

These things can be inspiration for an anxiety bag:

Sources used: New York Post, Health Atlas Germany, Robert Koch Institute, Instagram/Hannahfowles