I have dealt with panic attacks for several years. I've changed everything from my lifestyle to my diet with few results. I have finally found one thing that works very well for me. It takes only a few minutes each day and the best part of it is that it doesn't require taking any medication or making drastic lifestyle changes.
Emotional Freedom Technique: EFT
The technique is called Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT. EFT is a unique version of acupressure that helps to relieve pain, emotional issues or give relief from various diseases. To do it, you stimulate energy meridan points on your body by tapping them with your fingerpoints. By resetting the energy meridans on your body, you experience almost immediate relief.
Now before you say "That can't be", please understand, that I was skeptical about this too. Frankly, when I first heard about it, it sounded like a bunch of hippy dippy nonsense. To be honest, I still don't really understand how it works.
I was first told about the Emotional Freedom Technique by a friend of mine who said she used it for dealing with anger. She suggested it might be a good thing to try for my panic attacks. Finally, after having nearly a month of several extreme panic attacks several times a day, and sick of my friend nagging me, I was desperate for anything. So, I downloaded the free 'get started' paper from the EFT web site. "What could it hurt?", I figured, "I'll try it and when it doesn't work, I can honestly tell my friend that it didn't work and thank you anyway."
But, it did work. It worked very well, and very quickly and the results of doing it seemed to last. My panic attacks became much less frequent, and now, I have gone several months without having one.
What is the Emotional Freedom Technique Like?
The technique is very simple and can be done nearly anywhere. The first thing you do is identify the issue that is bothering you. So, if you are having a panic attack, you note that you have a panic attack. (You don't need to know why you are having a panic attack, just that you are having one.)
Then, while tapping a particular point on your chest, you say three times "Even though I am having a panic attack, I completely love and accept myself." What this does is remove the Psychological Reversal you may be experiencing in your mind. While I do not completely understand Psychological Reversal, I understand it as that little negative voice in your mind that prevents you from doing what you want to do.
Then, you tap a series of specific points on your body while saying a reminder phrase of what is bothering you. This forces you to focus the EFT to the particular issue you are having. In my case the reminder phrase was 'panic attack'.
The entire sequence of taps takes only about a minute to perform. Usually, I need to go through it several times, but even still, the whole thing takes no more than 10 minutes at the most.
How does Emotional Freedom Technique Work?
The thing is, I still don't know why, or how it works. For all I know, maybe this technique takes my mind off the symptoms long enough for my body to settle down. Or, maybe my energy points really are getting reset. I don't really care why or how it works, other than the fact I know it does work, and it works very well.
Where To Get More Information on the Emotional Freedom Technique
If you'd like to learn more about Emotional Freedom technique, the web site is http://www.emofree.com. You can download their starter packet for free, and it gives you enough information to get started using the technique as well as many testomonies of people who have used it successfully for everything from Additions to Depression to Post Tramatic Stress Disorder and even Lupus. You will need to submit your e-mail address, which will subscribe you to their newsletter, but so far, I have not had them sell my e-mail address to anyone.
Or, you can look at the numerous books about Emotional Freedom Technique on Amazon.
If it works for you, let me know. I'd love to hear about it.
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[...] I also have several behavior modifications I use regularly: I avoid people and things that bring me down, and if I do get down, I journal about it. My journal provides me a way to rant about something and get it out of my system before it eats me alive. When I have a panic attack, I use EFT to alleviate it. And when I’m stressed out, I play with my dog. [...]
I never knew about this treatment but I have heard of accupunture and I have tryed it for stop smoking which only worked for abpout 3 months then I went back to smoking again then quit cold turkey that is the best method for that and it has been a good 15 years.
I have beeb depressed really bad for the last 2 days and trying to find things to keep my mind buzy to get myself out of a slump mood. Plus I think some of it is a bit of PMS too and a husband that just doesnt understand that find me to be a total nag that wants a divorce.I will look into that web site. Thanks again
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Thank you for sharing EFT. I am an acupuncturist and often turn my patients towards EFT for the reasons you describe, as well as digestive issues, depression, fears and phobias. I have found that for “bigger” things like depression, doing EFT can begin to unfold/reveal the little things that play a role. And then tapping on the incidences or experiences that come up will help to remove the bigger issue.
I’ve used it with great success myself, too! My understanding is that by eliciting an energy flow throughout your meridians (by tapping on acupoints of all the meridians), you essentially “break open” any stagnant ‘thought fields’, thus “breaking the pattern” of reaction. As acupuncture does wonders to bring the body’s energy systems back into balance, it can’t necessarily address the “mental issues” as well. So using EFT and acupuncture work beautifully & synergistically together! http://acupuncture-n-herbs.com/
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