✎ Written by: Emma Loker
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding a moment of respite becomes essential for our mental well-being. And Instagram, despite its reputation for promoting comparison and anxiety-inducing content, has evolved into an unexpected haven for those seeking refuge from the storm of anxiety.
In fact, there are more than 21 million posts with #anxiety and more than 3.2 million of those with the tag #anxietyrelief.
Every minute of the day, mental health professionals and individuals who grapple with anxiety generously share informative and invaluable content, extending their support to others.
And while it's important to note that their posts cannot replace professional therapy, they might provide many tools and insights into anxiety, supplementing the therapeutic process.
To guide you, we've handpicked the seven best Instagram accounts for anxiety that offer a plethora of expert information and personal experiences on anxiety:
“We are here to instill hope” in a “kind and safe space.” This is how Kimberley Quinlan introduces herself and what she provides on her page, @youranxietytoolkit.
Kimberley is an LA-based licensed marriage and family therapist and expert in anxiety and OCD. Her relaxed, informative style makes her content both engaging and educational.
What we love about @youranxietytoolkit:
Posts are insightful and relatable, helping those with anxiety feel more supported, heard, and understood.
Kimberley breaks down complex psychological concepts into simple, understandable terms, making her content accessible to everyone, regardless of their background in psychology.
In one of her posts, she provides practical advice for people who have panic attacks based on the experiences of hundreds of others. She begins by identifying what panic attacks are in an easy, understandable way – “Just an adrenaline dump.”
She follows this up with 8 short techniques, including deep breathing, changing the scenery, and the ABC game, whereby one thinks of something like an object, food, or place for every letter in the alphabet.
Quinlan also couples many of these techniques with positive affirmations such as, “You will be okay,” and “You can handle this,” helping to remind her followers that they are not alone.
Amanda, the somatic and trauma-trained practitioner behind @amandaontherise, uses her background in kinesiology and exercise psychology to provide a unique perspective on anxiety.
What we love about her content:
Amanda’s Instagram account is a great resource for anyone looking to understand and manage their anxiety from a holistic perspective. This viewpoint encourages you to look at yourself as a whole being rather than focus on specific parts (such as your anxiety).
Her posts are highly informative and interactive.
She provides practical advice and encourages her followers to actively participate in their healing process through actionable exercises and reflective questions.
A great example of her approach is her post on assessing the stress load on your nervous system where Amanda likens the nervous system to a bucket that can only get so full before it starts to weigh you down or overflow, leading to stress, burnout, anxiety, or depression.
She then provides a comprehensive list of areas to explore, such as sleep, movement, breath, gut health, relationships, mindset, environment, work/home stress, and trauma. She uses these areas to explain how one can gain context around their stress load and identify areas for improvement.
Solution-based anxiety coach and CBT practitioner Emma Mcfarland has had her fair share of panic experiences. She describes her first panic experience happening on a train that had stopped in the middle of a tunnel.
“All of a sudden I felt the fear, like it was in the air.”
After her second panic experience, she describes beginning to avoid certain situations – public transport, the stairs, then anywhere outside of her house. At one point, she felt unable to leave her room.
On @anxiety_wellbeing, Emma uses her personal experience with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (a form of anxiety where you feel anxious most of the time) and agoraphobia to provide practical advice for managing anxiety.
What we love about @aniety_wellbeing:
Emma's posts are relatable and easy to understand.
She breaks down complex psychological concepts into simple, everyday language, making her content accessible to everyone.
Her posts are a great resource for anyone looking to understand and manage their anxiety from a practical perspective.
Emma’s post on the vicious cycle of anxiety and work is a good example of her approach. In this post, she explains how anxiety can lead to a cycle of avoidance and fear, which can negatively impact work performance and overall well-being. She also provides practical tips on how to break this cycle, such as acknowledging your feelings, practicing self-care, and seeking professional help if needed.
