Calming Anxiety | Guided Meditation, Sleep Hypnosis & Panic Attack Relief

Folgen

• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The Related Muff - By E Nesbit 04.10.2026 19Min.

  The Related Muff by E. Nesbit — A Calming Christmas Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off to sleep with this gentle bedtime story, a classic audiobook narrated aloud for insomnia relief and deep relaxation as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's sleep story is The Related Muff by E. Nesbit, the much-loved author of The Railway Children and The Story of the Treasure Seekers. It's a warm, funny Christmas tale about first impressions, quiet courage and a cousin nobody wanted. It was first published in her 1905 collection Oswald Bastable and Others and is long in the public domain: Edith Nesbit (1858–1924) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing narrated short story, it's Christmas Eve and there will be no proper Christmas this year: Aunt Ellie has come home ill from India, Mother has rushed to her side, and Father is away with his ship. Then Mother returns in a cab, not with presents, but with cousin Sydney, thin, quiet and buried in Treasure Island, who won't join in any of their games. Rupert, Hilda and Hugh decide he's nothing but a "related muff". But when a game of flying machines on the stairs goes badly wrong, it's Sydney who acts. Tender, funny and full of Nesbit's sharp eye for how children really think, this is a story about kindness, getting people wrong, and the courage that sometimes hides in the quietest person in the room. If you can't sleep, lie awake at night with a racing mind, or simply love classic children's literature read aloud, let this calm, unhurried bedtime reading ease anxiety and carry you softly towards rest. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Why Does the Day Feel Over at Four O'Clock - 10 Minute Guided Meditation 04.10.2026 10Min.

  Why Do I Feel Anxious When It Gets Dark Early? — A 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Dark Evenings & Winter Anxiety | 4-2-6 Breathing Why do I feel anxious when it gets dark so early? You come out of the door in the afternoon and the light is already going, and something in you drops. It's not dramatic, just a small, quiet sinking under the ribs. Nothing has happened. It's the same evening, the same jobs, the same house. And yet it feels like the day is over and you haven't done enough with it. As the clocks go back and the nights draw in, this guided meditation is for that winter-evening anxiety. If anxiety or panic sometimes catches you when you least expect it, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's companion app, now while you're feeling okay.The big blue Instant Calm button is completely free, works offline and needs no signing up. Search "Anchored: Panic & Anxiety", or get it on the App Store athttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode uses 4-2-6 breathing: in through the nose for four, a gentle rest for two, and out through the mouth for six. Then comes a gentle reframe. You haven't run out of the day, only the light. The early dark isn't a verdict, a deadline or a judgement on what you've done. It's simply the planet doing what it does every year, and the evening ahead is more of your day, just happening after dark. Calming affirmations and three simple caring tips for darker evenings follow. Want more support? Download Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – When the Light Goes Early* 00:41 – Welcome & Anchored's Instant Calm Button* 01:27 – Finding Your Quiet Place* 01:47 – 4-2-6 Breathing* 04:08 – You Haven't Run Out of the Day* 04:26 – The Dark Is Not a Verdict* 05:27 – Affirmations for Dark Evenings* 06:34 – Drifting Deeper* 07:57 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 09:12 – Coming Back Gently* 09:42 – A Note From Martin 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and whisper these softly after Martin, if you wish:* I have not lost anything.* The light not being here is only information.* I am allowed a slow and calm evening.* Being anxious when it gets dark so early doesn't mean anything is wrong with me.* I do not have to prove my worth this evening. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. Let it be about the light: When the light goes today, notice the small drop and let it be about the light. You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to argue with it either. Just watch it arrive and let it go through you.2. One lamp on early: Put one lamp on early, while it's still only getting dark. Not to be organised, just so the change arrives gradually, rather than all at once when the curtains are drawn.3. Move something you like into the dark: Take one thing you actually like and move it into a dark part of the evening on purpose. Not a job, but something you would choose. The evenings are long now. Let a piece of one belong to you. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. The Instant Calm button is free, works offline and needs no sign-up, and you'll also find over 2,500 searchable audio sessions, sleep stories with Books...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The White Cat - By E Nesbit 03.10.2026 19Min.

  The White Cat by E. Nesbit — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off to sleep with this gentle bedtime story, a classic audiobook narrated aloud for insomnia relief and deep relaxation as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's sleep story is The White Cat by E. Nesbit, the much-loved author of The Railway Children and Five Children and It. It's a warm, magical fairy tale about a little boy, a chipped china cat and a family secret hidden for 150 years. It was first published in her 1912 collection The Magic World and is long in the public domain: Edith Nesbit (1858–1924) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night. Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing narrated short story, young Tavvy has had a wonderfully wicked afternoon. Last of all, he knocks a little white china cat off its shelf in the forbidden attic. When his mother lets him keep it for his very own, the china cat begins to speak, and each night she carries him away to her enchanted castle of gold and ivory, with invisible hands serving supper and a bed with a counterpane of butterfly wings. But Tavvy's mother has troubles of her own, and the family may have to leave their beloved old house. What happens next is pure Nesbit: tender, funny and full of quiet magic, with an ending that will leave you smiling. If you can't sleep, lie awake at night with a racing mind, or simply love classic children's literature read aloud, let this calm, unhurried bedtime reading ease anxiety and carry you softly towards rest. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Panic Attack Relief - Riding The Wave Until it Passes (Box Breathing 4-4-4-4) 03.10.2026 11Min.

