By Gloria Arenson

This morning I had to go to a local medical facility for an ultrasound procedure and left the house early to make sure that I had enough time for checking in. This place runs like clockwork so it is really important to get there on time or else it affects everyone’’s schedule. When I tried to start my car I discovered that it was dead, dead, dead. OMG!

I ran into the house in a frantic state and yelled to my husband that he had to drive me to my appointment. Unfortunately, he was on his way out to a meeting that he couldn'’t call off. Thank goodness he has cable jumpers and was able to get me on my way in record time. I made it under the wire, registered, and was called in to the scan room immediately.

The only trouble was that I had taken my anxiety along with me. My body was still in a state of panic. I couldn'’t catch my breath. The woman doing the ultrasound asked me to be as still as I could, but I was afraid that my body would start to shake because I still felt unsettled. Since I have been tapping for more than a dozen years I immediately realized that although I was immobilized I could help myself.

I started to imagine myself putting gentle pressure on each of the EFT points. One by one I thought of how it would feel to touch and hold each energy point: the eyebrow, outside edge of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, under the lower lip, under the collarbone and under the arm. The point that usually has an immediate calming effect on me is under the collarbone, and although that was the area she was touching, I simply imagined that her hand was not there and put my attention to that spot. After only 4 imaginary rounds I found my mind wandering to other plans for the day and I realized that I was completely at peace.

I still marvel at how powerfully EFT works anytime and anywhere. I once had a client who was a quadriplegic and could not tap himself. He would not let anyone else do it for him either so I suggested that he use imaginary EFT. He was thrilled and reported that when he used it his muscle spasms went away.

The nice thing about imaginary EFT is that no one else can tell when you are using it. One woman I know used it while dining with a friend when she felt overcome by a sudden fear. Another uses it in his doctor’’s waiting room when he is anxious about hearing the results of a medical test. He discovered that it brought his blood pressure down.

The more you use EFT, whether imagining tapping or using your hands, the more you will remember to use it when the going gets tough. Relief is as close as your fingertips.

About The Author

Gloria Arenson MFT, treats stress, anxiety, trauma, fears, and compulsions. She wrote Stop Playing the Weighting Game, Desserts Is Stressed Spelled Backwards, Born To Spend, Five Simple Steps to Emotional Healing, Freedom At Your Fingertips and EFT For Procrastination.

http://www.GloriaArenson.com

By Nikki Mennel

Depression affects many people in our society today and with mental health conditions being less taboo than they use to be, more people are starting to speak openly about any depression symptoms that they may be suffering from. Therefore, people that are dealing with depression are more likely to attempt to find ways to cope with their depression. This article will give a few things that individuals can try in order to deal effectively with depression and work towards overall positive mental health.

The first thing that people can do when they decide they are ready to cope with their depression is get out of bed. Even when you are depressed and unmotivated, remaining in bed and isolating yourself will not help you move towards effective and positive change. Therefore, the first step is to get out of bed and attempt to get moving.

Once you have done that you will want to find some paper that you can write on. You will want to write down notes about how you are feeling. You will want to identify exactly how you feel and what you think is causing those feelings. Individuals that can answer these questions honestly may be able to identify the causes of their depression and learn effective ways to deal with it.

Next, find some time to exercise. Even if you simply walk around the block one time, you will be releasing endorphins within your body and this will help you feel better. There have been many studies conducted that have shown that exercise can help you feel better when dealing with depression and you will not need to take medications in order to deal with your feelings. While medication may help you feel better, it should not be seen as a fix all. You need to be more active and take some necessary steps in order to help yourself deal with your feelings. Taking control can also help you feel better.

Finally, if you are not able to deal with your depression effectively on your own you may want to think about seeing a therapist or counselor. This individual can help you begin to identify exactly how you feel as well as why you may be feeling that way. Once you are able to verbalize your feelings and the possible causes of them you will be better able to work through these feelings and find positive ways to fix any problems that you may be facing. Sometimes you need to be able to truly confront your issues and work towards solving them before you are able to feel better. This is why medication is not going to fix everything. Sooner or later you need to take control of your life and be an active participant in your healing.

About The Author

Nikki Mennel has been working in a high stress environment for several years and has looked at many techniques to manage workplace stress. She began researching this topic out of necessity. For more information go to www.nomore-stress.com