Latest news with #anxiety
CNA
6 hours ago
- Health
- CNA
What is tapping, and can it really improve mental health?
It looks a little goofy. A self-help method called ' tapping,' which involves using the fingertips to perform acupressure while countering negative emotions with breathing exercises and positive affirmations, has elicited eye-rolls from some mental health professionals. 'I'm safe in my car,' a woman on TikTok says as she practises the technique, using a finger to tap the top of her head, then the side of her eyebrow and the middle of her chin. 'I am my safe space.' In the video, she explains that driving by herself is a struggle, but tapping has helped lower her anxiety and refocus her thoughts. Anecdotes like this are easy to find on social media. Over the last 15 years or so, tapping has also popped up on wellness podcasts, TV shows and even the best-seller list. As a result, the practice, also known as the Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT, has attracted a devoted following and become a big business. But many experts remain skeptical. WHERE DID TAPPING COME FROM? Tapping, which falls under the umbrella of energy psychology, originated from a technique called Thought Field Therapy developed by the psychologist Roger Callahan in the 1980s. He conceived of it while working with a patient who had a severe phobia of water, which Dr Callahan tried treating in various ways, including exposure therapy by the pool. One day, when the patient complained that just looking at the water gave her a stomachache, Dr Callahan told her to tap firmly under her eye, an area he knew to be associated with the ' stomach meridian ' in traditional Chinese medicine. According to Dr Callahan, after two minutes of tapping, the patient declared her stomachache had disappeared, along with her fear of the water. Dr Callahan developed Thought Field Therapy from there, contending that some patients required a series of acupressure points to be touched in a specific order. Thought Field Therapy was discredited by psychology experts, in part because there isn't a way to measure energy meridians, nor any evidence that proves they exist. But in the 1990s, Gary Craig, a Stanford graduate who later became an ordained minister, rebranded the technique, creating a simplified version called EFT. Proponents suggest that tapping not only relieves stress and anxiety but can also improve symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and chronic pain, among other maladies. Practitioners now pay hundreds of dollars to take EFT courses or pursue an official certification. DOES IT WORK? Even though there are more than 200 studies that examine meridian tapping, this body of work is not as robust as it might sound. Research that claims to highlight the effectiveness of EFT has been riddled by conflicts of interest, small sample sizes, statistical errors and a lack of rigour. For these reasons, prominent members of the American Psychological Association have said that the push to popularise EFT is based on pseudoscience. 'When you really look at the evidence, it falls apart,' said Cassandra L Boness, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico and the lead author of a peer-reviewed commentary published in 2024 that raised concerns about the quality of EFT research and questioned the effectiveness of the technique. But that isn't to say that EFT is useless, experts said. Those who try the technique are instructed to think about or do activities they may find scary or uncomfortable – a form of exposure therapy, which is a powerful way of regulating emotions. Tapping also involves taking a moment to explore one's thoughts, which therapists say can help people understand their behavior. In essence, tapping is 'a hodgepodge of interventions, some of which are, I'm sure, quite effective,' said David F Tolin, the director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living in Hartford, Connecticut. But there isn't high-quality research to show that tapping itself is the active ingredient, he added. WHAT'S THE HARM? Despite the lacklustre evidence, some patients and therapists insist tapping truly helps. 'It doesn't replace existing best practises for treating PTSD, depression, addictions or other serious conditions,' said David Feinstein, who offers classes and certifications in energy medicine, along with his wife. But, in his opinion, it can make those treatments more effective. Melissa Lester, a psychotherapist in Sandy Springs, Georgia, said she found tapping could provide quick benefits, including a calmer, clearer mind. She decided to become certified in the technique because she wanted to give her clients an alternative when methods offered by other therapists, like cognitive behavioural therapy, didn't produce the desired results. Providing an alternative treatment can indeed be useful to patients, Dr Boness said, but she questioned whether it was ethical to do so in the absence of rigorous scientific evidence. Her 'biggest fear,' she added, was that vulnerable people would turn to tapping, and then find that it doesn't work. 'It's not actually a psychological treatment,' she said.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
