Millions of people in the world are trying to live their lives while coping with anxiety symptoms. Anxiety is a very common thing, and some people have mental health disorders that involve severe anxiety symptoms. If you are currently dealing with anxiety issues, you might be looking for ways to alleviate things. One promising idea is known as “tapping for anxiety,” but is this really something that can take away your anxious feelings? Some people feel that tapping for anxiety sounds too good to be true, and others assume that it’s another alternative treatment for anxiety with no science to back it up.
The truth is actually somewhat complicated because it’s hard to say if tapping for anxiety will really work. Some research suggests that tapping for anxiety is a great treatment for anxiety symptoms. A large study found that 90% of people who received acupoint tapping therapy found anxiety relief as a result. In this particular study, it was compared with patients who received cognitive behavioral therapy. Only 63% of patients who received traditional CBT found anxiety relief. The results suggest that tapping for anxiety really might be more effective for treating anxiety in certain individuals.
Keep reading to learn more about tapping for anxiety and why it might be an option that is worth your time. This might sound like an unusual therapy method at first, but it does have research to back up the fact that it is effective. You’ll learn more about what acupoint tapping therapy is, how it might be able to help you, and whether it’s something that you should consider as part of your anxiety management strategy. It’s certainly good to use everything you can to mitigate anxiety issues, and this will give you a chance to make up your mind about which route to take.
Emotional Freedom Technique
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is the most often used to refer to tapping treatments for anxiety. This is actually a type of therapy used to treat many types of issues, and it isn’t exclusively a treatment for anxiety. People receive EFT treatments to help with physical pain as well as emotional issues. Basically, it’s a type of acupressure treatment where specific points on your body are “tapped” to help you find balance in your energy system. Some people find fault with this technique because it sounds like something that doesn’t gel with modern science.
However, these acupressure treatments seem to work very well, and many people swear by them. You already know that large studies have been done that have proven the effectiveness of EFT when it comes to treating anxiety symptoms. Studies have also been done that show that EFT can be used to help people with pain management as well as other conditions. If you were quick to write EFT off because it sounds like it couldn’t be a real medical treatment, then you might want to take a step back to reassess things. EFT is something that is being used to help many people.
How EFT Works
EFT works similarly to standard acupuncture treatments, except that you generally use your fingers instead of needles. It is said that the human body has specific energy hotspots that are known as meridian points. Placing pressure on these points can lead to relief, and the idea is that EFT therapy helps people balance out their energy. Interestingly, mainstream science has performed studies to understand meridian points better and get to the truth. There are many theories about energy hotspots in the body and why acupressure treatments seem to give good results. Definitive answers are not yet available, but, notably, many parts of muscles, tendons, and ligaments follow the meridian course.
This means that lots of muscles, tendons, and ligaments are in the meridian points’ path. Whether the theory of balancing energy levels is sound or not, EFT has indeed been able to help many people with physical ailments and mental health issues. This type of therapy is based on Chinese medicine, and the methods have been in use for thousands of years at this point. It is said that balancing your energies like this can help energy flow through your body naturally. When an energy imbalance is created, this is supposed to lead to disease and mental health complications.
Just keep in mind that the EFT world’s terminology doesn’t always gel with things that modern medical science accepts. You’ll often find that EFT feels more like a spiritual treatment due to the idea of energy and finding balance within your body. You don’t necessarily have to believe that energy in the body is the cause of anxiety relief, though. If these treatments work to help you feel better, it doesn’t matter why this occurs. Science doesn’t have a clear answer for why tapping therapy seems to work, but it’s up to you to decide if you want to make use of it.
How To Utilize EFT
You can utilize a few ways to utilize EFT if you want to use it for anxiety relief. One of the most common ways is to seek out a clinic that offers EFT treatments. You can find a professional who is knowledgeable about meridian points in the body that can give you the right tapping treatments. Most people can find that this option is the easiest way to get relief, but you don’t necessarily have to go to a clinic to get treatment. Some people simply learn how to do EFT tapping techniques themselves.
If you can take the time to learn about EFT yourself, then you can learn about the meridian points in your body. This shows you the specific points that need to be tapped so that you can enjoy relief. Your body has twelve major meridians that are mirrored on each side of your body. EFT treatments are generally only going to focus on nine of those meridians. There’s a small intestine meridian, one at the top of your head, one by your eyebrow, one by the side of your eye, one under your eye, one under your nose, one on your chin, one at the start of your collarbone, and another under your arm.
Taking the time to learn about the meridian points in your body will allow you to see where they are and which points need to be tapped. If you can learn to do this yourself, you can try to use tapping for anxiety as a coping mechanism whenever you feel it is necessary. Many people have started using tapping techniques to help with anxiety symptoms, and you might find that this is a good way to complement traditional anxiety treatments. Overall, tapping for anxiety is pretty simple, but it might take some getting used to for you to get comfortable with doing it.
One good way to get better at utilizing tapping techniques is to watch online tutorial videos. There are many videos on YouTube about EFT that explain things thoroughly. You could also seek out more advice from professionals who utilize EFT techniques daily. There are all sorts of pictures, videos, and charts you can follow to get the physical steps of tapping down. Once you’ve become used to performing the tapping, it won’t be too hard to start seeing results. Many people who try tapping for anxiety do have a positive experience, and it might be worth your time to try it out.
Finally, you should note that most experts say that you need to tap yourself with positive intentions. This often means that you should verbalize your intentions and try to let go of stress as you perform the tapping. For example, some people will say phrases like “even though I’m feeling stressed, I accept myself.” Whatever problem you’re experiencing that is causing you anxiety can be acknowledged, and you can put good intentions behind your tapping.
Should Tapping Replace Traditional Anxiety Treatment Methods?
Most experts would say that you shouldn’t look at anxiety as a replacement for traditional anxiety treatments. Tapping can be used as a good coping mechanism for anxiety symptoms, and it’s something that could help you out a lot. However, it’s still important to talk to your doctor about any anxiety that you’re experiencing.
If you’re wondering whether your anxiety issues warrant going to the doctor, then it might be good to take an anxiety test. This will show you more information about your anxiety levels and how you’re feeling. This isn’t a diagnostic tool, but it gives you a better idea of whether you should seek treatment.
For many people, therapy is going to be a better solution than tapping for anxiety. You might also want to try therapy alongside tapping. These two things don’t have to exist in separate worlds. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you out while you’re using tapping techniques. You might find out that working through your issues alongside a compassionate therapist will put you in a better place mentally.
Just know that you never have to face anxiety symptoms alone. There are professionals out there who are ready to assist you, and there are many different ways to treat anxiety that will prove to be effective. It’s just up to you to decide which anxiety treatment methods you wish to pursue.