  Panic Attack Relief — Ride the Wave Until It Passes | Box Breathing Guided Meditation If your heart is hammering, your hands are tingling and some frightened part of you is certain something terrible is about to happen — start here. This is Panic Attack Relief: a 10-minute guided meditation to help you float through a panic attack instead of fighting it. You are not dying, you are not going mad, you are not losing control. A panic attack is a wave — it rises, it peaks, and every single time, it falls. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this session uses box breathing (also called square breathing or tactical breathing) — the breath taught to soldiers, divers and emergency responders to keep a clear head while the body is screaming to run. We start with gentle counts of three, ease into fours, then settle into warm golden-light affirmations to remind your nervous system that the adrenaline is already finishing its journey and cannot stay. Whether you're on the bathroom floor right now or building your daily calm, this is anxiety relief for panic attacks, breathwork and nervous-system reset — and a reminder that your record is perfect: you have survived every panic attack you have ever had. ⏱️ Time Chapters * 00:00 – You are not dying: a panic attack is a wave* 00:55 – Welcome (your host Martin, clinical hypnotherapist & former paramedic)* 01:24 – Anchored: the always-there Instant Calm button* 01:57 – Box breathing — threes, then fours (in through the nose, out through the mouth)* 04:44 – The tide goes out: adrenaline has a shelf life* 05:21 – Warm golden light & panic-attack affirmations* 08:35 – Your three daily caring tips* 09:28 – Gently coming back into the room* 10:08 – Outro, share & be kind 🌿 Today's Gentle Affirmations Say these with me, in your mind or out loud — they are yours: * I am having a panic attack, and a panic attack cannot hurt me.* This will pass. It always passes.* I do not have to fight this feeling. I can let it move through me.* The tight band around my ribs begins to melt.* My heart is strong. My heart is doing its job. My heart is safe.* I have survived every panic attack I have ever had. My record is perfect.* I am safe in my body, and I am safe in this moment.* I am anchored. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips 1. Name it. The moment you feel panic beginning, say out loud, "this is adrenaline and it peaks in 10 minutes." Naming stops your brain adding a second fear on top of the first. 2. Cool the reflex. Put something cold on the back of your neck, or hold your wrists under a cold tap — the drop in skin temperature triggers your body's own calming reflex within seconds. 3. Refuel after. Once the wave passes, drink a full glass of water and eat something small — panic burns real fuel, and your body needs telling that the emergency is over. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You Anywhere If you'd like this session waiting for you next time, come and find it within Anchored — make it a favourite, download it forever, no searching and no scrolling. On the very first page there's a button called Instant Calm: nine minutes of guided talking, baked into the code, no signal needed and no premium upgrade. Tap it as often as you need, and I'm there with you. To take Calming Anxiety with you anywhere, download Anchored on iOS. Access over 3,000 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime, and built-in nightlight...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - Silence A Fable - By Edgar Allan Poe 02.10.2026 10Min.

  Silence — A Fable by Edgar Allan Poe — A Classic Gothic Bedtime Story, Narrated Audiobook | Books at Bedtime A classic audiobook narrated aloud as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's bedtime story is Silence — A Fable by Edgar Allan Poe, a strange, dreamlike prose poem and one of his least known and most hypnotic works, perfect for the long October nights leading up to Halloween. It was first published in 1838 under the title "Siope — A Fable" and is long in the public domain: Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) died more than 175 years ago. For more calming audiobooks and gentler sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. "Listen to me," said the Demon, as he placed his hand upon my head. In this narrated fable, a demon describes a dreary land beside the river Zaire, where the waters never rest, pale water lilies sigh one unto the other, and the tall primeval trees rock forever though there is no wind. Beneath a crimson moon, a solitary man sits upon a great grey rock, and the demon sets out to unsettle him with storm, thunder and tumult. Nothing moves him, until the demon tries something far stranger. With its rolling, repeating rhythms and rich, incantatory language, this is Poe at his most musical. It's a haunting meditation on solitude, stillness and the power of silence itself, and an unusual choice for anyone who loves classic literature read aloud and a little gothic atmosphere before sleep. Please note: this is an eerie gothic piece, a little darker in mood than our usual gentle sleep stories. If you're feeling anxious or fragile tonight, you may prefer one of our calmer Books at Bedtime readings. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  I Can Change — New Month New Way of Thinking (Physiological Sigh) 02.10.2026 10Min.

