Anxiety plagues millions of people every single day and while there's a plethora of medications on the market and a host of meditation apps designed to help, sometimes the most simple of solutions are the most effective.
One wellness expert is championing a new technique she swears beats anxiety and stress in minutes. Jody Shield, author of 'Self-Care for the Soul', swears by 'tapping' or EFT (emotional freedom techniques), which she describes as an 'easy and effective self-help tool that helps quickly release negative emotions such as anxiety, stress or fear.'
Here's everything you need to know, plus a guide to trying it out yourself...
How does it work?
Similar to acupuncture, EFT uses the body’s energy meridian points, which are stimulated by tapping on them with your fingertips. The basic technique asks you to focus on a negative emotion such as fear or anxiety.
While staying focused on that emotion, you tap on each of the meridian points for 3-7 times repeating phrases that focus on the issue. You start with the karate chop point (side of the hand) and tap this 3 times while saying a phrase. You then shorten the phrase and tap the around the following points: the eyebrow, side of the eye, under eye, under nose, chin, collarbone, under the arm, top of the head.
Tapping on the energy meridian points, sends signals to the amygdala (fight or flight part of the brain) to calm down and relax. As soon as this happens, anxiety is immediately reduced which allows you to move forward in a calmer way. This also helps restore the body’s energy to a balanced state.
Why do it?
EFT is simple, powerful and painless. Anyone can learn it and use it anywhere and anytime. Tapping can provide relief from a wide variety of things such as chronic pain, emotional problems, disorders, addictions, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical diseases.
Here are some examples of how you can try tapping for your ailments...
FEELING OVERWHELMED / STRESSED OUT
a) Start by tapping on the karate chop point. Tap on each point approx 7 times. As you tap repeat the following phrase three times:
Even though i’m feeling overwhelmed and fearful, I accept who I am, and how I feel (x 3)
b) Continue tapping on the other points and say each of these out loud as you do:
Eyebrow: I’m feeling really overwhelmed
Side of the eye: All this stuff happening
Under eye: I’m really stressed out
Under nose: What if I miss something?
Chin: What if it all gets too much?
Collarbone: I’m so overwhelmed right now
Top of the head: So much happening right now
Eyebrow: And I can’t cope with it all
Side of the eye: What if I miss something?
Under eye: And then I’ll mess up
Chin: I’m stressed out
Collarbone: I’m feeling overwhelmed
Under arm: With all I have on
Top of head: I can’t think straight!
Eyebrow: I know I can move through this
Side of the eye: I know I have the strength inside
Under eye: I choose to believe i’ll get through this
Under nose: I know I can find my power inside
Chin: I believe this is my journey now
Collarbone: I know I can move through this
Underarm: And feel good about myself again
Top of head: I choose to believe in my inner strength
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[Via GLAMOUR UK]
