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Over the past couple of years, social media has continuously blown us away with bits of information that only a small percentage of people know. One example is a video about how sour candy helps relieve the symptoms of a panic attack.

In the viral video, TikTok user TalkingTaylor shared a piece of advice from her therapist: to eat sour when having a panic attack. Of course, the seemingly bizarre advice took off on the social media platform as she attested to its effectiveness. But how does this work, exactly?

Panic and sensory overload

Sensory overload happens when the five senses -- sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste -- become overwhelmed with the information they are taking in. And because the brain is trying to process it, it triggers the flight or fight response, causing panic due to the feeling of danger. 

Psychiatrist Dr. Toya Roberson-Moore explains that when this happens, the best way to dampen the panic is by using our senses to turn our attention to the present moment. So a piece of sour candy will let a person focus on the sense of taste. And this calms the amygdala, the part of the brain that helps us feel. The frontal cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that helps us think, is also activated, and it tells us that we are not in actual danger.

Mental health counselor Dr. John Delony says that sour candy helps us focus on the present situation, making it an effective remedy for a panic attack. He adds that learning to intentionally shift our focus will make it even more effective.