  I Can Change — New Month New Way of Thinking (Physiological Sigh) A new month can feel like something between a fresh page and a quiet accusation. Part of you is already looking back — at what you meant to do, at what you promised yourself and didn't quite manage. This 10-minute guided meditation offers something kinder: a month is not a report card, and you don't need the first of September to begin again. Martin guides you through setting down the heavy backpack of everything unfinished from last month, then into the physiological sigh — two breaths in through the nose, one long breath out through the mouth. It's the fastest reset your nervous system has, and it makes the point of the whole episode better than any words can: you were already different ninety seconds later. Four guided rounds, followed by a warm golden-light body scan and affirmations for self-compassion, fresh starts and letting go. This is anxiety relief for anyone who feels behind, who is being hard on themselves about how the year is going, or who has quietly given up on something good because they "ruined it" by missing a few days. Every day is a brand new reset — every hour, every breath. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett.  ⏱️ Time Chapters * 00:00 – Cold open: a month is not a report card* 01:08 – Welcome to Calming Anxiety with Martin* 01:24 – Settling: finding your quiet place* 01:56 – The heavy backpack: setting last month down* 02:50 – The physiological sigh: the science* 03:21 – Four guided rounds* 05:25 – Warm golden light body scan* 06:20 – Today's gentle affirmations* 08:15 – Your three daily caring tips* 09:15 – Coming gently back into the room* 09:48 – Closing thoughts and sign-off  🌿 Today's Gentle Affirmations Repeat these softly in your thoughts: • I am safe. I am here. There is nothing to fear right now. • This is a new month, and I am allowed a new way of thinking. • I do not carry last month into this one. • August passed across me. September will pass across me, and I will still be here. • Every day is a brand new reset, and I am allowed to begin again as often as I need. • I have not fallen behind. There is no schedule I am failing. • I am not starting over. I am starting from experience. • I am calm. I am capable. I am enough for this month.  💡 3 Daily Caring Tips 1. One Word, Not A Resolution — Write down one single thing you would like more of this month; not a resolution, not a target, just one word, and put it somewhere you will see it each morning. 2. The Day Is Not Scored — When you catch yourself saying "I have already ruined it today", take one physiological sigh and carry on anyway, because the day is not scored. 3. Say The Good Thing Out Loud — Choose one small thing you did well in August and say it out loud to yourself, because you will list your failures without any prompting at all.  📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You Anywhere If today helped, download Anchored on iOS. Access over 3,000 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime, and built-in nightlight features for the small hours. No streaks, no guilt — just somewhere to come back to. 👉 Download Anchored on the App Store Today: https://apps.apple.com And if you...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The Oval Portrait - By Edgar Allan Poe 01.10.2026 11Min.

  The Oval Portrait by Edgar Allan Poe — A Classic Gothic Bedtime Story, Narrated Audiobook | Books at Bedtime A classic audiobook narrated aloud as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's bedtime story is The Oval Portrait by Edgar Allan Poe, one of his shortest and most haunting tales, and a beautifully atmospheric read-aloud as the nights draw in towards Halloween. It was first published in 1842 under the title "Life in Death" and is long in the public domain: Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) died more than 175 years ago. For more calming audiobooks and gentler sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night. Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this narrated short story, a wounded traveller shelters for the night in an abandoned château high in the Apennines. Unable to sleep, he lies in a candlelit turret room hung with tapestries and paintings, reading a small book that describes them. When he moves the candelabrum at midnight, its light falls on a portrait he hadn't noticed before: a young woman in an oval gilded frame, painted with a life-likeness so startling it holds him spellbound. Then he reads her story. This is quiet, dreamlike gothic fiction about art, obsession and love, told in Poe's rich, hypnotic prose. It's a perfect choice if you love classic literature read aloud and a gently haunting tale by candlelight before sleep. Please note: this is a gothic story with a sad and eerie ending, a little darker than our usual gentle sleep stories. If you're feeling anxious or fragile tonight, you may prefer one of our calmer Books at Bedtime readings. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Calm Anxiety Fast - 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Stress, Panic & Sleep 01.10.2026 10Min.

  Anxiety Relief in 10 Minutes — Turn Your Anxiety Down, Not Off | Guided Meditation With 4-2-6 Breathing Anxiety relief in ten minutes, with nothing to achieve. If you're listening right in the middle of anxiety, stay here. You don't have to switch anxiety off. You can simply learn to turn it down a little, one breath at a time. This gentle guided meditation for anxiety is for any moment you need to unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders and let your nervous system settle, whether you're heading back into your day or getting ready for sleep. For a quiet place to return to whenever anxiety catches you out, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's free companion app.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode uses 4-2-6 breathing: in through the nose for four, a gentle pause for two, and slowly out through the mouth for six. With every out-breath you'll imagine turning the volume of life down a little, drifting into deep, natural relaxation. Then come five calming affirmations to take with you, and three simple caring tips for creating a little space between the feeling and your reaction. Want more support? Download Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome to Calming Anxiety* 00:27 – Finding Your Quiet Place* 00:57 – 4-2-6 Breathing* 01:53 – Turning the Volume Down* 02:33 – You Don't Have to Switch Anxiety Off* 02:57 – Drifting Deeper Into Relaxation* 04:41 – This Moment Is Enough* 04:50 – Five Affirmations to Take With You* 07:19 – Nowhere to Be, Nothing to Do* 07:57 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 08:56 – Coming Back Gently* 09:34 – A Note From Martin 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:* I can slow down one breath at a time.* I do not have to solve everything right now.* I can feel anxious and still be safe within this moment.* I am allowed to rest my body and my mind.* With every breath I can let a little more go. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. Make this moment easier: When anxiety rises today, don't immediately ask, "How do I get rid of this?" Instead ask, "What can I do to make this moment easier?"2. Three slow breaths: Give yourself three deliberately slow breaths before responding to something stressful. Not to become perfectly calm, just to create a little space between the feeling and your reaction.3. Phone down before sleep: Tonight, put your phone down for ten minutes before sleep and simply breathe. No scrolling, no news, no solving tomorrow. Just give your nervous system a few minutes without another demand. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Access over 2,500 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime (now searchable by author), and built-in nightlight features for the small hours. And grab Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. If this episode helped, please share it and leave a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It genuinely helps more people find their way here. And in everything, my friend, be kind.
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - The Tell-Tale Heart - By Edgar Allan Poe 30.09.2026 17Min.

