Hi friends,

As promised last week, I'm here to share a few tools that have been instrumental to my growth — the first in my multi-week How Not to Explode series.
First and foremost, breath is always my go-to when struggling in the moment. I can't recommend enough finding breathwork exercises that actually work for you when things start to feel overwhelming.

But another amazing technique that's helped me firsthand (and people I've practiced with in the moment), is EFT Tapping. It's a great tool to have when you're spinning out or your nervous system is overloaded.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) works by identifying and rating a pain point you're experiencing, be it a migraine, tummy ache or wave of low self-esteem. Then, while gently tapping along meridians (acupuncture points) on your body, you repeat statements that help you acknowledge and accept what's coming up. The steady tapping sends a message of safety to your brain, helping your body shift out of fight-or-flight and back into balance. Studies have shown EFT can help with everything from anxiety to physical pain.

EFT Instructions
​You can check out this video for a quick walkthrough, or follow the steps below:

1. Identify and rate the issue.​
   On a scale from 1-10 (with 10 being the most intense), rate your issue. Try something that is at least a 7 so you can really feel the difference after.
2. Begin tapping.​
   Start on the fleshy karate chop point on the side of your hand and establish a baseline phrase, like:
   "Even though I have this [name your issue], I deeply love and accept myself."
   • Inner eyebrow
   • Outer eye
   • Under the eye
   • Under the nose
   • The chin
   • The collarbone
   • Under the armpit (on the bra line)
   • Top of the head
     ​
     At each point, repeat a phrase that connects back to your baseline — something like "I love and accept myself." I'll usually say it two or three times per tapping point.
3. Let the statements evolve.​
   As you move through the tapping points, gradually shift what you say — starting with honest acknowledgment, then moving toward acceptance, and finally ending in freedom. For example:
   • "This pain sucks."
   • "Even though I feel this pain, I know I can handle it"
   • "I've made it through worse, I know i'll be okay."
     ​
     The key is authenticity. If it feels off, skip it. Your body will tell you what feels true.
4. Reassess.
   ​After a couple of rounds, check back in with your number. If it hasn't dropped much, keep going until it does.
   ​

Related Info

• ​This article give more detailed instructions if you want to dive deeper.
• And you don't have to come up with your own statements — there are tons of EFT videos out there that you can tap along with. Check out this Anxiety Relief EFT Tapping video by one of my favorite teachers Gabby Bernstein.
• Or choose your own tapping adventure on YouTube.

Next week we'll talk about another great anti-exploding tool to know: grounding in your body. Til then...

xo,
Christen