In this CalmiGo review, I set out to see if CalmiGo really works and if it's worth buying. CalmiGo is a hand-held, drug-free relaxation device that can help reduce stress and anxiousness. The goal of CalmiGo is to help the user reduce fear and anxiety symptoms in minutes.
Review of: CalmiGo
Use: Smart Calming Companion
Effectiveness
Tackles anxiety in 3 different ways.
Ease of Use
Sensory feedback is provided.
Design
Intuitive but not the most discreet.
Value
Not cheap, but still worth it.
What I Like
What I Dislike
Summary: CalmiGo can be useful for someone experiencing anxiousness or panic attacks. This is due to CalmiGo’s key features: Relaxing scents, breathing regulation, and multi-sensory stimulation. The device can become more effective for users with repeated use and familiarity.
That’s the short story; but we’ve still got a lot more to cover in this CalmiGo review.
From $199 (Minus $30 with Discount Code: DONTPANIC)
Calmigo Review: My Experience
When I had my first few panic attacks back in high school, I scoured the Internet for any solution I could find. While the information available back then was limited, I did find a few tricks that helped me calm down. Some of these tricks included:
- Practicing controlled breathwork to stop hyperventilation
- Inhaling relaxing scents such as lavender
- Distracting myself through various senses (visual, touch, etc.)
These methods are well-known and effective for reducing anxiety attacks, in theory.
The problem is, it's not always easy to remember and implement them effectively when our brain is in full-blown fight-or-flight mode. After all, everybody has a plan until they're having a panic attack on stage at the talent show.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
Is CalmiGo Effective?
CalmiGo will be effective for most people looking to calm down and reduce anxiety levels. While it may look like a relatively simple device, the mechanisms behind it are rooted in science. Breathwork, aromatherapy, and multi-sensory stimulation are the legitimate approaches to stress-reduction that this tool offers.
Aside from my own personal positive experience, the majority of CalmiGo reviews online are positive. While anxiety is different for everyone, this suggests that CalmiGo should be effective for most people who use it correctly.
Does CalmiGo Work for Panic Attacks?
CalmiGo works great for soothing both regular anxiety and panic attacks. In fact, while there are many anxiety and stress-relief devices out there for general anxiety, I'd argue that this device shines specifically when it comes to stopping panic attacks.
When reviewing CalmiGo, I found value in its ability to bring a forced sense of structure to relieving a panic attack. Knowing what breathwork is and actually breathing effectively are two very different things. CalmiGo helps bridge the gap between theory and practice.
I won't tell you that it's going to be an absolutely necessary tool for everyone. The fact is, I beat my panic attacks years ago without any anxiety device to help me. However, something like CalmiGo probably could have shaved years off that process.
Let's take a minute and learn how to use the CalmiGo.
Yes, that's me trying CalmiGo out.
How to Use CalmiGo
Hold Device to Your Mouth
Make sure the device is turned on and the scent component is in place. Hold CalmiGo in one or both hands with your mouth placed on the front of the device.
Inhale Through the Nose
Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose and enjoy the scent of peppermint, bergamot, or lavender provided by the scent component.
Exhale Through the Mouth
Exhale slowly, and controlled, through the mouth. When the device fully lights up (or vibrates), this indicates your exhale is complete. Inhale to start the cycle again.
Repeat As Needed
Repeat this breath cycle for at least 3 minutes. Continue as needed. This helps us to regain control of our breath and thoughts during times of hyperventilation, stress, or anxiousness.
How Does CalmiGo Work?
If you decide to make a purchase after this CalmiGo review, you should learn how to use the device right away. Don’t wait until you’re having a full-blown panic attack to familiarize yourself with it.
Set it up immediately and give it a try; there is a small learning curve.
CalmiGo Features:
There are three key features of CalmiGo that make it effective at reducing anxiety symptoms and stress.
Relaxing Scent
There is a scented component CalmiGo that is placed on the front of the device. When you order CalmiGo, you can choose between lavender, peppermint, or bergamot scent. These scents are all associated with relaxation, so go with your preference.
Breathing Regulation
The main function of CalmiGo is to help time your breaths. A series of lights illuminate to let you know when your exhale is complete. This helps put an end to hyperventilation through proper breathwork.
Multi-Sensory Stimulation
CalmiGo also offers a vibrational feature to pace your breathing cyc3e. All of this sensory stimulation (the lights, the scent, the vibration, and the device in-hand) help to distract us from our anxiousness and worry. In some ways, the device serves as a focus object.
The Benefits of CalmiGo
Where to Buy CalmiGo
I recommend buying CalmiGo directly from the manufacturer. At the time of writing this, the product comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year manufacturers' warranty.
Click the link below and use coupon code DONTPANIC for $30 off your order!
My CalmiGo Review and Testimonial
"
"At first glance, I didn’t think much of the product. It’s fairly basic in its design, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The first time I used it, I’m not sure I fully 'got it.'