My Extreme Postpartum Anxiety Convinced Me My Baby's Life Was in Danger—Here's What Helped
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. 'If I fall asleep, she'll die in the middle of the night.' More from SheKnows We Just Found the *Cutest* Dog Bed That Looks Straight Out of a LoveShackFancy Catalog (& It's Only $30!) Today's Top Deals How Do You Raise Good Kids in Terrifying Times? 'Hello, Cruel World' Author Melinda Wenner Moyer Has Ideas Think Spring! Target Just Added Tons of Gorgeous New Patio Items Target Is Having a Can't-Miss Spring Sandal Sale for Circle Members 'I must set the temperature to exactly 70 degrees, even though it's August and will cost a million dollars; if I don't, she will suffocate and die.' 'If I go to Target alone, my husband will drop her and she'll have brain damage.' 'Holding her is dangerous, because I could swipe her delicate, paper mâché-esque head against the doorway.' 'If I let anyone near her, they'll infect her with a brain-eating virus after ignoring my pleas to never kiss her on the mouth' 'Driving to the grocery store is out of the question—what if I get into a car accident and die, and she'll be left motherless?' 'If I sleep, that means she's growing up without me already. Even when I hold her, I miss her.' Welcome to the inside of my emotionally feral postpartum brain, a place I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemies. Days after giving birth to my daughter this past summer, I was sucker-punched with seemingly endless waves of intense sadness and anxiety. 'Baby blues' is what the birthing classes warned us about: temporary heightened feelings likely caused by hormonal fluctuations post-child birth that effect up to 80 percent of new moms. How could the best thing to have ever happened to me also feel like the worst? Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you'll love as much as we do. This article was sponsored by BetterHelp, however, all products were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale. 'Ah, baby blues – sounds cute right? And honestly, who isn't a bit down after the massive physical journey your body takes? Baby blues are short, fleeting, physical responses to the experience of childbirth that impact somewhere between 50-80 percent of new moms,' Donna S. Sheperis, PhD and board certified telemental health provider, tells SheKnows. However, she warns if 'intense' feelings are still there after a couple weeks, 'that is more likely to be postpartum depression.' Sheperis says. 'Moms may withdraw from people they love or have feelings of guilt or that they shouldn't be around anymore. Actively suicidal thoughts can occur. Relatedly, postpartum anxiety shows in those early weeks or months by an excessive amount of worry that includes racing and persistent thoughts that the baby isn't safe or that something bad will happen. These thoughts also create problems ranging from general feelings of restlessness all the way to panic.' The fact that I was still experiencing ruthless anxiety about my daughter for weeks after she was born signaled to me that something wasn't right. I made an appointment with my therapist and took the call from my bed, with my baby sleeping right next to me in her bassinet. Telehealth therapy services like BetterHelp (which I've used for years) give people an accessible lifeline when they need help—fast. check out betterhelp I remember telling my therapist exactly what I was thinking, fear by fear, and as I said the words out loud I felt their power dissipate. 'I'm just so worried she'll get SIDS. We practice safe sleeping, we keep the room way too cold, and we don't smoke — but I'm still sticking my finger under her nostrils to make sure she's still breathing every thirty minutes. Even at night,' I confessed to her. We unpackaged the fear of SIDS together. How statistically it was so, so unlikely. How I was already doing everything in my control to prevent it. How my lack of sleep was actually more dangerous than the fear that was keeping me awake. I'm 10 months postpartum, and I still have PPA — but it's more manageable now, thanks to therapy. I can talk myself out of intrusive thoughts and reason with myself. Therapy gives me the tools to do that. The thing about becoming a parent, is that it's all so new — and it happens all at once. I read all the books and took all the classes, and I was still overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by how much effort it takes to care for a tiny human, as well as the psychological toll it would take on me. I knew I would love my baby, but I didn't realize that this kind of love could actually be painful because of how tremendous and all-encompassing it is. Plus, the hormones were making me feel irrational to the next level. I should be able to fall asleep without fearing for my daughter's life. Therapy helped me feel less alone and guided me in how I processed all my new feelings. Check out betterhelp 'Therapy can make a difference by addressing how your thoughts contribute to the experience. Therapy can normalize this part of life so that you don't feel alone in your experience as a mom to a new baby,' Sheperis tells SheKnows. 