Anybody that knows me knows that I’m an insanely stressed-out person. And usually, it isn’t for any solid reason.
With that being said, it’s really no surprise that when New York Fashion Week rolls around, my anxiety goes into overdrive. The running around, the deadlines, the balancing of work while not physically being in the office, and not getting my very much cherished opportunity to sleep in on a Saturday and Sunday—it’s a lot. Throw in the fact that I would also be in the midst of packing up my life to move to a new apartment throughout the whole thing this season? I was basically hyperventilating 24/7. (I mean, how was I going to dress to the nines while living out of boxes and with my full-length mirror now only knee height, propped up against my wall?)
I’ve written about acupuncture, reiki, floating in a sensory deprivation tank, and more to deal with my sometimes crippling anxiety. But for Fashion Week followed by a move? Ain’t no time for any of that. I most definitely needed a quick fix for while I was on the go—and no, I’m not talking about popping a Klonopin.
That’s when I turned to the wonderful Carolyn Harrington, energy healer, medical intuitive, and founder of Maty’s Healthy Products. Knowing that she specializes in many forms of natural healing, from Bach flower remedies to healing foods, I knew Harrington would be able to help me find the best method to get me through the following two weeks without completely losing it. That’s when she told me about EFT Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping. In short, it’s a healing tool that involves tapping different acupuncture meridian points to treat emotional issues, while embracing and accepting the emotions you’re feeling.
The best part of it all? While you certainly could meet with a specialist who is experienced in the practice, you could also totally do it yourself too. As for me, I had Harrington quickly show me how to perform it in person, took some notes, and was ready to take on the world.
The process is simple: You compose a statement and recite it three times while tapping on the first point, the side of your hand underneath your pinkie. For example, you can formulate your intention as such: “Even though I’m feeling ______, I love and accept myself,” or something along those lines. From there forward, continue to talk out the difficult emotions you’re feeling while tapping on the remaining points: at the beginning of your eyebrow, then following the bone to the side of your eye (next to your temple), and continuing underneath the eye (still following the bone). You’ll then move to the space in between your nose and your mouth, the indentation of your chin, your collarbone, a hands-width under your armpit, and ending at the crown of your head. Be sure to tap on each of the nine points five to seven times.
Every time I felt myself starting to get overwhelmed, I tapped. I wasn't super public about it, nonchalantly poking myself in the face while waiting for a fashion show to begin, but during bathroom breaks and quick stops at the office? Definitely. Every time I did so, I felt an instant calming effect. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t exactly life-changing or drastic, but in the heat of the moment, it definitely deemed more effective than breathing exercises. What I loved so much about this is the fact that rather than trying to change your brain into feeling a different way than you actually feel, such as manifestations, you’re basically voicing the anxieties that are floating around your head, acknowledging and accepting them and yourself, and essentially setting them free.
Did I worry that some fashion editor in the bathroom stall next to me at Skylight Clarkson Square could hear me whispering I love and accept myself or that my Lyft driver was silently judging me as I tapped the top of my head while talking out loud about how stressed out I was? A little bit, but who cares? It’s all about self-acceptance, anyway.
