A Natural Anxiety Remedy

The summer of Mike's thirteenth year we came upon a natural anxiety remedy as we worked together on his writing.

Mike feeling defiant (his word!) before we used EFT as a natural anxiety remedy. Want to learn how?

"Mike" is a very bright boy who loves to explore ideas and discuss a broad range of subjects. His well-educated family has provided him with a secure and loving home life and rich world of experiences. He has an excellent vocabulary.

He is a highly sensitive person with ADHD and dyslexia. Mike has the common dyslexia symptoms.

These challenges have made it difficult for Mike to learn to read and write and to succeed in the school setting, without experiencing continual signs of anxiety.

Mind Map - A Brainstorm for Writing

On this particular day, I was introducing the use of mind map to brainstorm for writing - to get ideas down on paper, and as a pre-writing skill.

First, I explained, then modeled how to make a mind map.

Next, we made one together. Mike chose our topic: food.

(Below, see the mind map example we made that day.)

Mike was fully engaged with the process and making lots of suggestions as I filled out our web.

Finally, I asked him to suggest a topic for his own web.

Mike froze. He looked startled and stared straight ahead.

He said his mind had "just gone blank".

He told me this was something he often experienced at school. We discussed what might be going on.

He agreed he was feeling anxiety and told me he was afraid of "saying something dumb." I suggested that maybe he felt it was "safer to have no ideas than to have dumb ideas," and he agreed.

He also said he felt a sudden pressure in his head, like a headache.

I asked Mike if he was willing to use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)...

   ... to help with this issue. Many times I have used EFT on myself as a natural anxiety remedy. Mike said he was willing to use EFT therapy (see how it's done).

Here's the Cooking mind map Mike and I made today. Asking him to name the next category triggered his anxiety about being dumb. We used EFT as a natural anxiety remedy.

We made a list of the thoughts and beliefs he had around expressing himself when asked to make a contribution.

We used the list of thoughts we just wrote for our EFT tapping phrases. I said each phrase first, then Mike repeated it.

The set-up sounded like:

"Even though I'm afraid to think, I know I'm a good kid."

"Even though my mind has been shutting down to keep me safe, I am open to a better way to stay safe and still be smart."

"Even though I'm scared of what will happen if I share my ideas, I know I'm a smart kid and I'm ok."

We tapped on a variety of phrases.

This fear of expressing myself.

This fear they'll think I'm dumb.

I'm afraid I'll sound dumb.

I'm afraid the other kids will laugh at me.

I'm afraid I'm dumb.

I'm afraid my ideas are dumb.

I'm afraid the teacher will think I am dumb.

I'm afraid I really am dumb.

After a couple of rounds of what I call "truth telling" using only the negative feelings and beliefs, I asked Mike to take a deep breath and tell me how he was feeling.

He said, "better, but not good yet." He said his head was feeling a little lighter.

We made a list...

... of the positive feelings and thoughts he'd like to have.

We then tapped on a mix of negative and positive phrases, transitioning toward a round of all positive. Here are some of the phrases we tapped on.

I'm dumb.

No, I'm not.

Actually, I know I'm smart.

I love to discuss scientific ideas. That proves I'm smart.

Expressing myself feels dangerous.

But I feel safe now.

I want to express my intelligence.

But what if I sound dumb?

I'm willing to risk sounding dumb.

I know I'm smart.

Sometimes even smart people like me sound dumb.

That's ok. I'm ok.

Mike easily completes his own mind map after using EFT for his anxiety about "sounding dumb." Our natural anxiety remedy works!

After using EFT, our natural anxiety remedy, Mike said his head felt fine; he had "no fear."

Instead, he said, "I know I can do this mind map. It's easy." He looked much more energetic and began making his own mind map without hesitation.

He created the mind map easily. Afterward, he was beaming and said he felt "strong and proud. "

This positive change took less than five minutes.

In the past

Remembering previous lessons when Mike and I worked on his writing (before I learned, began doing emotional freedom coaching and began using EFT in my teaching), his anxiety and mental block could have lasted our whole session - even several entire teaching sessions.

This time it was gone in five minutes.

While I wouldn't be so bold as to say using EFT for ADHD is a cure, or that EFT will always work as a natural anxiety remedy - I will say that it can definitely help.

When this happened before, I have felt frustrated, helpless and even irritated at what previously seemed to me his stubborn refusal to try.

Now, in all honesty, I know that we have not removed the whole root of Mike's fear of sounding dumb or of expressing himself. But even without getting at the "roots," Mike has continued to be much more free than before. He is now more open and creative when asked to brainstorm or express himself verbally or in writing.

How EFT Has Helped Me

EFT has helped me be more understanding and compassionate to others, as I realize that we all have good reasons for acting, feeling and believing as we do. Because I'm a highly sensitive person, like Mike, I use EFT often as a natural anxiety remedy for myself.

The gift of EFT allows us to collapse those limiting states and get in touch with a happier, more peaceful part of ourselves.

We can realize our true brilliance.

Check out Natalie's other websites!

AttractLife.com Transformation from the inside out.

Learn more body mind and soul techniques to attract a life of abundance in all areas of your life.

MilagroCohousing.org Interested in moving to an oasis in the desert?

I'm selling my lovely adobe home in a beautiful Tucson eco-community, Milagro Cohousing (so I can move to Latin America).

Want to learn the basics of EFT?

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