  The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe — A Classic Gothic Bedtime Story, Narrated Audiobook | Books at Bedtime A classic audiobook narrated aloud as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's bedtime story is The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, the most famous short story ever written by the master of gothic fiction, and a perfect read-aloud as the nights draw in towards Halloween. It was first published in 1843 and is long in the public domain: Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) died more than 175 years ago. For more calming audiobooks and gentler sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. "True! Nervous, very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?" In this narrated short story, an unnamed narrator insists he is perfectly sane while he tells us, calmly and in careful detail, how he came to fear an old man's pale blue "vulture eye", and what followed on the eighth night. Poe's genius is in the voice: the racing thoughts, the heightened senses and the growing dread of a mind that cannot stop listening. It all builds towards one of the most famous endings in literature. Please note: this is a classic tale of suspense and horror, including a murder, and it is darker than our usual gentle sleep stories. If you're feeling anxious or fragile tonight, you may prefer one of our calmer Books at Bedtime readings instead. But if you love classic literature read aloud and a spine-tingling tale before sleep, settle in. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Why Do I Feel Anxious When Nothing Is Wrong — A 10-Minute Meditation for Anxiety 30.09.2026 11Min.

  Why Do I Feel Anxious When Nothing Is Wrong? — A 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Anxiety for No Reason | Grounding & Letting Go Why do I feel anxious when nothing is wrong? Everything is fine. Nobody has called with bad news, the house is quiet, and yet there it is: that little knot inside saying something isn't right. This guided meditation is for anxiety for no reason, the frustrating kind where there's nothing you can point to, so your mind goes searching for something to worry about and fills a perfectly ordinary quiet moment with it. For a quiet place to return to whenever this feeling catches you out, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's free companion app. Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode doesn't try to find what's wrong. Instead you'll practise what it feels like to stop looking. It starts with simple grounding (one thing you can see, one thing you can hear, one place your body is being held), then moves to noticing your breath without fixing it. Along the way you'll learn why sometimes the feeling comes first and the mind goes looking for an explanation afterwards. Then comes a steadying phrase, "I don't have to know why right now," along with affirmations for unexplained anxiety and three caring tips. Want more support? Download Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. It's five simple things you can reach for when anxiety starts. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Why Do I Feel Anxious When Nothing Is Wrong?* 01:16 – Welcome & Martin's Free Five Things* 02:05 – Practising What It Feels Like to Stop Looking* 02:58 – Grounding: See, Hear, Feel Supported* 03:34 – Noticing the Breath Without Fixing It* 04:08 – When the Feeling Comes First* 05:07 – "I Don't Have to Know Why Right Now"* 05:53 – Softening the Body* 06:20 – Sitting Beside Yourself* 07:04 – Affirmations for Unexplained Anxiety* 08:10 – Floating in the Moment* 08:37 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 09:33 – Coming Back Gently* 09:55 – A Note From Martin 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:* I can feel anxious and still be safe.* I can feel uncertain and still be okay.* I can have a thought without believing it.* I can feel something without needing to act on it.* I do not need to know why. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. Don't go searching: When anxiety appears without any obvious reason, don't immediately start searching for one. Notice the feeling and say, "I don't have to know why right now."2. Come back to what you know: When you notice yourself asking, "What if something is wrong?", bring yourself back to what you actually know in this moment. Right now, not tomorrow, not next week, but right now.3. The next five minutes: Ask yourself, "What would help me feel a little safer for the next five minutes?" Then do that one thing. Small is enough. You don't need to earn the right to take care of yourself. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Access over 2,500 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime, and built-in nightlight features for the small...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - An Unfinished Story - By O Henry 29.09.2026 19Min.

