Tapping Away Destructive Emotions
I recently had a situation that knocked me down. It hit me hard. I was on the receiving end of cruel words, spoken specifically to cut me down and shut me up. I wasn’t in a place to respond well, and ugly crying wasn’t exactly an option, so I turned to tapping.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), more commonly called tapping, is a simple exercise often used for people facing trauma, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, among other issues. The technique is from Chinese medicine, but has been used effectively in all kinds of mental health situations.
When we experience negative emotions, our bodies trigger stress response, which includes the production of cortisol. The stress itself, especially when sustained over time, can lead to all sorts of health issues. Studies done with tapping show a significant reduction in cortisol when using the technique (The Tapping Solution). Tapping reduces destructive stress in our lives.
The technique is simple, free, and offers an emotional boost for large and small situations.
There are nine tapping points: First, take two fingers and tap the edge of your opposite hand, just below the pinky. Second, tap the area of your forehead where one of your eyebrows begins. Third, tap the end of the eyebrow. Fourth, tap under that eye. Fifth, tap the area between your nose and upper lip. Sixth, tap the space between your bottom lip and chin. Seventh, tap the center of your collar bone. Eighth, tap under your arm just below your armpit. Ninth, finish up by tapping the top of your head, right in the center.
Tap each point 5-7 times while saying, “Even though _____________, I love and accept myself.”
Anything you’re dealing with can be put in that blank.
“Even though I’m furious about how my friend acted, I love and accept myself.”
“Even though I’m dealing with sickness, I love and accept myself.”
“Even though I’m scared/hurt/unsure about life, I love and accept myself.”
One of the great things about tapping is that, according to research listed on the Tapping Foundation Solution website, it can be used for:
“Immediate relief/stabilization
Extinguishing conditioned responses
Overcoming complex psychological problems, and
Promoting optimal functioning”
Basically, it can be used to treat all levels of stress: serious recent trauma, well-established stress patterns, unclear psychological issues, and proactive efforts to establish better health.
You don’t have to wait until you feel like you’re going to blow up. Just tap for a few minutes. I visualize tapping like letting air out of a balloon instead of blowing in more and more air until it explodes.
Facing and resolving destructive issues instead of holding them inside is an important step in long-term health and quality of life.
There are plenty of resources online if you want to learn more.
Reference: The Tapping Foundation Solution. https://www.tappingsolutionfoundation.org/science-and-research/
Challenges/Points:
Tapping is used in many medical situations to calm the negative emotions which have a damaging impact on our health and well-being.
Studies have shown a significant reduction in cortisol production when tapping is used. This indicates it helps our bodies de-stress.
Tapping can be used for a whole range of situations from recent trauma to proactive promotion of health.
Questions:
Do you ever feel overcome by emotions or negative situations?
Are you sometimes confused and unable to think or function rationally?
What strategies and techniques do you find helpful?
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