I Used a Vagus Nerve Device for 30 Days to Fix My Anxious Thoughts… Here’s What Happened
I’m a 34-year-old marketing manager who’s lived with anxious thoughts for three years. Every morning started with a racing heart before my eyes even opened.
I’d tried meditation apps, therapy, prescription meds, expensive supplements…
Nothing stopped the symptoms.
Then a friend mentioned “vagus nerve stimulation”
I was skeptical, but I tried this thing anyway.
I decided to track in a journal what happened day by day. Here’s the real story, no fluff, just what I actually experienced.
Day 1–4: Morning & Commute
It showed up in a plain box. I clipped it onto my ear while drinking coffee. It tingled slightly but not uncomfortable, just… there.
I felt nothing and almost wanted to send it back.
I take the subway to work.
That’s when my anxious thoughts hit hardest: crowded train, someone’s elbow in my ribs, my thoughts racing.
I put it on during my commute and threw in my headphones.
About 15 minutes in, something weird happened.
My shoulders weren’t up to my ears, my jaw wasn’t tight and I wasn’t holding my breath.
I wasn’t calm exactly, but I wasn’t freaking out either:
it felt like someone turned down the volume on my stress.
That’s when I stopped thinking about returning it.
Day 8–12: The Physical Shift
The work crisis hit.
Deadline moved up, team panicking, my chest tightening.
Stepped away for 20 minutes with the device.
I came back still stressed, but I could think and prioritize.
I did not spiral.
After the gym that week, I used it for 30 minutes and expected to be wrecked the next day.
Instead?
Way less sore and actually had energy to cook instead of collapsing.
Chronic stress and anxiety can affect sleep and recovery processes for some people, which may contribute to feeling less recovered over time.
This was finally flipping that switch.
Day 16-22: Digestion and Sleep
My stomach’s been a mess for years. Bloating, pain, constant knot.
Day three?
Pain gone.
Anxious thoughts may shut down digestion…
This told my body it’s safe.
Sleep was my biggest struggle, racing thoughts. and sometimes panic in the middle of the night.
I used it an hour before bed.
First night? Asleep in 20 minutes.
Woke at 2 AM but fell back asleep.
After a week, my Oura ring showed it: HRV up, heart rate down.
My nervous system is finally relaxing.
Day 30: What Changed
This didn’t cure my anxious thoughts. Still have hard days. Still in therapy.
But:
My body responds to stress differently. Before, anxious thoughts were a runaway train.
Now I can stop it.
- Sleeping through the night.
- Digestion normal.
- I bounce back faster.
Why Your Body Stays Stuck in Anxious Thoughts (And How This Fixes It)
The vagus nerve is your body’s main “calm down” nerve. When you’re chronically anxious, it’s underactive.
Your body stays stuck in fight-or-flight.
Nuropod sends gentle electrical signals through your ear to stimulate the vagus nerve.
It tells your body:
“You’re safe. You can relax now.”
Over 50 scientific studies back this up:
- 61% increase in vagal activity and improvement in heart rate variability
- 35% reduction in anxious thoughts
- 31% improvement in sleep scores
Will This Actually Work For You?
You’ll benefit if:
- Your anxious thoughts shows up physically (racing heart, tight chest, constant tension)
- You're burned out and can't turn off (even when you try)
- You have stress-related digestive issues (bloating, stomach pain, nausea)
- You can't sleep because your nervous system won't shut down
Skip it if:
- You want instant results without consistency
- You're looking for a magic cure that requires zero effort
The Practical Stuff
Cost: Around $900. Not cheap, but worth it compared to what I spent on supplements and co-pays that didn’t address physical symptoms.
Research subsidy: Get $100 off if you join their study (takes 2 minutes).
Money-back guarantee: 30 days, which is what made me try it.
How to use: Clip it on your ear and control intensity.
Sessions: 15 minutes to 2 hours.
I do:
- 30 minutes during morning commute
- 15-20 minutes midday if stressed
- 30-40 minutes evening before bed
Use it while working, reading, and watching TV.
The sensation is gentle tingling.
Not painful.
My Honest Take
Most wellness products have disappointed me and led me to be naturally skeptical.
This one’s different.
It didn’t fix everything.
- I still have anxious thoughts.
- Still have bad days.
But for the first time in years…
I’m not constantly fighting my own nervous system.
I can handle stress without completely unraveling.
- I sleep through the night.
- I eat without pain.
- My body actually recovers.
30 Days To A Calmer You: Guaranteed Or Refunded
Try Nuropod for 30 days. If it doesn’t help, you just send it back and get a full refund.
You have nothing to lose except the anxious thoughts making your life harder.
REFERENCES:
- Chalmers, J. A., Quintana, D. S., Abbott, M. J.-A., & Kemp, A. H. (2014). Anxiety disorders are associated with reduced heart rate variability: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 5, 80. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.20
- Cao, R., Azimi, I., Sarhaddi, F., Niela-Vilen, H., Axelin, A., Liljeberg, P., & Rahmani, A. M. (2022). Accuracy assessment of Oura Ring nocturnal heart rate and heart rate variability in comparison with electrocardiography in time and frequency domains: Comprehensive analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(1), e27487. https://doi.org/10.2196/27487
- Borges, U., Laborde, S., & Raab, M. (2019). Influence of transcut on cardiac vagal activity: A randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE, 14(10), e0223848. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223848
- Leigh, S.-J., Kaakoush, N. O., Lucassen, P. J., & Walker, F. R. (2023). The impact of acute and chronic stress on gastrointestinal physiology and function: A review. The Journal of Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP281951
- Marsland, A. L., Walsh, C., Lockwood, K., & John-Henderson, N. A. (2017). The effects of acute psychological stress on circulating and stimulated inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 64, 208–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2017.01.011
- Peuker, E. T., & Filler, T. J. (2002). The nerve supply of the human auricle. Clinical Anatomy, 15(1), 35–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.1089
- Redgrave, J., D Ali, A., Lindert, R., & Majid, A. (2018). Safety and tolerability of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in humans: A systematic review. Brain Stimulation, 11(6), 1225–1238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2018.08.010
- Segerstrom, S. C., & Miller, G. E. (2004). Psychological stress and the human immune system: A meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychological Bulletin, 130(4), 601–630. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601
- Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. (1996). Heart rate variability: Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. Circulation, 93(5), 1043–1065. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.93.5.1043
- Yap, J. Y. Y., Keatch, C., Lambert, E., Woods, W., Stoddart, P. R., & Kameneva, T. (2020). Critical review of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation: Challenges for translation to clinical practice. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 284. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00284
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. This site may receive compensation from product links.
