Feeling anxious? Try this.
One of the fastest and most effective ways to calm an anxious mind is the Healing Head Hold. This simple body-based technique can help you defuse negative emotions and balance your brain hemispheres. You can do this technique alone or with a partner, and in less than five minutes you'll feel much calmer. Practice the technique right now by watching the video below and following along. You can also download written instructions in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. This technique was adapted from Terrence Bennett’s Touch for Health Neuro/Vascular Points.
How it works.
Simply place one hand on your forehead, and the other on the back of your head at the occiput. You can do this alone or with a partner. Hold for a few minutes until you feel calm. You might feel your pulse in your fingers. You may find yourself shifting as you start to settle down.
If you haven’t given the Healing Head Hold technique a try yet, do it now. Take notice of how your body feels both before and after you use the technique.
Why it works.
Energy-based techniques like the Healing Head Hold help your body relax and your brain rebalance. This technique can bring blood flow back to your forebrain while balancing your brain and body. This allows you to calm your thoughts quickly and easily.
The Healing Head Hold is also helpful when you are upset or unsettled and can calm you down when you are distressed.
More techniques to try when you are feeling anxious.
If you found the Healing Head Hold technique helpful, here are a couple more techniques you can use to calm racing thoughts: the Balance Hookup and the Stress Blowout.
All the videos and techniques in our "Try This" series were created by ACEP's Humanitarian Committee to help people heal by spreading the word about the powerful effects of energy psychology techniques. We invite you to help by sharing this information!
Need help from a professional?
Many people are looking for holistic ways to let go of anger and other upsetting emotions. ACEP is a nonprofit, 501c3 dedicated to the research, education, and sharing of energy psychology. Check out the ACEP practitioner directory to find a certified ACEP therapist in your area or online.
Author: Sarah Murphy, LPC
Sarah Murphy is a licensed professional counselor and coach in private practice. She is on the ACEP board and serves as communications committee chair for ACEP and staff therapist for Unite for HER. She specializes in energy psychology, including EFT, as well as mindfulness and hypnotherapy.
Video Resources Provided by the ACEP Humanitarian Committee
The mission of the ACEP Humanitarian Committee is to develop and implement humanitarian projects that alleviate emotional distress caused by catastrophic natural and man-made events around the globe. We do this by encouraging and assisting ACEP members in developing humanitarian projects that utilize recognized energy psychology and other modalities that meet ACEP’s standards and guidelines. Learn more here.
Photo by Joice Kelly on Unsplash