'Therapy provides the emotional support and validation to allow for the adjustment to adding a new baby to your life. Specifically we see therapy from a Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) or Interpersonal (IPT) approach being effective in helping moms address the depressive and anxious symptoms.' It's actually (statistically) effective, too. 'Something helpful to note is that with treatment, about 80 percent of moms get better!' Sheperis notes. BetterHelp has a lot of features that make therapy way more accessible for new mothers especially. If I had to schedule an in-person appointment freshly postpartum, there is no way I would go. Aside from literally still wearing a diaper and refusing to put on real clothes, summoning the energy to leave the house was only reserved for my daughter's check-ups. After taking a short questionnaire, you'll be matched with a therapist who meets your individualized needs. If that person doesn't work out, you can go back and choose another provider (and you can do this until you've found the right person for you). Once you've found a therapist you gel with, scheduling sessions is as easy as booking time on someone's Google calendar. No receptionist or complicated scheduling process included. I used BetterHelp's chat feature a lot. It feels a lot like unloading via text message to a friend, but instead of a friend, it's someone who's trained to actually help you. The feature allows you to privately type out messages to your therapist, who has 24 hours to get back to you. I did this along with video sessions. Especially during bad mental health weeks, I'd message my therapist several times a day — it really felt like I had someone in my corner 24/7. Classes like Setting Boundaries: The Power of the Door, Narcissistic Personality Disorder: When Self-Love Is Not Love, and Understanding and Living With Depressive Disorders are offered through BetterHelp's Classes feature. This isn't something I've personally tried, but my therapist has offered it to me and says it's helpful for many folks. You can schedule sessions with your therapist via phone or video, as well as live chat, either on your desktop or with your phone via the BetterHelp app. Since I already regularly go to therapy and have consistently for four years, I knew that it would be a part of my postpartum care practice. I made my first appointment with my therapist about a week and half after giving birth, and my provider was really flexible and worked around my wacky new life/schedule. But for folks who've never tried therapy and are wondering if it's for them after giving birth: I can just personally say it was critical for my own wellbeing as a new mom. 'Going back to the perfectly normal experience of the baby blues — if those feelings persist for more than a couple of weeks or if you begin to think about dying, suicide, or other harm, therapy is an important step,' Sheperis says. 'And don't forget that these symptoms may not show up for awhile. New moms may feel a sort of high postpartum due to the physical and emotional changes and their excitement at having a baby! There may be symptoms that pop up a couple of months after the birth and you may not think they have anything to do with having a baby!' Sheperis adds, 'We may become more irritable or snap at loved ones. We may withdraw from things and people that usually make us happy. Therapy at this point is very successful at addressing the symptoms so they do not persist.' I found that not only did therapy help me, but it helped me be more present with my daughter. Instead of just staring at her and crying while we both watch Ms. Rachel on YouTube and survive the day, I was able to take her to the park for a stroll. I smiled at her and we did tummy time. I sang a thousand variations of 'The Wheels on the Bus,' which she adores. Sheperis tells me that the reason for this change is that 'moms who are more mentally healthy have better physical and emotional bonding with their babies — so the health of the new mom helps the health and well being of baby as well.' These days, the fears come and go, and the anxiety rarely gets so unruly. Will she fall and bruise herself as she learns to walk? Could happen. Will I miss her first words? Hopefully not, but I'll be around for others. Will she grow up and decide to go to college across the country and leave me forever? Maybe, but for now she's within arm's reach and I'm doing everything in my control to keep her safe and happy. When the anxieties spiral to another dimension, I have the tools I learned in therapy to reel 'em back to planet earth. : PhD and board certified telemental health provider, professor and chair, Department of Counseling More Top Deals from SheKnows Is Walmart+ Worth It? Giada De Laurentiis' Newest Cookbook Is Packed With Italian Super Food Recipes Stanley Tumblers Now Come With New Leakproof Lids & Customers Are Raving About Them Best of SheKnows Bird Names Are One of the Biggest Baby Name Trends for Gen Beta (& We Found 20+ Options) These Are the 36 Celebrities with the Most Kids 15 Celebrity Parents Whose Kids Went to Ivy League Schools
