Last week I was home with my sick teen who was laid up in bed with the flu so I had plenty of time on my hands. I have been doing some reading up on EFT for dealing with my recent panic and anxiety attacks (see here).
EFT is a series of tapping on certain points where the qi (energy) flows close to the skins surface. As you tap the acupuncture points with your fingers, you repeat a positive mantra:
"Even though I am feeling anxious/panic at this moment, I deeply love and accept myself". "It's ok that I'm feeling panic about ________, I completely love and accept ALL OF ME anyway".
Then you are suppose to rate the level of anxiety/panic/pain you are feeling - 1-10. You repeat these steps over and over, until your anxiety (or whatever is going on) level is low or gone. It is said the tapping works by stimulating certain points (like acupuncture), as a result changing brain patterns by slowing the direction of electrical flow. The affirmation or the mantra, releases the emotional "charge" that carries the negative feelings — did you understand any of that or did I totally confuse the hell out of you? Here is a much better explanation of EFT.
So I practiced all week, tapping the pressure points and saying my mantra. I didn't notice an immediate relief for an attack, however, I did feel more and more relaxed with every round of taps I completed. Although, I don't know how I would apply this technique out in a public setting — tapping and repeating a mantra might make me look... well, somewhat "off-center" one might say. Can't you just picture it?... standing in a lineup at the bank/theater/store, tapping various body parts, chanting under my breath: "... I completely love and accept myself", "...deeply love myself". Yup, a few crumpets short of a proper tea!
Some helpful EFT links:
- Here is a great blog post at iCiNG about how EFT worked for her.
- Emotional Freedom Technique on Wikipedia.
- World Center for EFT
- Emotional Freedom Techniques to relieve stress on SteadyHealth.com.
6 comments:
I actually get the EFT newsletter once per week by email, and hardly ever read it any longer. Next time I get one, I will forward you the link.
A good friend of mine uses it and has good results. I have used it for a couple of "trigger" responses and have had ok results.
I go to acupuncture for a few things and he works on anxiety when it comes up. I have to say that this is my favorite approach for anxiety, as well as mindfulness and ativan (ha).
I've just blogged in your comments, Jack. Let me know if you want more info.
xo
That's great Movie! I really value your advice and comments, thank you. Yes, I would appreciate it if you could forward the EFT newsletter to me.
I have been thinking about acupuncture lately but need to discuss it with the doc first and then get a referral from her... that's the way it works here.
Thanks for your comment :)
Going to acupuncture is the highlight of my week.
I completely recommend it for anxiety. I wish you could go to my person. He is so great. (It would be a long car ride, eh?)
that's interesting . . . I'll have to look into it.
My doctor taught me a form of self-hypnosis to achieve the same thing.
I find recognizing the symptoms early of an on coming attack helps me to nip it in the bud before it becomes a full blown attack.
I read this, and I had to go away and think about it awhile. I've heard of this, but I don't know if it just doesn't sync with me, or if I'm just not disciplined enough to do it. Probably both. So I'm not criticizing it.
As both a practitioner and recipient of counseling, I can't state enough that getting to the core root of anxiety is the best way (not the only way) to beat it. Sometimes that information can elude a person for even years.
That's where my progress has been made lately, with the use of cognitive therapies. (I did my thesis on them, so it's my favorite one.)
But, as I've learned... there's no one way. Whatever works, do it. I wish you the best with this technique, and I look forward, truly, to hearing how this works for you. =)
gosh, i've never heard of this, but if it works it's worth trying, right?!
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