Pattern Interrupts That Actually Work When You’re Spiraling
- Feb 10
- 4 min read
Emma G is an award-winning singer/songwriter, 2x TEDx speaker, and empowerment coach specializing in trauma-aware voicework, mental health advocacy, and music-led healing. She is the author of "Mental Health Sounds Like This" and founder of Emma G Music LLC.
Spiraling doesn’t usually announce itself politely. It shows up as racing thoughts, shallow breath, emotional overwhelm, or a sudden sense that everything is too much right now. Logic disappears. Perspective narrows. The nervous system takes the wheel.
In moments like these, being told to “calm down,” “think positive,” or “reframe your mindset” can feel not only unhelpful but alienating. Because when we’re spiraling, we’re not failing at mindset. We’re experiencing a mental health stress response rooted in the body and brain.
Over the past few months, I’ve been navigating grief alongside my professional work, showing up for others while processing the loss of my mother. In moments like that, spiraling isn’t theoretical. It’s physical. It’s sudden. And it’s humbling. The tools I’m about to share aren’t things I teach from a distance, they’re pattern interrupts I’ve relied on when my own nervous system needed anchoring.
Why spiraling happens (and why willpower fails)
From a nervous system and mental health perspective, spiraling occurs when the brain detects a threat, real or perceived, and shifts into survival mode. The amygdala fires. Stress hormones increase. The body prepares for action.
This response is not a flaw. It’s a protective mechanism. But once activated, higher-order reasoning (the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, reflection, and language) temporarily goes offline. This is why telling yourself to “just think differently” rarely works in the moment.
Effective pattern interrupts don’t fight the spiral. They meet the body where it is and gently redirect the system toward safety.
Pattern interrupt 1: Breathing for regulation (not relaxation)
When stress escalates, breathing often becomes shallow and rapid, reinforcing the brain’s belief that something is wrong. Instead of trying to relax, focus on lengthening the exhale.
A simple approach:
Inhale through the nose for 4 counts
Exhale slowly through the mouth for 6-8 counts
This signals the vagus nerve that the body is safe enough to downshift. It’s a foundational tool used in trauma-informed mental health care because it works with physiology, not against it.
Pattern interrupt 2: Posture as a nervous system reset
Posture is often overlooked in conversations about mental health, yet it plays a direct role in how the brain interprets safety and threat.
When spiraling, many people collapse inward: rounded shoulders, lowered head, constricted chest. Gently adjusting posture can create immediate feedback to the nervous system.
Try this:
Sit or stand with feet grounded
Lengthen the spine
Let the chest soften open without force
This subtle shift can reduce physical tension and support emotional regulation, especially during moments of overwhelm or grief.
Pattern interrupt 3: Humming to stimulate the vagus nerve
Humming is one of the most accessible ways to regulate the nervous system, no musical background required.
Low, steady humming stimulates the vagus nerve through vibration, helping reduce anxiety and mental distress. It’s particularly effective when words feel unavailable or emotions feel too big to process cognitively.
You might hum:
A single sustained tone
A familiar melody
Or simply follow the rhythm of your breath
This practice supports emotional well-being and is often used in nervous system-based mental health services as a grounding tool.
Pattern interrupt 4: Sound frequencies and intentional listening
Listening to specific sound frequencies can help guide the brain out of hyperarousal and into a more regulated state.
Low-frequency tones, steady rhythms, or sound bowls can:
Reduce stress responses
Support emotional balance
Create a sense of internal order when thoughts feel chaotic
This isn’t about distraction. It’s about giving the nervous system something predictable to organize around, especially during periods of anxiety or grief.
Pattern interrupt 5: Singing for nervous system regulation
Singing combines breath, vibration, rhythm, and expression, making it one of the most powerful tools for nervous system regulation.
From a mental health perspective, singing:
Regulates breathing
Engages both hemispheres of the brain
Releases stored emotional energy
It doesn’t require performance or perfection. Even quiet singing can support resilience and emotional release, especially when words alone feel insufficient.
Pattern interrupt 6: Songwriting to make sense of overwhelm
When thoughts loop endlessly, songwriting offers structure.
Writing lyrics allows the brain to:
Externalize overwhelming feelings
Organize emotional experiences into narrative
Create distance from intrusive thoughts
This process doesn’t require musical skill. It’s about meaning-making, not artistry. For many people, songwriting becomes a way to process grief, trauma, and mental health challenges without needing immediate answers.
In mental health education and prevention work, expressive writing is often recognized as a protective factor, particularly when paired with creative engagement.
Why these interrupts work when others don’t
What all these practices share is that they work below the level of conscious thought. Instead of demanding insight, they offer regulation. Instead of forcing control, they create safety. Over time, these small interventions support better emotional regulation, improved resilience, and stronger mental health outcomes.
They don’t eliminate pain, but they reduce the intensity of spiraling enough for clarity to return.
A final reflection
Grief, stress, trauma, and overwhelm may look different for each person, but the nervous system doesn’t care about the story. It responds to rhythm, breath, safety, and connection.
When we learn to interrupt spirals at the level of the body, we create space for healing that doesn’t rely on willpower alone. And in that space, resilience becomes something we practice, not something we pressure ourselves to perform.
Read more from Emma G
Emma G is an award-winning singer/songwriter, 2x TEDx speaker, and empowerment coach who helps teens and adults transform pain into power through trauma-informed voice work and songwriting. After surviving 10 brain surgeries due to hydrocephalus, she discovered the healing potential of music and self-expression.
Her book and album, Mental Health Sounds Like This, offer a neuroscience-backed, culturally grounded approach to emotional wellness. She’s the founder of Emma G Music LLC and has been featured by FOX, WUSA9, The Washington Post, CBS, CBC, and more. Her mission? To save the world, one song at a time.