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Parent discovers teen's hidden box of notes—here's what it revealed
In a comment shared by Reddit user u/Afraid-Objective3049, a parent described helping their teenage son clean his room when they stumbled upon a metal tin tucked beneath some old hoodies. Inside were dozens of paper scraps—cut from birthday cards, school assignments, and sticky notes. Each one held a kind word: 'love you,' 'happy birthday,' 'great job.' The post struck a chord with hundreds of readers—and for good reason. It wasn't just about what was inside the box. It was about what those saved words meant. Quietly, and without ever bringing it up, this teen had been collecting proof of love. He kept every note because they meant everything byu/Afraid-Objective3049 inMadeMeSmile The parent didn't bring up the tin with their son. But the discovery quietly changed something. They realized how much those small affirmations—birthday messages, sticky notes, and school praise—meant to him. It wasn't just nostalgia. It was a coping strategy. Their son lives with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. And in that context, even a single kind word becomes something worth holding onto. 'I'd like to think that if I'm not with him, one of those little pieces of paper might help him get through whatever he's dealing with,' the parent shared. It was a moment of clarity: what may feel small in the moment—writing 'love you' on a card or leaving a note by the door—can become something kids reach for when they're struggling silently. Sometimes, those words stay with them longer than we realize. For the teen, those notes weren't just sweet gestures. They were reminders of being seen and understood—something sometimes lost in the rush of daily life. The box became a coping tool, a private vault of validation on tough days. Many other reddit users chimed in, relating similar stories of their own saved mementos and how they carried them through hard times. Related: 'The world will never be the same': Doctor delivers powerful affirmations to newborn This kind of emotional anchoring isn't unusual. Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that consistent parental warmth and encouragement are linked to greater self-esteem and emotional resilience in adolescents. Written affirmations can be especially impactful, as they provide something kids can return to—physical proof of love and belief in them, even on days they're struggling to believe in themselves. In the end, small, intentional gestures—like leaving notes or affirmations—can build bridges of trust and openness between parents and teens. The parent shared, 'I realized how important those tangible affirmations are to him. So I've made it a point over the last 15+ years to write things down in addition to telling him.' These written reminders become lasting symbols of care that speak louder than words alone, helping create a shared language of support that can carry families through the ups and downs of adolescence. The story also resonated deeply with many readers on Reddit. u/Environmental_Art591 appreciated the respect behind the gesture, noting, 'Even better because they weren't snooping, they were helping organise with permission.' Meanwhile, u/Wadarkhu found the idea heartwarming and nostalgic: 'It is so sweet, sobbing tbh, also stealing his idea. I wonder if it's weird to raid your attic for 20+ yr old school work? Lol.' Another user, u/rockytopbilly, reflected on the power of such connections, writing, 'That guy and my father would've been able to fix the whole world, I'm sure of it.' And u/Unusual-Ad4890 admired the boy's insight: 'He realized early that he wasn't going to go through life being showered with compliments and praise, so he started collecting them as mementos. Smart kid. Wish I did that.' Together, these voices show how small acts of care can leave lasting impressions—and how affirmations, both spoken and written, become treasured pieces of a family's story. Related: 18 positive affirmations for tweens—because middle school is hard
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Aussie mum shocked by mental health wait for struggling child
