This Sunday we’re chatting with Susan D Smith, a psychotherapist, the founder of The Stress Hacker and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). 

Hey, Susan! If you could recommend One Good Thing everyone can do to improve their mental health, what would it be? 

Use the six healing sounds from the ancient art of qigong. All six sounds together are excellent for letting the mind relax in the body and excellent if you have trouble sleeping.

1. Ssssss = sounds from the lungs
2. Chooooo = sounds from the kidneys is very cooling
3. Whooooo = sounds from spleen/stomach
4. Sshhhhh = sounds from the liver (great if feeling agitated as it’s very soothing)
5. Haaaaa = sounds from heart (if you’re upset in a relationship)
6. Heeeeee = sounds from the core of the body

They have a long history and can be traced back to the 4th century. They have a direct benefit on your physiology and you can measure the results immediately by noticing that you feel instantly better. 

Wait, how do you use these sounds? Are they on Spotify?

Inhale, make the sound on the exhale for as long as you can, then inhale and move onto the next sound. Simply, the sounds improve your breath and change your ’state’. The tones vibrate at different frequencies and relate to individual organs and their systems, so positively impact your physiology.

Interesting. What benefits could we see from doing this?

The results are instant. Gauge yourself from 0–10, with 10 being very stressed. Make the sounds and notice the subtle change in how you feel. Repeat until you’ve calmed right down.

Are there any pitfalls? Any way we can go wrong?

None! Only forgetting to do them.

How do you personally do your One Good Thing? 

I use the six sounds if I wake up in the night and struggle to go back to sleep or when I feel agitated or stressed. I recommend that you become familiar with them by doing it regularly – several times a day is good. For added benefit, float your arms out beside you and up into the air as you inhale and float them back down with the fingers facing each other as you make the sound.

How has using the six sounds changed your life? 

It has been a total game-changer. It is empowering because you can adjust your thoughts and feelings by using them. It gives you a sense of control.

Frame Of Mind is Stylist’s home for all things mental health and the mind. From expert advice on the small changes you can make to improve your wellbeing to first-person essays and features on topics ranging from autism to antidepressants, we’ll be exploring mental health in all its forms. You can check out the series home page to get started.

Images: Getty; Stylist