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My Favourite Strategies: Butterfly Tapping
The second in my series on coping stragies
The second part of my series about my favourite coping strategies and tools to help with a variety of emotional challenges. This is one that I regularly forget exists, yet once I do I’m extremely grateful for it. It isn’t as discreet as some strategies but it is very simple and easy to pick up. Butterfly Tapping is proven to help with emotional overwhelm, anxiety, and personally I find it very helpful in managing flashbacks; something that can be very difficult.
It’s a strategy that can be used by itself and doesn’t need to be a part of anything bigger, but it is part of the wider EMDR toolbox. If you aren’t familiar with it, EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing) is a type of trauma therapy where a therapist will use a stimulus that repeatedly moves from left the right to guide the client’s eyes, which can help the brain to process traumatic memories more effectively so the client doesn’t remain ‘stuck’ in them. There’s no suggestion that Butterfly Tapping by itself will do this, however it can be helpful in pulling you out of intrusive memories and distract you from emotional overwhelm and anxiety.
Here’s how you do it:
- You can either sit or stand, ensure your hands are free and you have some space around you
