Relocation is a very exciting prospect. New setting, new experiences, new possibilities. However, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Settling into a new culture and a new way of life can be overwhelming. Luckily, there is a mental health exercise to help you get calm, centred and ready to face these challenges head-on; Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
This might sound like hoity-toity silliness to some, but this technique has been around since 1995. Extensive research shows that EFT can significantly improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Even if you’re better adapted to drastic changes the focus on mental health has never been more important. Doing this exercise even a little bit can make a big impact on your well-being.
How does EFT work?
So, how exactly does it work? EFT is used to better manage emotions, belief, and imbalance. EFT is also often referred to as EFT tapping. The technique takes inspiration from acupuncture, but without the need for those pesky needles. Great news, if you’re not a fan of needles or injections. The premise behind EFT Tapping is that our distress and imbalances are caused by disturbances in the body’s energy system, and if we can get it to flow, we can restore balance in our emotions, and in life.
Tapping is done on the specific energy points of the body that should lead to the flow of energy throughout the body and unlocks any blocked energy. Tapping is accompanied by the use of using positive affirmations.
The energy points are known as acupressure or meridian points, derived from traditional Chinese medicine. If you’re unfamiliar with how to locate these meridian points, there are lots of free guides and tutorials online that can help you. Once you practice a couple of times, finding these locations will quickly become a force of habit and you won’t even need to think about it.
EFT is used in a wide variety of situations, from anxiety and depression to phobias and even PTSD. We all experience times when thoughts are running through our heads, when we can’t focus or think straight and are unable to make decisions. This often leads to frustration and uncomfortable, negative feelings along with stress. EFT can help.
The Steps
- Focus on the negative thought or situation which is worrying you
- Begin to tap on the karate chop point of your hand while you focus.
- State your concern while tapping on the points, starting at the eyebrow and then moving down the face to the side of the eye, below the eye, below the chin, the chest, under the armpit.
- Take a deep breath. Check in with how you are feeling. If you are feeling more positive move onto the positive round.
- Start the tapping again, this time focusing on a positive affirmation.
Benefits of Emotional Freedom Technique
EFT is beneficial in a number of ways:
- It is simple and easy to learn – there are many YouTube videos that can offer a starting point
- You can do it by yourself without a guide when you know the steps
- EFT doesn’t take up a lot of time
- EFT allows you to deal with your stress at any time, any where
- It helps reduce distressing and negative thoughts, allowing you to ragain calm and positive feelings
Support for Expats
If you’ve moved to a new country all by yourself, this can make the transition that much harder and Emotional Freedom Technique for Expats may help. If you’re with a partner, your family, or a student group, there are others going through the same experience that you can lean on for support. But doing this solo is a very tough, but very boss move. Mastering a new culture on your own steam is extremely empowering and your friends will be super impressed by your knowledge and comfort in a new place when they come to visit.
From learning a new language, meeting new people, settling into a workplace with different conventions and even trying to find the right shops for your daily needs can all be a lot to take in, especially all at once. But just think, a few minutes of gentle tapping a day can completely rewire your senses, mental state and physical energy as well.
Introducing Drea Hunt
Drea Hunt is an accredited transformational life coach from Animas Centre for Coaching UK and a member of the International Coaching Federation. She is a Level 2 practitioner in EFT Tapping and a member of the Association of Emotional Freedom Technique Professionals. Having lived in America for the majority of her life Drea has spent time working and studying abroad in Mexico, Argentina, Italy, the UK, China, and Germany and has been a full-time expat since 2006, living in Munich.
You may be facing issues such as a lack of confidence, issues with a spouse or rebuilding after a breakup, being overwhelmed by culture shock, struggling with social isolation or professional setbacks. Life coaching allows you to honestly evaluate where you are and where you’d rather be. Drea offers 1-hour life coaching sessions via Zoom.
Being an expatriate herself makes Drea perfectly placed to understand the struggles of those who have chosen to uproot their lives and move to another country. You might be worried about trying a new technique for the first time, but Drea makes it easy.
Her services include 1-hour Emotional Freedom Technique sessions online via Zoom, at affordable prices and Drea even offers a free discovery call to see if she will be a good fit with your needs, with no obligation to make a booking. So, if you are considering a move aboard, or are wondering if you made the right choice, a session with Drea may help you find the answers, feel more confident and happy with the path in front of you.
