This pandemic is really messing with minds, including mine. I already have some tools that I use to manage anxiety. I have my yin yoga practice (although I am not as regular as I would want to). I diffuse or apply essential oils on myself regularly. But sometimes, listening to the news really gets to me and I have nights staying awake in bed until 4 or later in the morning, unable to sleep.

It has been a very uncomfortable feeling and I know that sleep deprivation lowers one’s immune system. On days when I toss and turn in bed, watching the time go by, I end up feeling frustrated that sleep does not come over me. It also raises my anxiety even more thinking about how I will be less productive the next day because of lack of sleep.

For years, I have been listening to holistic-based health summits.  One of the techniques discussed in these summits that had a positive effect on mental health was tapping, or formally referred to as EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique. Two of the most popular tapping experts is the brother-sister-brother tandem of Nick, Jessica, and Alex Ortner. They are the people behind The Tapping Solution.

I did not practice tapping regularly although I would do it while attending the summits. I only decided to do it regularly just recently, more out of desperation to get a good dose of sleep. And guess what. I have slept very soundly most nights. I still have sleep-deprived nights but they are fewer and far between.

What is Tapping?

Tapping is based on the combined principles of Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. It is so simple. You just use your fingers to tap on 9 specific meridian points that send a calming signal to your brain and tell you it is safe and you can relax.

Tapping can look strange and in the beginning, I felt awkward doing it. But it works so who cares, haha.

The meridian points (in order of tapping) are:

1. Karate chop – side of any hand (the side you use when doing a karate chop)
2. Eyebrow (one or both)
3. Side of the eye (one or both)
4. Below the eye (one or both)
5. Underneath the nose
6. Under the lip (the crease between chin and lip)
7. Collarbone (using one or both hands)
8. Underneath the arm (where bra strap lies in women)
9. Top of the head

The Science Behind Tapping

We have a brain part called the amygdala and this is responsible for our fight-or-flight response. In the days of our cave ancestors, the amygdala was very active in real danger situations like encountering a wild animal. When this activates, it sends signals to parts of our body that help us get out of danger. We get a rush of adrenalin and this allows us to run faster or make us stronger in order to fight the danger. Have you heard stories about people who, at the height of floods, are able to lift heavy appliances that they cannot lift later when the floods are over? That is our adrenalin working. When the danger is over, the amygdala quiets down and our body functions go back to normal.

Unfortunately, our stressful modern lifestyle also activates this amygdala but because we are always subjected to constant stress, this amygdala is almost always turned on. The amygdala does not recognize it as stress only and not a tiger out to kill us. The amygdala just sees stress and puts us in fight-or-flight mode all the time. This can wreak havoc in our bodies.

Fighting our stress and anxiety actually builds it up even more. By tapping the meridian points and acknowledging how you feel helps you distance yourself emotionally from the feeling and this slowly brings down the intense feelings and helps you let go. It sends a calming signal to the amygdala that you are safe. Tapping helps peel away layers and layers of emotional baggage that actually contribute to physical manifestations in the body.

Here’s a basic tapping video with Jessica Ortner.

 

What Can Tapping Be Used For?

Although I primarily use tapping to get a good night’s sleep or to address anxieties caused by this pandemic, there are other conditions where tapping could help.

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Phobias
• PTSD
• Weight loss
• Chronic stress
• Chronic pain
• Sleep problems
• Lack of motivation
• Stomach issues
• Money relationships
• And more

There’s a Tapping App!

I’ve been listening to the Tapping Summits over the years and bought The Tapping Solution ebook. But it was only recently that I found out they also had an app which is available on Apple Store and Google Play!

Most of the tapping sessions on the app are available only with a premium plan (and I find it quite expensive as of now) but there are a little over a dozen free tapping sessions. I use one of them quite often: Quiet My Racing Mind (for good sleep). Thankfully, the Ortners have also provided free tapping sessions as part of their crisis support series for COVID-19 and other crises.

Each session is only around 10 minutes so it is very easy to set aside time to do these. Before and after each session, the app also asks you to rate how you feel from 1 to 10. In my personal experience, my stress levels have gone down at least a notch or 2 (the most was around 6 notches) each time I do a tapping session.

There is nothing to lose in trying it out. Download The Tapping Solution app and give it a chance. I would love to hear how it was for you so please do come back here and leave me a comment.

Happy Tapping!