  An Unfinished Story by O. Henry — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off to sleep with this gentle bedtime story, a classic audiobook narrated aloud for insomnia relief and deep relaxation as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's sleep story is An Unfinished Story by O. Henry, one of his most loved and most quietly moving tales, about a young New York shopgirl living on six dollars a week. It was first published in his 1906 collection The Four Million and is long in the public domain: William Sydney Porter (1862–1910) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing narrated short story, Dulcie works in a department store and counts every cent: ten for breakfast, a dime saved, five squandered on liquorice drops. So when the notorious "Piggy" invites her to a grand dinner uptown, she spends her last fifty cents on a lace collar and gets ready for her first evening out. But on her dresser, in a gilt frame, stands the one friend whose stern, sorrowful eyes are always watching. Framed by O. Henry's playful dream of angels, judgement and a very particular crowd of prosperous spirits, this is a tender, wry and beautifully observed story about small pleasures, quiet dignity and doing the right thing when nobody else is looking. If you can't sleep, lie awake at night with a racing mind, or simply love classic literature read aloud, let this calm, unhurried bedtime reading ease anxiety and carry you softly towards rest. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Why Does My Voice Shake When I Speak - A 10-Minute Meditation for Anxiety 29.09.2026 11Min.

  Why Does My Voice Shake When I'm Anxious? — A 10-Minute Guided Meditation for a Shaky Voice & Anxiety Relief | 6-3-9 Breathing Why does my voice shake when I'm anxious? If your voice trembles or wobbles when you talk, whether in a meeting, on the phone or just saying something that matters, this guided meditation is for that kind of anxiety other people can actually hear. Most of us assume the problem is the throat. But anxiety affects the whole system you speak with: your breathing, the muscle tension around your jaw and shoulders, and the way you control your voice. For a quiet place to return to whenever this feeling catches you out, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's free companion app.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode explains why anxious breathing turns short and high in the chest. You try to stand an eleven-word sentence on a breath built for four, and somewhere around word seven the floor runs out. Rather than practising speaking, you'll practise the floor underneath it with 6-3-9 descending breathing: six in, rest for three, and nine slowly out. It's a long, unhurried out-breath your voice can rest on. Then come affirmations for a shaky voice, a calming aura of confidence for the throat and chest, and three caring tips for speaking anxiety. Want more support? Download Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. It's five simple things, so you know what to reach for. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome & Martin's Free Five Tips* 00:44 – Finding Your Quiet Place* 01:00 – Why Your Voice Shakes When You're Anxious* 02:12 – The Grip That Makes It Worse* 02:37 – 6-3-9 Descending Breathing* 04:35 – Letting the Out-Breath Carry a Soft Sigh* 05:28 – The Breath Your Voice Can Rest On* 06:07 – Affirmations for a Shaky Voice* 07:38 – An Aura of Calm Confidence* 08:44 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 09:49 – Coming Back Gently* 10:26 – A Note From Martin: Five Things to Try 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:* When my voice shakes, it does not define me.* It may simply be my body responding to anxiety.* I do not have to hold my voice still.* My shaky voice is not a character flaw.* It is my body responding to a moment.* I am allowed to finish my sentence early.* I am allowed to say these things slowly. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. Notice the throat clear: Just notice it, the little cough before and the little cough after. You do not have to stop it. It has just been invisible for a long time, and today it is not.2. One breath out, then speak: Before you say something today, let out one comfortable breath. Not a huge breath in, just one breath out, and then speak.3. Let the sentence be short: If your voice goes today, let the sentence be short and let that be completely fine. You are allowed to finish early. Nobody is marking it. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Access over 2,500 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime, and built-in nightlight features for the small hours. And grab Martin's free Five...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - Between Rounds - By O Henry 28.09.2026 17Min.

  Between Rounds by O. Henry — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off to sleep with this gentle bedtime story, a classic audiobook narrated aloud for insomnia relief and deep relaxation as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's sleep story is Between Rounds by O. Henry, a warm, funny tale of one May evening at a New York boarding house. It was first published in his 1906 collection The Four Million and is long in the public domain: William Sydney Porter (1862–1910) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing narrated short story, the May moon shines on Mrs. Murphy's boarding house. Upstairs, Mr. and Mrs. McCaskey are having one of their famously noisy disagreements over supper, and the kitchenware is flying. Then a cry goes up from below: Mrs. Murphy's little boy, Mike, is lost. As the boarders rally in their own comic ways, the McCaskeys pause at the window, and in that quiet moment between rounds they find an unexpected tenderness for each other. What happens next is pure O. Henry: wry, affectionate and with a knowing twist at the end. If you can't sleep, lie awake at night with a racing mind, or simply love classic literature read aloud, let this calm, unhurried bedtime reading ease anxiety and carry you softly towards rest. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Why Am I So Frightened of Needing People - A 10 Minute Meditation 28.09.2026 11Min.

