Hundreds of self-care articles abound touting products of various kinds for all and especially the feisty over fifty generation. But how would you like to learn some techniques you can use for yourself to change anxiety into relaxation and overcome stress without pills or any expense other than your willingness to follow through?
This is available and has been tested and used by thousand of people worldwide who have suffered from worry, negative emotions and trauma. No fooling!
The only catch is: it requires us to widen our thinking to understand we are energy beings who can stimulate the body’s energy system in very specific ways. Research about the new science of energy psychology is starting to be published and can be accessed on the website of the leading association for energy psychology at
Here are a few of the most relevant self-care exercises to help balance your electromagnetic energy system:
· Take a deep breath and as you exhale, brush out tension from head to toe. Do this several times more and be sure to make some releasing sounds as you exhale. Imagine giving your burdens to the earth to be healed and cleansed.
· With a new in-breath bring in golden sunlight to your heart area. Feel the warmth of the sun and the support of nature as you hold the mid chest area.
· Think of a current problem you’re facing. Rate its difficulty or negative emotion for you on a scale of 1-10.
· Affirm while gently rubbing the mid-chest area, “ Even though I have this problem (the more specific you can be, the better), I deeply and profoundly accept myself. I choose to look at new options such as____.” Repeat several times.
· Check your rating scale, is there a change?
· If you wish to do more, think of the problem and tap lightly on several acupoints of your body’s energy meridian system. Start at the point where the eyebrow meets the nose and use both hands to tap or hold each side for about a minute. Tap on the outer eye, the body prominence at the temple in the same way. Now tap under the lip. And then at the collarbone area by the little notch under your Adam’s apple on both sides. Finally bring the sides of the hands together and affirm releasing the strong negative emotion.
· Take a deep breath and note how you feel. Rate the distress about the problem on a scale of 1-10.
For most people there will be a shift to less internal tension even though the exercises suggest focusing on and recalling the problem. It is as if our bodies help us to remember wellness with these seemingly simple maneuvers.
We’re living in exciting times when these new ways of treating anxiety and depression are emerging. They are invaluable in reducing stress and promoting healthy aging and overall feistiness. Let your energy align with the humor of the crazy weather that probably spawned the April Fool idea and let new life spring in your heart!
Dorothea Hover-Kramer Ed.D., RN, RC, is the author of six books about energy therapies and her most recent isSecond Chance at Your Dream(energy psychology press, 2009) website:
