How EFT Tapping For Emotional Stress Can Relieve You From Sickness?
In this article, you will learn about what emotional stress is, its symptoms and causes, and how emotional stress leads to sickness. You can overcome those feelings with the help of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). This alternate therapeutic technique has been clinically proven to help people let go of their emotional tension by working on the root cause.
WHAT IS EMOTIONAL STRESS | SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMOTIONAL STRESS | CAUSES OF EMOTIONAL STRESS | SICKNESS CAUSED BY EMOTIONAL STRESS | HOW IS CHILDHOOD STRESS AND TRAUMA LINKED TO ILLNESS | WHAT IS POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER | WHAT IS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES AND HOW TO USE EFT TAPPING TO COPE WITH EMOTIONAL STRESS | HOW TO ELIMINATE EMOTIONAL STRESS WITH EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES | DOES EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE (EFT) REALLY WORK FOR EMOTIONAL STRESS | BONUS TIPS TO REDUCE EMOTIONAL STRESS | CONCLUSION
There are times when a lot is happening and everything weighs so heavy that you cannot help but crumble. You cannot point at one event or situation but deep down you know you are in a mess. That's where the emotional stress lies.
Emotional stress is an intrinsic part of human lives, affecting their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
In today's fast-paced world, you need to recognise the signs of emotional stress and learn effective strategies to manage it.
WHAT IS EMOTIONAL STRESS?
Emotional stress, often referred to as psychological stress, is a natural response to challenging or demanding situations in life.
It can manifest in various forms, such as anxiety, tension, and even depression.
Emotional stress is a little different from normal stress.
You experience normal stress in response to the stresses of regular life, whereas emotional stress occurs when a person takes a situation seriously because it has negatively impacted him or her. Worry, fear, anger, grief, and a variety of other emotions are all common emotional reactions.
However, if the stress that underpins these emotions is interfering with your capacity to do the things you want or need to do, it is harmful.
This was exactly how one of the attendees of my seminars was feeling when I was facing a family crisis, where her loved one was battling with breast cancer. She was constantly keeping up with this issue and finding a solution for a sense of relief.
This time has been really tough for her and her family struggling through emotional well-being but still trying to be on their toes.
Emotional stress is severe and difficult to manage. It can have a greater impact than many other types of stress.
She started using EFT Tapping and felt much at ease, calm and relaxed. EFT Tapping session gave her strength to cope up with her emotional distress and gave her a sense of calmness.
Emotional Freedom Techniques helped her get relief from emotional stress and to feel calm and peaceful.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMOTIONAL STRESS
Emotional stress can manifest in a variety of signs and symptoms. It's important to note that stress affects individuals differently, and the severity and duration of these symptoms can vary.
The symptoms of emotional stress can be physical, mental, and behavioral.
1.
Physical Symptoms
Following are the physical signs and symptoms of emotional stress:
Chest heaviness, or an elevated heart rate
Shoulder, neck, or back pain; aches and pains throughout the body (Physical Pain)
You find yourself clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth
Breathing problems or high blood pressure
Tired, nervous, and melancholy
Changes in your eating habits, whether you are losing or gaining weight
Sleeping a little more, or a little less, than normal
Digestive problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diarrhoea, constipation, or any other gastrointestinal issues
2.
Emotional Symptoms
Following are the emotional signs and symptoms:
Irritability or mood swings
Feelings of sadness or depression
Restlessness or a sense of being "on edge"
Lack of motivation or enthusiasm
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
3.
Behavioral Symptoms
Following are the behavioural signs and symptoms of emotional stress:
Social withdrawal or isolation
Nail-biting, pacing, or other nervous habits
Procrastination or neglect of responsibilities
Aggressive or impulsive behaviour
Changes in sleep patterns or daily routines
4.
Bonus: Relationship Problems
Other signs and symptoms of emotional stress are:
Conflict with family, friends, or colleagues
Difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships
Increased irritability, which can lead to interpersonal issues
Feeling isolated or unsupported
CAUSES OF EMOTIONAL STRESS
Chronic stress can be detrimental to one's mental and physical health. Emotional stress can be triggered by a wide range of stressors mentioned below:
1.