  Why Am I So Frightened of Needing People? — A 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Fear of Relying on Others & Anxiety Relief | 4-6 Breathing Why am I so frightened of needing people? Someone did something kind for you recently, and for about half a second it was lovely. Then something underneath went cold: "What would I do if they weren't here?" Ever since, you've been quietly trying to need them a little less. This guided meditation is for that fear of relying on others, of being a burden and of losing the people who are still right here. For a quiet place to return to whenever this feeling catches you out, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's free companion app.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode uses gentle 4-6 breathing with a small, soft pause after the out-breath, a chance to notice that the next breath arrives without you having to go and get it. Then comes the image of a warm amber lamp left on in a hallway, which is never diminished by being used, along with affirmations for self-worth, and three caring tips for when asking for help feels like running up a debt. Want more support? Download Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. It's a small toolbox for evenings like this, with nothing to sign up to. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Why Am I So Frightened of Needing People?* 00:50 – Welcome & Martin's Free Five Tips* 01:31 – Finding Your Quiet Place* 02:04 – 4-6 Breathing With a Soft Pause* 04:16 – Letting the Breath Arrive* 04:24 – The Amber Lamp: Needing Someone Isn't a Debt* 05:42 – Affirmations for Needing People* 08:26 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 09:22 – Coming Back Gently* 09:57 – A Note From Martin: Five Things to Try 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:* I am frightened of how much I need people and needing them is not a fault.* I can let someone help me without owing them anything.* I do not have to take it back the moment I've asked.* I am allowed to matter to the people I love.* And they are allowed to matter to me.* I am not the fear of losing them. I am the one who loves them. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. Notice the add-ons: Notice the little sentence you add on the end when you ask someone for something. The "only if you're not busy." The "honestly, it's fine." Just notice it. You don't have to stop doing it yet.2. [TIP 2 — NOT CAPTURED IN THE TRANSCRIPT. PASTE MARTIN'S SPOKEN TIP HERE BEFORE PUBLISHING]3. Let it be a question: If the frightened thought comes ("What would I do without them?"), let it be a question. You simply don't answer it today. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Access over 3,000 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime, and built-in nightlight features for the small hours. And grab Martin's free Five Things to Try When Anxiety Hits at https://calminganxiety.org/calm. If this episode helped, please share it and leave a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It genuinely helps more people find their way here. And in everything, my friend, be kind. 
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - Springtime A La Carte - By O Henry 27.09.2026 18Min.

  Springtime à la Carte by O. Henry — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off to sleep with this gentle bedtime story, a classic audiobook narrated aloud for insomnia relief and deep relaxation as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime series. Tonight's sleep story is Springtime à la Carte by O. Henry, a tender, witty tale of love, longing and one very important restaurant menu. It was first published in his 1906 collection The Four Million and is long in the public domain: William Sydney Porter (1862–1910) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing narrated short story, Sarah is a freelance typist getting through a long, cold New York winter by typing the daily bills of fare for Schulenberg's home restaurant in exchange for her meals. Her heart is still in a country lane at Sunnybrook Farm, where young farmer Walter Franklin crowned her with dandelions and promised to marry her at the very first sign of spring. Then, with no letter from Walter in two weeks, dandelions appear on tomorrow's menu. What happens next is pure O. Henry: gentle, funny and quietly romantic, with one of his warmest endings. If you can't sleep, lie awake at night with a racing mind, or simply love classic literature read aloud, let this calm, unhurried bedtime reading ease anxiety and carry you softly towards rest. Hosted and narrated by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief, stress reduction, and a path toward deep relaxation. Use this episode anytime you need to calm your mind and feel more at ease.
• 
  Why Can't I Find the Words When Someone Asks How I Am - A 10-Minute Meditation for When You Can't Explain How You Feel 27.09.2026 10Min.

  Why Can't I Answer When Someone Asks How I Am? — A 10-Minute Meditation for When the Words Won't Come Somebody asked you properly today. They stopped, looked at you, and said, "How are you doing?" — and then they actually waited. There was a half a second in there where you had the chance to tell them. But what came out was, "Yeah, good, you." And you've been carrying that little moment around ever since, because it felt like a lie. It wasn't. This is for anyone who freezes when someone asks how they're doing, who can't find the words to answer honestly, and who's been quietly wondering why such a small question lands so hard. For a place to return to rather than another place to explain yourself, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's companion app, on the App Store athttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Inside it there's a daily check-in that never asks a follow-up question — no one on the other end, nothing to explain, some days you just need to be asked the right amount. This session uses 4-2-6 breathing — in through the nose for four, a two-count rest, out through the mouth for six — and it asks you to notice that rest without gripping it or bracing against it, because it's not a hole to fill, it's two counts in which absolutely nothing is being asked of you. From there we sit with the idea that not having the words isn't the same as not being honest, and that you're not lying to anyone — you just haven't read yourself properly yet. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, this episode is for the moment right after someone asks, and for anyone who's ever wanted to give a truer answer than the one that came out. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – The half-second before you answer* 00:53 – Welcome to Calming Anxiety and the Anchored check-in* 01:32 – Why does such a small question land so hard?* 01:46 – Finding your quiet place* 01:54 – 4-2-6 breathing: the rest that asks nothing of you* 03:54 – You're not lying, you just haven't read yourself yet* 04:19 – Guided affirmations* 07:56 – Three daily caring tips* 08:55 – Coming back gently* 09:19 – Closing and sign-off 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:I do not have to explain myself to be worthy of being asked after.I am allowed to give a short answer and still be an honest person.Nothing in me is too complicated to be cared about.If the words come, I will use them. And if they don't, I am still here.I am safe. I am here. And there is nothing to fear right now. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. The next time somebody asks how you are, just notice the half second before you answer. You don't have to do anything differently — only notice that it's there.2. Finish this sentence silently, for nobody but you: "Honestly, at the moment, I'm just ___." Let whatever word turns up be the right one, even if it's a very small word.3. Think of one person you'd like to tell. You don't have to tell them today — just let yourself know who they are. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Access over 2,500 searchable, offline-ready audio sessions, sleep stories with Books at Bedtime, and built-in nightlight features for the small hours. If this episode helped, please share it and leave a quick...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - Sister's of The Golden Circle - By O Henry 26.09.2026 17Min.