A mother has shared her heartbreak at her daughter's spiral into anxiety aged just six, refusing school and food amid a year-long wait for treatment. Despite working in the mental health sector, Melbourne mum Sol Mardones faced a nightmarish battle to get help for her daughter Jeannie which only made her mental health issues worse. Mrs Mardones, an executive at Smiling Mind, said the family struck delay after delay in the system, and were forced to watch as Jeannie became a withdrawn, worried and tearful child who was scared of going to school. She has now joined a campaign to push for urgent government investment in mental health services for children. 'It was really distressing for my husband Matt and I to watch her go through that,' Mrs Mardones said. 'She went from a confident, smart, happy kid to an anxious child who doubted herself.' 'It was more than a year of advocacy and thousands of dollars before we found help. 'But by then, things were dire. 'I was shocked by how hard it was to get what we needed, and I'm someone who works in the sector.' Mrs Mardones said Jeannie first began to show signs of distress in Year 1, but attempts to get help from the school fell on deaf ears. For months, she only went to school for half the week, with her husband Matt going part-time at work as they attempted to get to the bottom of her issues. 'The rubber really hit the road when the stress of school changed in Year 1,' Mrs Mardones said. 'She was in a composite class and the pressure to perform academically, even at that young age, and to sit still and navigate social issues with older children in the classroom, were really challenging for her. 'It made sense when she was diagnosed with neurodiversity. 'But at the time her school wasn't well-equipped to recognise the signs of her distress and didn't believe us or validate our concerns.' She said they hit more brick walls during multiple GP visits, with their concerns initially 'dismissed and minimised'. 'It took Jeannie to get to a really severe level of distress to finally get a referral to see a pediatrician,' she said. 'Once we had the referral, it was months of waiting to get that appointment, and even more months to get other types of support.' Jeannie, now eight, returned to her happy self with treatment and support after doctors diagnosed her as neurodivergent in 2023. 'She's at a different school now, and she's got her spark back,' Mrs Mardones said. She is now urging other parents to have important conversations with their children about mental health, and educate them in emotional literacy. Smiling Mind is leading a push calling for more investment in prevention for children. Mental Health Australia is also pushing for the government to address unprecedented levels of mental illness in children and the 'huge gaps' in support for those aged 12 and below. Among its priorities are reducing waiting times of up to 12 months for psychologists, developing tailored services for children, and more investment in early intervention. 'As a first step, we'd like to see real, tangible commitments across (all) governments to invest in universal platforms, like early learning centres and schools, to both support the prevention of mental health conditions in the first place and respond to emerging needs,' chief exeuctive Carolyn Nikoloski said. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said all Australian governments had agreed at a joint Health and Mental Health Ministers meeting in June that children's mental health was 'a priority'. 'We need to make sure children, and their families have the support and resources they need,' he said in a statement. 'That's why the Albanese Government continues to roll out a national network of 17 Kids Hubs for children aged 0 – 12 years, 11 of which are already operational.' Kids Hubs offer multidisciplinary services including mental health support for families and children aged 0-12, with MHA advocating for the network to be expanded.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
David H. Rosmarin brings a founder-focused approach to anxiety at TechCrunch All Stage
Startups demand constant decision-making, pressure-filled pivots, and bring big emotional swings. It's no wonder anxiety shows up at every stage. But what if it didn't have to be a liability? At TechCrunch All Stage 2025 on July 15 at Boston's SoWa Power Station, Dr. David H. Rosmarin, clinical psychologist, author, and Harvard Medical School professor, will lead a refreshingly honest roundtable session that challenges how founders think about fear and pressure. His roundtable, 'Thriving with Anxiety: How Startup Founders Can Turn Fear, Pressure, and Self-Doubt into Their Greatest Advantage.'. This session isn't about 'overcoming' anxiety. It's about using it as a strategic advantage. As founder of the Center for Anxiety and a nationally recognized mental health expert, Rosmarin has worked with executives, entrepreneurs, and high-performance teams across industries. In this session, he'll guide attendees through a stigma-free, deeply practical conversation on how to turn anxiety into fuel, not friction. Expect takeaways on: With coverage in outlets like The New York Times, WSJ, GMA, and Rosmarin's work has reached millions. Now he's bringing it directly to startup leaders. If you're building under pressure (and who isn't?), this session will change how you how to channel your anxiety into your greatest advantage, and many other takeaways from a whole day packed with sessions with scaling experts at TC All Stage. Register now before prices go up at the door. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