Work-Related Stressors
- High workload and tight deadlines
- Job insecurity or fear of unemployment
- Conflict with colleagues or supervisors
- Long working hours or shift work
- Unfulfilling or unsatisfying job roles
- Work-related trauma or emergencies
2.
Financial Stressors
- Debt and financial instability
- Inability to meet basic living expenses
- Concerns about retirement, or saving for the future
- Sudden or unexpected financial burdens, such as medical bills or home repairs
3.
Personal Life Stressors
- Relationship problems, including conflicts with a spouse or partner
- Family issues, such as parenting challenges or caregiving responsibilities
- Loss of a loved one through death or separation
- Major life transitions, like moving, divorce, or retirement
- Health problems, either personal or affecting a family member
4.
Academic Stressors
- Academic pressure, exams, and assignments
- Balancing coursework with part-time jobs or other responsibilities
- Fear of academic failure or falling behind
5.
Environmental Stressors
- Natural disasters or environmental hazards
- Noise, pollution, and overcrowding
- Safety concerns in one's neighborhood or community
6.
Social and Interpersonal Stressors
- Social isolation or a lack of supportive relationships
- Conflict with friends or extended family
- Discrimination or bullying
- Social pressures and expectations
7.
Technology-Related Stressors
- Information overload and constant connectivity
- Cyberbullying or online harassment
- Fear of missing out (FOMO) on social media
- Privacy concerns
8.
Traumatic or Distressing Incident
- Exposure to violence or traumatic experiences
- Natural disasters or accidents
- Post-traumatic stress from past events
9.
Health-Related Stressors
- Chronic illnesses or disabilities
- Concerns about personal health or the health of loved ones
- Medical procedures and hospitalization
10.
Personal Expectations and Perfectionism
- Setting unrealistically high standards for oneself
- Fear of failure or of not meeting one's own or others' expectations
These causes can entice you to engage in unhealthy coping practices to alleviate the pain, especially when the situation appears bleak.
To manage the stressors in your life through healthy coping mechanisms, seek support from friends, family, or professionals, and make lifestyle changes when necessary.
“Stress and confusion come from being busy. Peace and clarity come from slowing down and stilling your waters.”
MAXIME LEGACE
SICKNESS CAUSED BY EMOTIONAL STRESS
Did you know 85% of illnesses are stress-induced?
Chronic, as well as emotional stress upsets the natural balance of the nervous system, which disturbs the body’s natural ability to maintain and repair itself.
This renders the body vulnerable to the effects of a poor diet, environmental toxins, and microbes.
Such a breakdown of a body’s natural abilities may result in disease and illness.
Thus, emotional stress and sickness have a troubled relationship. Susceptibility to emotional stress differs from one person to another.
Genetic vulnerability, coping style, personality type, and social support are all factors that determine susceptibility to stress.
Not all forms of stress are harmful. Short-term stress has been found to increase the immune system, but persistent stress has a substantial impact on the immune system, which can lead to sickness.
Stress has the potential to negatively impact your physical and mental health. While some stress-related symptoms are clear, others may surprise you.
Emotional stress impacts your bodily functions in the following ways:
- The function of your Gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be disrupted by emotional stress in a variety of ways. It might increase the production of digestive acid in the body, resulting in heartburn. It can also induce gas and bloating by slowing the emptying of the stomach, as well as increasing the number of times your colon contracts, causing cramps and diarrhea.
- Emotional stress weakens the immune system, making it simpler to get sick and more difficult to fight off infections (1).
- It might also make you mentally ill. Too much cortisol, a stress hormone, can make it difficult to focus or concentrate, leading to memory issues, anxiety, and despair.
HOW IS CHILDHOOD STRESS AND TRAUMA LINKED TO ILLNESS?
A study by Kaiser Permanente involving over 70,000 individuals found that childhood emotional trauma was a significant enabler of certain chronic diseases and problematic behaviors in adults, namely (2):
Substance abuse - alcoholism, drug addiction, and smoking;
Violent tendencies amounting to domestic abuse;
Suicidal tendencies;
Impulsive promiscuity;
Health hazards – liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and sexually transmitted diseases.
