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| How is your anxiety level? Have you
ever found yourself in an intense and stressful situation only to discover that your
stress has been upgraded into symptoms of anxiety? The butterflies in your stomach
may feel like they are taking up permanent residence … maybe your heart is racing …
or you have sweaty palms just thinking about your stressful situation.
Amid the heart palpitations and nausea, it’s hard to gather your thoughts and keep your
composure … you may even have difficulty concentrating. Your confidence takes a hit because
you just can’t stop shaking and trembling. Have you ever considered that your anxiety might
actually be a result of a disruption in your body’s subtle energy system?
Disrupted energy in your meridians means disrupted emotions and anxiety.
This might be a new concept for you, but it’s one that has been employed for 5,000 years
in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Western medical and mental health professionals are
starting to take notice of the benefits of balancing a disrupted energy system (also known
as the meridian system). And one simple solution, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT),
can balance your energies, eliminate your anxiety, and enable you to stay in control in
stressful situations.
EFT balances your meridian system, in a way similar to acupuncture … but instead of using
needles, you stimulate your meridians by tapping with your fingertips on specific
acupuncture points. The basics of EFT can be learned by anyone and can be self-applied
(usually in minutes).
EFT offers an explanation why many people don’t respond to conventional approaches
to treating anxiety … The reason is because conventional techniques do not address your
body’s subtle energies.
While a complete description of EFT is beyond the scope of this article, you can
learn all the basics from the free EFT Get Started Package on the EFT website. This
includes a free download of the 79 page EFT Manual Those wishing to save time and dive
right in can get the affordable 5 star training DVDs
Dr Carol Look illustrates how she used one technique, EFT, to help 2 different women with
very different sources of anxiety. There was no talk therapy involved and no medications
used. You can read the article in more detail on the EFT website.
Case #1 – Anxiety in the Courtroom
Tracy* was embroiled in a painful custody battle and her drug-addicted ex had hired
the most expensive and famous lawyer in the city. Her anxiety was debilitating. She shook
constantly in the courtroom and felt physically and chronically nauseous the whole time.
She didn’t know what to do.
Dr. Carol Look taught Tracy EFT and they reduced the intense anxiety she felt when
she thought about her husband winning custody, yelling at her, and manipulating her the
way he had in their marriage. Carol also taught her to visualize herself doing EFT in the
courtroom. Interestingly, visualizing EFT often provides similar results as if you were
actually tapping the acupuncture points … and this way you won’t raise eyebrows. This is
especially important in the courtroom.
Carol talked to Tracy the next day and learned that she had gone through the whole
day in court without feeling any anxiety. She said she no longer felt like vomiting …
could face her ex-husband despite his courtroom antics … and felt more confident that she
could handle the whole problem. She was in disbelief at the difference in how she felt and
she thanked Carol for “saving her sanity”.
What a difference – to go from constant nausea and trembling to complete calm and
composure. And most people – about 80% -- get the same kind of results for their anxiety
problems.
Case #2 – Paralyzed with Anxiety making phone calls
Dr. Carol Look treated another woman who was paralyzed with anxiety whenever she
attempted to telephone a prospective employer. She had an intense anxiety response …
sweaty palms, palpitations and shortness of breath. She couldn’t even pick up the phone.
Carol talked to her on the phone and noticed that when she just talked about the problem
her voice was racing, and she was spiraling into negative thoughts.
Carol did EFT with her over the phone, describing the acupuncture points for her to
tap. They did EFT for her anxiety reaction, and for her lack of self confidence. In a
very short time, she felt completely better … actually anxiety free … she felt calm and
confident enough to make the calls.
Both of these EFT sessions lasted less than an hour and both women were able to move
ahead and deal with important situations. By contrast, Western medical treatments for
anxiety include extensive talk therapy and/or anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications or
beta-blockers … normally intended for heart patients … but used for anxiety sufferers to
keep your heart from pounding when anxious. While nothing here should be considered medical
advice, it is interesting that experienced EFT clients often prefer this gentle procedure
over drugs.
More on EFT
Please note that in addition to eliminating anxiety, EFT has been a consistently effective
healing tool for hundreds of other physical, mental and emotional ailments. For more
information, you can explore the EFT website and its numerous success stories regarding
fears, phobias, emotional traumas and physical ailments.
Please consult qualified health professionals before putting EFT into practice for
yourself or others.
*Name changed to protect privacy
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