@dearmyanxiety started as a way for Stefania Rossi, or “Stef” as she likes to be known, to share her experiences with anxiety. Stef describes struggling with anxious thoughts as early as 5 or 6 years of age and was formally diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder at age 20.
Now, Stef is considered a mental health advocate whose aim is to create a community of people who feel understood, heard, validated, and supported.
While she's not a licensed professional, Stefania's firsthand knowledge of these conditions lends authenticity and relatability to her content.
What we love about her content:
Stefania's posts are deeply personal, offering a comforting reminder to her followers that they're not alone in their struggles.
She offers a balanced mix of affirmations, personal anecdotes, and practical advice, making her content a valuable resource for anyone grappling with anxiety.
In one of her posts, she shares five crucial messages she wished she had heard during her most challenging moments with anxiety. The post is a heartfelt reassurance to her followers, reminding them that their current struggles with anxiety are not permanent, that they possess the strength to cope, and that they are more than their anxiety.
She also emphasizes the importance of finding the right treatment and asserts that anxiety doesn't have to limit one's life.
5. @anxietyjosh
Joshua Fletcher, a UK-based psychotherapist, is the man behind the Instagram account @anxietyjosh. Known for his specialization in anxiety disorders, Josh has become a reputable figure in the mental health industry.
His personal experience with anxiety, including panic attacks, agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety disorder, has given him a deep understanding of the condition beyond what textbooks can provide.
Here's what we love about his content:
Josh's content is a blend of personal insights and professional advice.
His posts are informative but also very relatable, making complex psychological concepts accessible to everyone.
His followers appreciate his honesty, relatability, and the practical advice he provides, as seen in the reviews of his podcast, Disordered.
One of his posts discusses the common mistake anxious people make: self-criticism. In the video, Josh explains that becoming anxious is not a failure or a sign of doing something wrong. Instead, it's the brain's threat response kicking off. He emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and acknowledges the bravery of those dealing with anxiety every day.
Anna Papaioannou, also known as @annatheanxietycoach on Instagram, is an integrative nervous system therapist with a wealth of qualifications, including a Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology), a Graduate Diploma of Counseling, and certification as a Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCTAP).
Here's what we love about her content:
Anna's content is a blend of professional knowledge and personal experience.
She uses her platform to share integrative approaches to managing anxiety, focusing on the connection between the body and the mind.
Her followers appreciate her holistic approach to anxiety management, which includes movement, release, gut health, and more.
In one of her posts, she provides three somatic tools to help release energy and regulate the nervous system. The tools include a wall sit exercise, shaking, and a tense-and-relax exercise.
These practices are designed to help you feel more grounded and calm, especially during heightened emotions like anxiety or panic.
Alison Seponara, the licensed therapist and anxiety healer behind @theanxietyhealer, uses her expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy to provide insights into managing anxiety.
Her posts are a treasure trove of practical advice on managing anxiety, ranging from breathing exercises to cognitive reframing techniques.
Here's what we love about her content:
Alison's approach is practical and grounded in evidence-based techniques.
She provides a mix of practical tools and emotional support, making her a valuable resource for anyone dealing with anxiety.
For example, in one of her posts, she shares a collection of healing affirmations for anxiety, such as “Anxiety is not making my decisions,” “One minute at a time,” and “This is uncomfortable but I’m safe.” These affirmations serve as a reminder that discomfort is temporary, that it's okay to feel different, and that we are capable of overcoming anxiety.
Instagram content is often generalized – it cannot be tailored to each individual, so it should not be used as a substitute for professional help or treatment. Everyone is different, and that includes our mental health struggles.
That being said, Instagram accounts like the ones we’ve mentioned can give us tools to improve our well-being and connect us with people going through the same journey. This helps us become active participants in our own healing and gain the necessary knowledge to thrive. The more we know, the more powerful we become.
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About the author:
Emma is a practicing trainee Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist studying at the University of Cambridge and a psychology writer with years of experience. She achieved a 1st Class Honors Degree in Psychology from Aston University in Birmingham.