WHAT IS POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition characterised by a range of symptoms stemming from exposure to a traumatic event.
These psychological symptoms often include intense stress and anxiety, which can manifest in various ways such as flashbacks, nightmares, and severe psychological distress.
The affected individuals may experience negative emotions like fear, anger, stress and anxiety, guilt, or shame, which are part of the stress biochemistry triggered by the traumatic incident.
Healthcare professionals use various therapeutic approaches to alleviate stress and treat Posttraumatic stress disorder, including psychological treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medications.
These interventions aim to restore balance in individuals' mental health and help them regain a sense of control over their lives after experiencing a stress disorder.
In addition, over seventy published studies, two of which tracked 11,000 people for twenty years, involving nearly 70,000 individuals found a tenfold increase in depression susceptibility amongst those who'd faced childhood trauma as opposed to those who hadn't (2).
Childhood trauma has also been found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in women, and depression in all adults (3).
The good news is that you can reverse the negative effects of past trauma, even years later, with clinically proven therapeutic techniques like Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
WHAT IS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES AND HOW TO USE EFT TAPPING TO COPE WITH EMOTIONAL STRESS?
While you cannot always address these problems overnight, you can relieve the stress you feel and the toll it takes on your mental health. There is a technique that can help you manage emotional stress more successfully.
EFT Tapping Therapy is a self-help technique that involves EFT Tapping on psychological acupressure points while saying relaxing statements out loud.
It has been clinically proven to address emotional issues, reduce stress, and alleviate physical discomfort. EFT is based on the idea that disruptions in the body's energy system can contribute to emotional distress and negative feelings.
Clinical studies show EFT Tapping as a tapping solution can relieve stress in seconds. You can learn EFT Tapping therapy online or in live in-person seminars.
What's more, EFT Tapping combined with Inner Child work can resolve childhood trauma even as an adult and reverse symptom of stress.
There is a technique known as tantrum tapping which you can try out straight away for stress reduction:
1. Stand up.
2. Find the collarbone and tap underneath the collarbone.
3. Make an "Ahhhh" sound.
4. Stamp the feet together by tapping on the collarbone and making an "Ahh sound" as if having a tantrum.
HOW TO ELIMINATE EMOTIONAL STRESS WITH EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES?
EFT Tapping is helpful for those who experience unpleasant feelings that start to affect their emotional well-being.
It is simple to use and easy to learn. Tapping has long-term mental wellbeing effects and can help you relieve tension and relax nerves.
This approach also assists you in becoming more aware of your emotions and removing negativity from your mind and body.
Step 1:
Identify what are you emotionally stressed about.
Explore the physical sensations in the body associated with emotional stress and use the physical tension-tapping process to reduce the sensations.
1.
Identify the physical nature of emotional stress
You can begin the process by asking the following questions to explore further:
Where in the body do you experience the stress?
What is the colour, texture, size, shape of the emotional stress in the body?
What are the sensations like?
Emotional stress can sometimes be felt in a specific location like the heart and/or chest.
The important thing is to use your specific words to describe the stress.
2.
Measure the intensity of emotional stress
Measure the intensity of your stress by asking yourself,
"What number is the emotional stress at, where 10 is really high and 1 is not high at all."
Just go with whatever comes up spontaneously, without overthinking about it.
3.
Tap on the Karate Chop
Begin by tapping on the Karate Chop or side of the hand EFT Tapping points:
"Even though I feel this emotional stress and I feel it in my heart and it's at a number 8 and it's red in colour and it feels painful, I deeply love and completely accept myself."
(Repeat 3 times)
4.
Tap on the facial tapping points
Tap on the facial and upper body EFT Tapping Points for Emotional Stress using the phrases:
Eyebrow: This emotional stress...
Side of the eye: So stressed...
Under the eye: Emotional stress in my chest...
Under the nose: It's ____ in colour...
Chin: At a number ____
Collarbone: So ____
Under the arm: This emotional stress...
Thumb: I feel it in my heart...
Index Finger: So stressed...
Middle Finger: Emotionally stressed...
Little Finger: It's the colour ____
5.