  Sisters of the Golden Circle by O. Henry — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off with this gentle bedtime story for sleep and insomnia relief, read aloud as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime strand. Tonight's tale is Sisters of the Golden Circle, O. Henry's warm, witty New York story about two newlywed brides who understand each other completely in a single glance. It was first published in his 1906 collection The Four Million and is long in the public domain: William Sydney Porter (1862–1910) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing bedtime audiobook, James Williams of Cloverdale, Missouri, and his bride of two weeks take the top seats on a Rubberneck sightseeing tour of the big city. Just in front of them sit a girl in a tan jacket and a sharp-eyed young man. Then a plain-clothes detective stops the car looking for a burglar called Pinky McGuire, and one bride does something quietly remarkable for another. It ends with O. Henry's signature twist, as tender as it is funny. This is a gentle, old-fashioned story about kindness, happiness shared and the unspoken understanding between strangers, perfect for winding down, easing anxiety and drifting off to sleep. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome to Books at Bedtime: Sisters of the Golden Circle by O. Henry* 00:10 – The Rubberneck Auto sets off* 01:13 – Two hearts that know each other at a glance* 02:10 – James Williams of Cloverdale and his bride* 03:10 – The sights of the big city* 04:48 – Hattie, once the belle of Cloverdale* 06:46 – "Dear kind fairy": the wedding trip remembered* 07:29 – The girl in the tan jacket and the young man beside her* 08:52 – A glance between two brides* 10:03 – A plain-clothes man stops the car* 11:44 – "Come down, Pinky"* 13:33 – "Go with him quietly, Pinky"* 14:13 – James Williams goes cheerfully mad* 15:15 – The bride explains* 16:55 – Sisters of the plain gold band  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety-guided-meditation-sleep-hypnosis-panic-attack-relief--4110266/support.Ready for More Calm?Thank you for listening to the Calming Anxiety Podcast, featuring guided meditation, mindfulness, and sleep hypnosis sessions with Martin Hewlett. Our mission is to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief,...
• 
  Why Do I Feel So Relieved When I Back Out - A 10 Minute Meditation for the Guilt of Cancelling 26.09.2026 10Min.

  Why Do I Feel Guilty After Cancelling Plans? — A 10-Minute Meditation for Relief, Guilt and Needing Rest You sent the message — so sorry, won't be able to make it — and for about four seconds you felt wonderful. Genuine relief. Shoulders coming down, the whole evening handed back to you. And then it turned. Now you're here, phone face down on the cushion, feeling like a terrible friend. If cancelling plans leaves you with that exact one-two of relief and guilt, this guided meditation is for the ten minutes after you press send. For a place to return to whenever this happens, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's companion app.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist Martin Hewlett, this episode uses nadi shodhana, alternate nostril breathing, to hold two feelings side by side without either one winning, then moves into affirmation work that separates the relief (a reading on your own fuel gauge) from the guilt (a feeling, never a fact) — because needing rest was never a character flaw. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – The Four Seconds of Relief* 00:40 – Welcome & Anchored* 01:08 – Two Feelings, Not One Argument* 02:20 – Breathing: Alternate Nostril* 04:54 – Setting the Guilt Down* 05:23 – Warmth Spreading Through You* 06:31 – Affirmations for Cancelling Plans* 07:54 – Settling Deeper* 08:14 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 08:57 – Coming Back Gently* 09:22 – A Note From Martin 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:I am allowed to cancel plans without being a bad person.Feeling relieved when plans are cancelled does not make me cold.My need for rest is information. It is not a character flaw.The guilt after saying no is a feeling. It is never a fact.I am allowed to disappoint people and still be a kind person.I will be there another time, and that counts as well. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. When the relief arrives, notice it for what it is — a reading on the fuel gauge, not a statement about the person you let down.2. Let the guilt sit there without answering it. You do not have to argue with it, and you do not have to obey it.3. Give yourself a little of the evening you called off — even ten quiet minutes of it — rather than spending the whole of it feeling bad. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Search your perfect moment of calm from over 2,500 guided sessions, or fall asleep to Books at Bedtime, a growing library of over 50 narrated stories. If this episode helped, please share it and leave a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it genuinely helps more people find their way here. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this...
• 
  Books at Bedtime By Calming Anxiety - From the Cabby's Seat - By O Henry 25.09.2026 14Min.

