I know this not just as a practitioner, but from my own experience.
I’ve been using EFT in my own life since 2010, but there was a time during menopause when anxiety felt overwhelming. My emotions were heightened, my nervous system felt constantly on edge, and I didn’t feel like myself at all.
It was during that time that I found myself coming back to EFT more deeply — not as a technique, but as something that genuinely helped me begin to feel calmer and more in control again.
Anxiety can show up in many different ways.
For some, it’s a constant background feeling — a low level hum of unease.
For others, it comes in waves — tightness in the chest, racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, or a sense that something isn’t quite right.
However it shows up, it can feel exhausting.
What I often remind clients is this:
Anxiety is not something “wrong” with you. It’s actually your nervous system trying to protect you.
Understanding Anxiety and the Nervous System
When we feel anxious, the body is often in a state of heightened alert.
From a neuroscience perspective, this involves activation of the amygdala — the part of the brain responsible for detecting threat. When the amygdala senses danger (real or perceived), it sends signals through the body to prepare us to respond.
This is commonly known as the fight-or-flight response.
Your heart rate may increase, breathing becomes shallower, and stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released.
This response is incredibly useful when we are in actual danger.
But in modern life, it can become activated by:
- Ongoing stress
- Emotional overwhelm
- Uncertainty
- Past experiences
Over time, the nervous system can begin to stay in this heightened state, even when there is no immediate threat.
This is where anxiety can feel constant or impossible to switch off.
What is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)?
EFT, often called tapping, is a gentle stress-reduction technique that works with both the mind and body.
It involves:
- Lightly tapping on specific points on the face and upper body
- While bringing awareness to what you’re feeling
- And gently acknowledging it through words
This might sound simple — and it is — but it can be very powerful.
The Science Behind EFT
Research into EFT suggests that tapping while focusing on a stressful thought or feeling can help to reduce activity in the amygdala, calming the brain’s threat response.
Studies, including research by clinical psychologist Petra Stapleton, have shown that EFT can significantly reduce cortisol levels (the body’s main stress hormone), helping the nervous system move out of a stress response more quickly.
EFT has also been explored in hundreds of clinical studies, with many showing improvements in anxiety, stress, and emotional wellbeing.
One of the reasons EFT can be effective is that it combines:
- Cognitive awareness (naming what you feel)
- Somatic input (tapping on the body)
This dual approach helps signal to the brain:
“I am safe enough to relax.”
How EFT Helps with Anxiety
Rather than trying to push anxiety away, EFT allows you to gently meet what’s there.
Through tapping, many people notice:
- The intensity of anxious feelings begins to soften
- The body starts to feel calmer
- Breathing becomes deeper and more natural
- Thoughts feel less overwhelming
It doesn’t force the anxiety to disappear.
Instead, it helps the nervous system come out of survival mode.
A Simple Example
You might begin with something like:
“Even though I feel this tightness in my chest, I’m open to allowing my body to soften.”
Or:
“Even though my mind feels busy and overwhelmed, I’m here with it.”
There’s no need to get the words perfect.
The key is:
- Acknowledging what’s present
- Staying gentle
- Allowing space for change
A Different Way of Relating to Anxiety
One of the most important shifts I see in clients is this:
They stop trying to fight anxiety…
…and start understanding it.
When the nervous system feels supported rather than pushed, it naturally begins to settle.
This is where real change happens.
My Approach
In my work, I combine EFT with breathwork, gentle awareness and neuroscience-based coaching.
We don’t rush or force anything.
We work with the body, not against it.
This creates a sense of safety — which is what the nervous system needs in order to regulate.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’re experiencing anxiety or overwhelm, it can feel very isolating.
But you don’t have to manage it on your own.
There are gentle, supportive ways to work with your system so that things begin to feel more manageable again.
If you’d like to experience EFT for yourself, you can start with my free calming video “Peace in Your Pocket” here: https://susanlynchcoach.com/free-eft-gift/
Or if you feel ready for more support, you’re very welcome to explore 1:1 sessions or my Monthly Nervous System Reset.
If you’re experiencing anxiety or overwhelm, it can feel very isolating.
But you don’t have to manage it on your own.
There are gentle, supportive ways to work with your system so that things begin to feel more manageable again.
🌿 Small shifts, over time, create real lasting change.