Close the sequence
Close the tapping sequence by coming back to the EFT Karate Chop tapping points and repeat once:
"Even though I feel this emotional stress and I feel it in my heart and it's at a number 8 and it's red in colour and it feels painful, I deeply love and completely accept myself."
6.
Relax
Take a gentle breath in and out and take a sip of water.
7.
Test Yourself
At the end of the EFT Tapping for Stress Elimination, you can ask yourself the following questions:
What number is the emotional stress at now?
What colour is the stress now?
How does it make you feel?
You can repeat this process by going back to Step 1 if you feel like the number could come down a little more. If not, you can stop the process.
Step 2:
Explore Past Memories and Use the EFT Process to Clear Past Stress
Identify past events linked to the feeling of stress and resolve them with the help of tapping therapy, also known as exposure therapy.
Connect with the stress and notice where you feel it in the body.
To uncover the memories linked to the symptoms of emotional stress, you can ask questions like:
- When have you felt these sensations before?
- When did the sensations start? What happened?
- Was there ever a time when you did not experience these symptoms?
- What can trigger and bring on the symptoms?
Step 3:
Focus on The Theme of Inability to Express and Communicate
Target theme of suppressing emotions and inability to express needs. Focus on self-expression and releasing pent-up emotions.
Step 4:
Better Yourself Here by Closing the Process with Love and Acceptance
Identify positive tapping sequences to close the EFT Tapping Therapy for the elimination of emotional stress.
An example of positive tapping is "Even though I was emotionally stressed, that was then and this is now, I choose to be calm now."
Hold the thumb to calm the body and mind and release any residual stress. You can also use the Jin Shin Jyutsu finger-hold process to eliminate emotional stress.
DOES EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE (EFT) REALLY WORK FOR EMOTIONAL STRESS?
Student nurses and health care professionals have been reported as having severe emotional stress and anxiety concerns during their schooling.
The goal of the study was to see how effective Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT Tapping) are at reducing anxiety and tension as a possible stress management strategy for students.
The results showed that Emotional Freedom Techniques can be an effective strategy for stress management and anxiety alleviation in nursing students after the process.
BONUS TIPS TO REDUCE EMOTIONAL STRESS
Tip 1:
Sleep
There is more and more evidence to show sleep lowers the stress hormone cortisol, reduces weight, and increases happiness. It improves multiple physiological markers that are responsible for the energy flow in your body.
Tip 2:
Talking About It
Talk to a friend about what is stressing you out. Let them know before you begin that you need them to listen to you. Just be aware, that a friend can give invalid advice which can cause even more stress.
So be open to seeking professional help to talk about it and feel lighter. We have a group of highly skilled and trained Elite Practitioners. Just message us to secure a complimentary consultation.
Tip 3:
Exercise
Physical activity reduces stress, whether it's walking, yoga, swimming, or more rigorous activity. Even fun movements like dancing can get those happy chemicals chasing through your body. It helps with reducing physical stress and physical pain by keeping your physical health on track.
Tip 4:
Breathing
A simple breathing exercise is to breathe in for 6 counts and out for 6 counts. The act of breathing relaxes the nervous system and calms the mind.
Tip 5:
Meditation
Sitting quietly with the eyes closed and breathing. It helps to support psychological health. It also helps you to deal with stress and anxiety. It helps to improve mental health.
CONCLUSION
In today's world, emotional stress infiltrates your life in a variety of ways.
Emotional Freedom Techniques allow you to express your emotions in the most efficient way possible while avoiding harming others' feelings.
In closing, emotional stress is the biggest cause of illness. But you have the option to make your life peaceful and healthy.
Managing your stress with an EFT Practitioner can make a real difference to your health and lifestyle.
Love,
Dr Rangana Rupavi Choudhuri (PhD)
P.S. Want to discover if EFT Tapping is right for you? Book a Complimentary Discovery Call.
In summary, one of the most significant causes of stress is the unknowingly held feelings and relationships. You must recognise and resolve the sensations linked with emotional stress. Avoiding the negative feelings will only make things worse, so if and when you realise you're experiencing emotional stress and it's not improving, try EFT Tapping to eliminate emotional stress, which is a clinically proven approach for resolving those underlying feelings.
References:
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