  From the Cabby's Seat by O. Henry — A Calming Bedtime Story for Sleep & Insomnia | Books at Bedtime Drift off with this gentle bedtime story for sleep and insomnia relief, read aloud as part of Calming Anxiety's Books at Bedtime strand. Tonight's tale is From the Cabby's Seat, O. Henry's warm, funny New York story about a hansom-cab driver and one very unusual fare. It was first published in his 1906 collection The Four Million and is long in the public domain: William Sydney Porter (1862–1910) died more than a century ago. For more calming audiobooks and sleep stories whenever you need them, download Anchored, the free companion app to Calming Anxiety, with offline-ready relaxation and Books at Bedtime sessions for any hour of the night.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. In this soothing bedtime audiobook, a wedding party spills out onto a New York sidewalk, and Jerry O'Donovan, the cabby they call Nighthawk, climbs up to his high seat a little the worse for Mr McGarry's hospitality. A young woman steps into his cab and asks to go "anywhere you please". So off they go: up Fifth Avenue, through the cool night air of the park, and on to an evening of music and lights at the Casino. Then comes the question of the four-dollar fare, and O. Henry's signature twist, as warm as it is surprising. This is a gentle, old-fashioned story about small joys and the simple pleasure of a night out, perfect for winding down, easing anxiety and drifting off to sleep. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist and former paramedic Martin Hewlett, as part of Calming Anxiety's Coffee Break for the Soul and Books at Bedtime story readings. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome to Books at Bedtime: From the Cabby's Seat by O. Henry* 00:09 – The world from the cabby's high seat* 02:16 – A wedding celebration at the Walsh house* 03:23 – Jerry O'Donovan, the Nighthawk, and his well-fed horse* 04:56 – A young woman steps into the cab* 06:19 – "Anywhere you please": up Fifth Avenue and into the park* 08:21 – An evening of music and lights at the Casino* 10:14 – The music ends and the cabs are called* 11:25 – "Have you got the dough?"* 12:02 – A furious gallop through the night streets* 13:03 – The police station, and Jerry's surprise* 13:51 – "I had such a nice time, Jerry" 🌿 Tonight's Gentle AffirmationsLet these settle softly as you drift towards sleep:* I can let the day carry me home.* I don't need to know where the road goes to enjoy the ride.* Small, simple joys are more than enough.* I am exactly where I need to be tonight.* I am safe, I am held, and I can rest now. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a supporter of this podcast:
• 
  Am I Too Much for the People Who Love Me — A 10-Minute Meditation for When You Feel Like a Burden 25.09.2026 10Min.

  Am I Too Much? — A 10-Minute Meditation for Feeling Like a Burden and the Fear of Being Too Much It arrives quietly, usually afterwards, usually once you've been talking for a while. They were kind. They were still listening. And somewhere underneath it, you'd already started apologising in your head for taking up the evening. If you've ever wondered am I too much, or felt afraid of being a burden to the people who love you, this guided meditation sits with exactly that feeling, and gently questions the running total anxiety keeps on your behalf. For more of this kind of support whenever you need it, download Anchored, Calming Anxiety's companion app — there's a whole section inside called Confidence and Self-Worth you can return to as often as you like.Get it on the App Store at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Hosted by clinical hypnotherapist Martin Hewlett, this episode uses a three-part breath (filling the belly, then the ribs, then the top of the chest) to help you take up the whole of your own lungs, before moving into affirmation work that separates needing people from being a burden to them. ⏱️ Time Chapters* 00:00 – "Am I Too Much?"* 00:40 – Welcome & Anchored* 01:26 – The Running Total* 02:46 – Breathing: The Three-Part Breath* 05:00 – A Gift of Time* 05:27 – Someone Who Is Glad You Exist* 06:31 – Affirmations for Belonging* 08:16 – Three Daily Caring Tips* 09:08 – Coming Back Gently* 09:46 – A Note From Martin 🌿 Today's Gentle AffirmationsSettle in and repeat these gently to yourself:I am safe. I am here.I am not too much for the people who love me.I am allowed to take up space.Needing people is not the same as being a burden.I give freely, and I am allowed to receive.There is nothing to replay.I am wanted, not tolerated.I am enough as I am, on a bad day as well as a good one. 💡 3 Daily Caring Tips1. When somebody asks how you are today, notice the little urge to say "fine, sorry" — and just let yourself say how you are, without the sorry on the end.2. Bring to mind one thing you gave somebody this week that you've already completely forgotten about. It counted.3. If somebody offers you something small today — a lift, a cup of tea, ten minutes of their time — let them. Being received is a kindness you're doing for them too. 📱 Take Calming Anxiety With You AnywhereDownload Anchored on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchored-panic-anxiety/id6785035669 or on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martinhewlett.anchored. Search your perfect moment of calm from over 2,500 guided sessions, or fall asleep to Books at Bedtime, a growing library of over 50 narrated stories. If this episode helped, please share it and leave a quick rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it genuinely helps more people find their way here. And in everything, my friend, be kind.  Support the Show: Rate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners! YouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1 Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/ Music: All music by Chris CollinsBecome a...