How can I use acupressure to reduce stress?

Tapping on acupressure points is an efficient and effective way to deal with emotional stress. The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is simple, powerful and the best technique I have found for immediate stress reduction. It works for children as well as adults for a variety of issues.

There are four parts to this technique: identify the symptom or stressor and its intensity, set up the issue, tap on the acupressure points and integrate the resolution.

Step 1: Identify the specific stressor, such as tension in the right shoulder, shakiness in the abdomen, fear of making a mistake doing ____, anger at Mr. __ for saying ____. Assign a number on a scale of 0 (low) to 10 (high), indicating the intensity level you feel.

Step 2: Set up the issue. While tapping on the edge of your palm (on either hand, the spot where you would chop a karate board), say (aloud, if possible), “Even though I have this (name the specific issue), I deeply and completely accept myself.” Tap and repeat the phrase three times.

Step 3: Tap on the points -- the top of the head (baby soft spot area), eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye (all eye points are on the orbital bone), under the nose, in the chin groove, on the collarbone, on the side of the body (about two inches below the armpit). Often the stress reduces or disappears by just tapping the face and body points. If not, go on to tap the finger points on the side of the finger about
where the nail and skin meet -- the thumb, first finger, middle finger, baby finger. Use either hand, either side of the body. Reassess your intensity level.

Step 4: Integrate the resolution. Using four fingers, tap in the groove on the back of your hand between the knuckles of the ring finger and baby finger while you do these movements: close your eyes, open your eyes, look down hard to the left and right without moving your head, roll your eyes clockwise and counterclockwise, hum briefly, count to five and hum briefly again. Reassess your intensity level.