psyche
Anxiety Increase
Adverse effectAnxiety Increase is an adverse effect involving greater feelings of anxiety or nervousness than before. A person may notice anxiety worsening during an activity or after starting an intervention, and in some cases it may lead them to stop the activity.
Anxiety Increase is categorized under psyche, providing a focused starting point for exploring this effect in supplement reference material.
These are research findings, not promises. Most options have little evidence, and results differ from person to person.
What can cause it
How likely each one is to cause it, most likely first.
MeditationpracticePossible
Based on 7 studies. Strongest study: a pooled analysis of several trials.
A pooled analysis whose design was not recorded described heightened anxiety and agitation. An RCT involving 201 people with anxiety or depression found reliable deterioration in anxiety symptoms.
Open the Meditation pagePsychotherapypracticePossible
Based on 3 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
Open the Psychotherapy pageAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)practiceUnclear
Based on 6 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A systematic review pooling analyses whose designs were not recorded found anxiety was slightly higher at 9-month follow-up. In a separate randomized trial, 137 participants verbally reported worsening anxiety and depressive symptoms to a group leader at follow-up.
Open the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) pageYogapracticeUnclear
Based on 4 studies. Strongest study: a pooled analysis of several trials.
Pooled analyses whose designs were not recorded described potential psychological retraumatization when memories and emotions are visualized without proper guidance. One randomized trial involving 39 people reported anxiety during breathing exercises.
Open the Yoga pageAcupuncturepracticeUnclear
Based on 4 studies. Strongest study: a pooled analysis of several trials.
Pooled analyses of randomized trials reported needle phobia or fear of needles in studies involving people with hypertension or Parkinson's Disease.
Open the Acupuncture pageBreathworkpracticeUnclear
Based on 5 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A 2024 trial of 200 people reported chest tension and mild anxiety related to breathing pace or music. In a 2023 trial of 74 people with cancer, anxiety scores increased by 12.39 points among patients unable to cope with adverse events during pranayama, compared with control patients.
Open the Breathwork pageExpressive WritingpracticeUnclear
Based on 3 studies. Strongest study: a systematic review of studies.
A systematic review pooling randomized and non-randomized human studies found short-term increases in emotional distress, negative mood, or negative affect after written emotional disclosure; the studies included people with fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Open the Expressive Writing pageTENS / EMS TherapypracticeUnclear
Based on 3 studies. Strongest study: a randomized controlled trial.
A 2026 randomized trial recorded anxiety with TENS in 384 participants. A 2022 randomized trial in 45 participants described mild-to-moderate general discomfort, considered most likely due to anxiety.
Open the TENS / EMS Therapy page
The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What can cause it
Interventions reported to bring this on39 listedHighest probability
- →PracticesMeditationCertaintyMediumSourceClinical7 other sources
A pooled analysis whose design was not recorded described heightened anxiety and agitation. An RCT involving 201 people with anxiety or depression found reliable deterioration in anxiety symptoms.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depression
Open MeditationStudy result
Heightened anxiety and agitation
- →PracticesPsychotherapyCertaintyMediumSourceClinical3 other sources
A 2025 pooled review whose study designs were not recorded noted emotional distress or intolerance during imaginal confrontation using the empty-chair technique. Separately, a randomized trial in 122 adults reported a post-intervention NSESSS-PTSD result for Mini-IPT-G versus TAU (β = 5.04 (95% CI, 0.95 to 9.13); P = .02).
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open PsychotherapyStudy result
Emotional distress/intolerance during imaginal confrontation (empty chair technique)
Low probability(37)(2)(35)
- →PracticesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)CertaintyLowSourceClinical6 other sources
A systematic review pooling analyses whose designs were not recorded found anxiety was slightly higher at 9-month follow-up (SMD: 0.15, p = 0.036; 82 people in its anxiety analysis). In a separate randomized trial, 137 participants verbally reported worsening anxiety and depressive symptoms to a group leader at follow-up.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Study result
Anxiety levels were slightly higher (worse) at 9-month follow-up (SMD: 0.15, p = 0.036).
- →PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyLowSourceClinical4 other sources
Pooled analyses of randomized trials reported needle phobia or fear of needles in studies involving people with hypertension or Parkinson's Disease.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Hypertension
- Parkinsons Disease
Open AcupunctureStudy result
Needle phobia
- →PracticesYogaCertaintyLowSourceClinical4 other sources
Pooled analyses whose designs were not recorded described potential psychological retraumatization when memories and emotions are visualized without proper guidance. One randomized trial involving 39 people reported anxiety during breathing exercises.
