Can tapping calm your nervous system?
6/16/202619 min
There's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down.
What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out?
Norman and Tegan talk through what Emotional Freedom Techniques, or tapping is and whether there's any evidence it lowers anxiety.
References:
- How ‘tapping’ is dividing opinion in therapy circles
- Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health
- Neural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferers
- Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
- Commentary: Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
- A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study
- Food for Thought: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Treatment of Food Cravings
- The impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review
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Clips
Transcript preview
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Norman Swan· Host0:32
So, Tegan, you look pretty chill always.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:35
Do I?
Norman Swan· Host0:36
[laughs] Nothing seems to bother you.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:37
I'm like a swan. I'm, I'm serene on the top and paddling furiously underneath.
Norman Swan· Host0:41
Right, the animal version of the swan rather than the human version of the swan.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:44
The Norman swan.
Norman Swan· Host0:45
[laughs] Yeah. Yeah, I think we're both the same. We're just, uh, sh- o-outwardly cool, but inwardly, you know, we're just going that way. And, you know, sometimes you drum your fingers, sometimes you jiggle your legs, and some people tap.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:59
Tap like tap dancing?
Norman Swan· Host1:01
No, tap like...
Tegan Taylor· Host1:02
[laughs] [laughs] If you can't see Norman right now, he's thrumming his forehead with his finger.
Norman Swan· Host1:07
[laughs] Yeah. Not to demean people who are tapping, but that's what we're asking in this week's What's That Rash?
Tegan Taylor· Host1:13
It's the show where we answer the health questions everyone is asking. [upbeat music] So today's question comes from David. David says, "Just stumbled across tapping."
Norman Swan· Host1:25
Where have you been, David? [laughs] Where have you been?
Tegan Taylor· Host1:27
"It's a therapy to reduce stress,