Over the next few days, I continued to use CalmiGo and began to see more and more value in it. I kept finding myself picking up the device and using it throughout the day – even when I wasn’t anxious at all. Maybe I’m just a weirdo, but I found it somewhat fun and appealing to use. It definitely helped me feel more calm and relaxed.
Over time, I imagine some users may develop an association between CalmiGo and the state of relaxation; enhancing its effects further."
Tyler Ellis - Founder @ dontpanicdothis.com
More CalmiGo Reviews and Testimonials
At the time of writing this article, the CalmiGo reviews online average around 4/5 stars. This indicates that most CalmiGo reviews tend to be positive. Upon scanning some of the negative CalmiGo reviews, it seems that they're often due to a misunderstanding of what CalmiGo is and how to use it.
To make sure my readers get the most out of their purchase, here are some tips.
Tips for Using CalmiGo Effectively
- 1Take it Slow. Remember, this is a breathwork device. To decrease anxiousness, we want a longer exhale than inhale. The only way we can achieve this is with slow, measured breathing.
- 2Use CalmiGo for AT LEAST 3 Minutes or More. Breathing a scent like lavender is great for relaxation and stress relief, but takes at least three minutes to work. Be patient and give it a chance.
- 3Practice Using the Device Regularly. With repeated practice and use, we should get better at using the CalmiGo for stress relief. Better yet, our brains will learn to associate the device with calm.
The Science Behind CalmiGo
(Optional section for those who want to nerd out a bit) 😉
Aromatherapy has been used for many years to help supplement the treatment of anxiety patients. Most commonly used for relieving anxiousness is lavender oil, although other oils have been found to be beneficial as well.
A systematic review of 16 studies done between 1990 and 2010 examined the clinical effects of aromatherapy on people with anxiety or anxiety symptoms. This review concluded that aromatherapy could be used as a supplemental therapy to help people with anxiety symptoms. [1]
Another study on dental patients found both lavender and orange scents to help reduce anxiety and improve mood in the dental office. [2]
When we start feeling anxious, we often begin to take shallow, rapid breaths. This is known as hyperventilation, and it can take us from mildly anxious to having a full-blown panic attack in a matter of seconds.
While hyperventilation can make it feel like we aren't getting enough oxygen, oftentimes the problem is we are really taking in too much oxygen. When this happens, our PCO2 levels drop, as we don't have enough carbon dioxide in our blood. This state is called respiratory alkalosis, and it can make our anxiety symptoms much worse.
The solution for this is prolonged exhalation. By making our exhale longer than our inhale, we restore our PCO2 levels. This also activates the relaxation response, helping us to calm down and relax. [3]
While many breathwork techniques exist to help with this process, CalmiGo makes it even easier. CalmiGo helps to time each exhale, ensuring you are breathing at a rate that helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and calm you down.
During a panic attack or similar instances of anxiety, we often feel as though we've lost control of our thoughts. We can easily feel overwhelmed, as if we might lose control or even die from our anxiousness. When this happens, it's especially important that we remember to ground ourselves.
There are many methods for grounding ourselves in the present, such as the 333 grounding technique. The CalmiGo can likely work in a similar way by stimulating our various senses in a pleasantly distracting way. The illuminating lights, the scented element, and the vibration can all contribute (in some small way) to bring us back to reality.
As an added bonus, repeated use of the CalmiGo device will likely lead to the development of association benefits. In other words, you may eventually feel more relaxed the moment you take out your CalmiGo, due to a learned association with stress relief over time.
FAQs
CalmiGo tackles anxiousness through several approaches. These approaches are all methods that I frequently discuss elsewhere on this site. Breathwork, focus objects, and inhaling lavender scent are all known to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
CalmiGo is a completely drug-free stress solution. As such, CalmiGo appears completely safe with no risk of drug interactions with other medicines.
Two AA batteries are required to use CalmiGo. The first set of batteries is included with the original purchase.
If, even after this CalmiGo review, the device is simply not in your budget, there are some alternatives. The cheapest alternative is to practice breathwork without a device or tool. This can be done through 478 breathing and by using an essential oil diffuser with lavender.
The usual cost of CalmiGo is $199. You can save $30 on your order by going to the CalmiGo Website and using coupon code DONTPANIC
Sources
[1] Lee, Y. L., Wu, Y., Tsang, H. W., Leung, A. Y., & Cheung, W. M. (2011). A systematic review on the anxiolytic effects of aromatherapy in people with anxiety symptoms. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(2), 101-108. (Source)
[2] Lehrner, J., Marwinski, G., Lehr, S., Johren, P., & Deecke, L. (2005). Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office. Physiology & Behavior, 86(1-2), 92-95. (Source)
[3] Benson, H., Beary, J. F., & Carol, M. P. (1974). The relaxation response. Psychiatry, 37(1), 37-46. (Source)