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Anxiety Generalized
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Depression
- Dialysis
- Hypertension
- +5 more
Open YogaStudy result
Psychological retraumatization (potential risk with improper guidance during visualization of memories and emotions)
- →PracticesBreathworkCertaintyLowSourceClinical5 other sources
A 2024 trial of 200 people reported chest tension and mild anxiety related to breathing pace or music. In a 2023 trial of 74 people with cancer, anxiety scores increased by 12.39 points among patients unable to cope with adverse events during pranayama, compared with control patients (95%CI = 5.08|19.71, p = 0.001).
Who was studied
- Healthy people and patients
- Cancer
Open BreathworkStudy result
Chest tension, mild anxiety related to breathing pace or music
- →PracticesExpressive WritingCertaintyLowSourceClinical3 other sources
A systematic review pooling randomized and non-randomized human studies found short-term increases in emotional distress, negative mood, or negative affect after written emotional disclosure; the studies included people with fibromyalgia, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Open Expressive WritingStudy result
Short-term emotional distress, negative mood or affect increase after written emotional disclosure
- →PracticesTENS / EMS TherapyCertaintyLowSourceClinical3 other sources
A 2026 randomized trial recorded anxiety with TENS in 384 participants. A 2022 randomized trial in 45 participants described mild-to-moderate general discomfort, considered most likely due to anxiety.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Heart Failure
Open TENS / EMS TherapyStudy result
Anxiety with TENS
- →PracticesMassageCertaintyLowSourceClinical3 other sources
A review assessed anxiety at 90 and 60 minutes after massage plus analgesia. Another review described emotional distress or triggering of abuse memories during a massage session.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open MassageStudy result
Anxiety assessed at 90 and 60 minutes after massage plus analgesia
- →PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
In an RCT involving 670 people with a clinical condition, scores exceeding pre-validated psychological-distress cut-offs triggered an adverse-event protocol.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
Open Mindfulness MeditationStudy result
Triggered adverse event protocol by exceeding pre-validated cut-off scores for psychological distress
- →PracticesWim Hof Method BreathingCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
The findings did not support increased anxiety: a randomized trial of 404 healthy participants found a greater decrease in anxiety in the meditation condition than in WHM-remote after the 29-day intervention.
Who was studied
- Healthy people
Open Wim Hof Method BreathingStudy result
results revealed a greater decrease in the anxiety subscale of the DASS-21 in the meditation condition compared to WHM-remote at the completion of the 29-day intervention, W=4717.00, p=0.044, 95% CI [0.00, 0.13], r=0.003
- →PracticesCoherent BreathingCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
A 2017 trial involving 30 people with depression reported distressing thoughts during at-home Coherent Breathing.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Depression
Open Coherent BreathingStudy result
Distressing thoughts during coherent breathing at home
- →PracticesAnusara YogaCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A 2026 systematic review of observational studies classified reported events as psychiatric adverse events, without specifying whether anxiety increases were among them.
- →PracticesFastingCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A 2025 systematic review described anxiety exacerbation in relation to fasting; the finding did not quantify how often it occurred.
Open FastingStudy result
Anxiety exacerbation
- →SupplementsTurkey TailCertaintyLowSourceClinical2 other sources
Anxiety was reported as an event and was mentioned in 2 of 232 Reddit reports discussing it.
Who was studied
- People with a condition
- Breast Cancer
Open Turkey TailStudy result
Anxiety event (grade 3, possibly related)
- →PracticesBox BreathingCertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge2 other sources
In people with panic disorder or high anxiety sensitivity, focusing on breathing can sometimes heighten anxiety and cause a sensation of breathlessness or suffocation that leads to a panic attack. This effect was also described in 6 of 301 community reports; these are reports of personal experiences, not clinical findings.
Open Box BreathingStudy result
In some individuals, particularly those with panic disorder or high anxiety sensitivity, focused attention on breathing can paradoxically increase anxiety and trigger a sensation of breathlessness or suffocation, leading to a panic attack.
- →PracticesCoffee EnemaCertaintyLowSourceReference knowledge1 other source
High caffeine levels can trigger anxiety, jitteriness, or panic attacks, particularly in people with anxiety disorders.
Open Coffee EnemaStudy result
High caffeine levels can induce anxiety, jitteriness, and panic attacks, especially in those with anxiety disorders.
