“Anxiety Is a Projection of Fear That Sends Signals to the Amygdala and Hippocampus in the Brain, ” Explains Melissa Hankins, Md, a Harvard-Trained Psychiatrist Based in Seattle. and in Some Situations, Anxiety Can Serve a Valid Purpose: It Can Help Us Seek Safety When Storms and Other Emergencies Strike, Spur Us to See a Doctor When We Develop Worrisome Symptoms, and Prod Us to Prepare for Job Interviews and Work Presentation.

Common Causes of Anxiety

None of Us Are Strangers to Anxiety. in Fact, Recent Data from the Us Census Bureau Reveals 41% of Women Felt Anxious During at Least Several Days in the Previous Two Weeks. and While Causes of Anxiety Vary Widely for Person to Person, Experts Have Identified a Number of Anxiety-Inducers That Are All Too Common. Among Them:

It’s No Secret That the Covid-19 Sent Anxiety Soaring: According to a Study Published in Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, the Number of Folks Suffering from High Levels of Anxiety Increased by 300% in the First Year of the Pandemic. but Recent Cdc Data Reveals Rates of Female Anxiety Are Just as High Now as They Were During the Months That Lockdowns First Started.

Traumatic Events Such as Childhood Abuse, Life-Threatening Accidents and Natural Disasters Can Trigger Longstanding Anxiety. in a Study in the Journal European Psychiatry, Emotional Trauma Increased the Risk of Suffering from an Anxiety Disorder by up to 360%. and Not Surprisingly, the Loss of Those We Love Causes Anxiety to Escalate. Researchers Reporting in the American Journal of Psychiatry Found Tht the Death of a Loved One Raised the Odds of Severe Anxiety by as Much as 965%.

Women over 50 Are Especially Vulnerable to Increased Anxiety. in Fact, a Study in the Journal Menopause Determined That During Perimenopause and Menopause, Risk of Experiencing High Levels of Anxiety Increased by up to 61%.

How to Tell If You’re Suffering from Excess Anxiety

Doctors Can Diagnose Anxiety Disorders with the Aid of Screening Tests Like the Gad-7 Questionnaire (You Can Take the Test Here). Plus, They May Conduct Additional Tests to Rule out Conditions Such as Thyroid Problems and Hormonal Imbalances That Can Cause Anxiety. but Telltale Symptoms Can Also Yield Valuable Clues. So If You Suffer from Two or More of the Following Symptoms, an Anxiety Disorder Could Be to Blame:

Understanding Tapping for Anxiety

“Tapping Is One of My Favorite Ways to Ease Stress and Anxiety: You Can Feel Its Calming Effects Almost Immediately, ” Says Dr. Taz. Also Known as the Emotional Freedom Technique (Eft), It Involves Using Your Fingertips to Tap Specific Acupressure Points on the Body. “This Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System, the Branch of the Nervous System That Triggers the Body’s Rest and Relaxation Response, ” Dr. Hankins Says. (Click Through to Learn More About Nervous System Regulation and How It Can Help You Fight Stress.) Plus, Tapping Encourages a Mindful Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Anxious Feelings That Allows Them to Dissipate, She Notes. and as Peta Stapleton, Phd, Author of the Science Behind Tapping, Points Out, “Tapping Reduces the Stress Hormone Cortisol and Lowers Blood Pressure. It Can Essentially Change Your Biology! ” Indeed, a Study She Conducted Found People Who Participated in Three Eft Sessions Lowered Their Cortisol Levels by 43%.

How to Practice Tapping for Anxiety

Whenever Stress Mounts, Dr. Stapleton Recommends This Tapping Sequence: to Get the Perks, You First Need to Identify the Thing You Want to Change (Like Your Anxiety or Fatigue) and Rate the Distress It’s Causing on a Scale of 0 to 10. “Tapping Works Best When You Are Very Specific, ” Says Dr. Stapleton. Next, State Your Problem While Tapping the “Karate Chop” Area of Your Hand (Spot 1 Above) Three Times. Then Tap Through the Next Eight Points in Order While Repeating a Reminder of Your Goal. Take a Breath and Re-Rate Your Distress; Repeat for 10 Minutes.

Tapping for Anxiety Success Story: Amy V. Cooper

Will This Excuse Sound Believable? Worried Amy V. Cooper, as Exhaustion Forced Her to Reschedule Several Meetings on a Business Trip. Debilitating Anxiety That Caused Panic Attacks, Ruminating on Feelings of Fear and Even Flu-Like Symptoms of Achiness and Exhaustion Made It Nearly Impossible for Her to Get Sleep. Night After Night, She Would Lie Awake Praying, Not Only for Respite from Her Anxiety but the Chance to Get Even a Few Hours of Sleep So She Would Have Energy Throughout the Day.

Amy Knew Something Was Wrong

“In 2017, I Was About to Step into the Hotel Elevator When I Thought I Was Going to Faint, ” Recalls Amy. “I Started Sweating, My Heart Was Racing and My Knees Felt Weak. I Had Been Battling Insomnia for a While That I Assumed Was Due to the Typical Business of Life, and Thought Maybe I Was So Exhausted That I Nearly Collapsed. but I Started Having Periods of Feeling Panicky More Often. Worried Something Might Be Seriously Wrong, I Saw the Doctor, Who Reassured Me I Didn’t Have a Serious Health Issue Like a Brain Tumor. but I Was Dumbfounded as He Explained Anxiety Was Causing My Mood Swings, Insomnia and Panicky Feelings.

How Tapping for Anxiety Turned Amy’s Life Around

“Desperate to Find a Way to Reclaim My Life, I Began Researching Natural Ways to Ease Anxiety and Discovered Youtube Videos on Eft Tpping by Gala Darling. I Read How Tapping May Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Lessen Cravings and Help Resolve Fears. What Do I Have to Lose, I Thought and Decided to Give It a Try Despite Being a Bit Skeptical.

Tapping for Anxiety: How & Why to Do It

By Maya Lin-Takahashi

• Oct 8, 2026 • 10 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Anxiety Triggers Are All Around Us These Days: Feelings That Range from Fretful to Downright Panicky Crop up When We Balance Our Checkbooks, Wait for the Results of Medical Tests or Worry When Loved Ones Are Late Getting Home. but When Anxiety Becomes a Constant Companion, It Can Prove Overwhelming and Exhausting. in Fact, a Study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research Suggests out-of-Control Anxiety Increases Risks of Fatigue, Forgetfulness and Other Draining Symptoms by 300%. Fortunately, Help Is Literally at Your Fingertips: in a Study Published in the Journal Explore, a Simple Finger-Tapping Technique Eased Anxiety by 67% in Only 10 Minutes. and in Real-Life Proof, Amy V. Cooper Used Tapping to Overcome Year's of Anxiety and Exhaustion. Read on to Learn About Tapping for Anxiety — and How It Can Work for You!

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.

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