- →PracticesBedtime Wind-Down RitualCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal2 other sources
Excessive focus on perfect sleep hygiene can lead to performance anxiety around sleep, worsening insomnia.
- →PracticesBinaural BeatsCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal2 other sources
This effect was mentioned in 20 of 313 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesTranscendental MeditationCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal2 other sources
This effect was mentioned in 13 of 254 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesYoga NidraCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal2 other sources
This effect was mentioned in 13 of 298 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesAlternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)CertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 6 of 266 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesHot YogaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 10 of 312 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →SupplementsChagaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 12 of 229 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesDanceCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 10 of 107 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesFocused Attention MeditationCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 13 of 237 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesHatha YogaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 4 of 279 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesHot BathCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 232 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesIce Bath / Cold PlungeCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 275 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesInfrared SaunaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 233 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesLaughter Yoga / TherapyCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 24 Bluesky reports discussing it.
- →PracticesLoving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)CertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 9 of 260 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesPilatesCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 2 of 37 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesQigongCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 5 of 250 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesSwedish (Classic) MassageCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 6 of 241 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesThai MassageCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 5 of 262 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesVinyasa YogaCertaintyLowSourceAnecdotal1 other source
This effect was mentioned in 11 of 312 Reddit reports discussing it.
- →PracticesGratitude JournalCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical2 other sources
Qualitative accounts from 53 healthy participants described initial feelings of burden, awkwardness, and obligation about writing regularly.
Who was studied
- Healthy people
Open Gratitude JournalStudy result
Initial feelings of burden, awkwardness, and obligation about writing regularly
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Anxiety Increase is an adverse effect involving greater feelings of anxiety or nervousness than before. A person may notice anxiety worsening during an activity or after starting an intervention, and in some cases it may lead them to stop the activity. This outcome is distinct from an intervention being intended to support relaxation or emotional well-being; Yoga, TENS / EMS Therapy, and Meditation are among the interventions associated with it.
How interventions help
Anxiety increase has been reported across several types of interventions rather than one single category. The reports include mind–body practices such as Yoga and Meditation, device-based treatment such as TENS / EMS Therapy, caffeine-related exposures including Coffee Enema and Caffeine, and supplements such as Tryptophan, Saffron Extract, Potassium, Bacopa Monnieri, CBD (Cannabidiol), Creatine, Lemon Balm (Melissa), Resveratrol, Beetroot Extract, and Ginger.
The experience is not uniform. Reported outcomes range from anxiety during breathing exercises or formal meditation to nervousness, increased anxiety, and anxiety-like behavior. For Caffeine, higher consumption was associated with greater emotional lability and depressive symptoms, while the review stated that anxiety and depression were proportional to the amount ingested; no pooled estimate was provided. This means that amount may matter for some exposures, but the findings do not establish one shared threshold or response pattern.
Applicability also differs. Findings for Yoga and TENS / EMS Therapy were studied in people with a clinical condition, whereas the health status was not specified for the other interventions. The reports therefore should not automatically be treated as predictions for every person or every setting. In particular, an intervention that is generally used as a practice, therapy, beverage-related exposure, or supplement may affect anxiety differently depending on the context in which it was studied.
Choosing guidance
Use the evidence type and study population to decide how much weight to give an option. Yoga, TENS / EMS Therapy, and Meditation have clinical evidence, but the findings concern anxiety worsening in clinical or unspecified settings and may not apply equally to everyone. Tryptophan, Hatha Yoga, Gratitude Journal, and several supplements are supported mainly by anecdotal, theoretical, or pharmacology references, so they are less suitable for firm conclusions about personal risk.
Dose, duration, and speed are not consistently available across the options, which makes it difficult to predict how much exposure might matter, how long anxiety may persist, or how quickly it may appear. The Lemon Balm (Melissa) entry reporting improvement is the clearest exception: it includes a defined schedule and duration and is explicitly marked as human evidence. That information makes it easier to interpret than options supported only by general references or community reports, although it does not establish that it will suit every person.
Pay particular attention to options involving focused breathing, inward attention, or potentially activating effects. Breathing practices, Meditation, Box Breathing, Yoga, and Yin Yoga may be a poor fit for people whose anxiety intensifies when attention is directed toward breathing or bodily sensations. Caffeine and caffeine-containing preparations may also be less suitable for caffeine-sensitive people. Where evidence is anecdotal or based on limited reports, treat the finding as a signal to monitor rather than a predictable outcome.