How to Stop Anxiety (Before it Starts)

Okay, let’s talk about something that so many of us struggle with—rumination. Women, in particular, are so vulnerable to falling down that rabbit hole. And it’s not really our fault, right? We’ve been socialized to be hyper-aware of our actions and constantly thinking about how we make others feel. It’s part of what makes us so empathetic and connected—but sometimes it can be a little… much, don’t you think?

Now, before you roll your eyes, I get it. We don’t need to dwell on the negative forever. But here’s the thing—I've realized that I’ve spent so much time controlling my emotions and "moving on" that I forgot to actually feel them. I mean, I’m the queen of just picking up the pieces and carrying on with my life. When I break up with someone? Date number three is already on the horizon. Lost a friendship? Poof! I’m deleting every trace that it ever existed. Didn’t get the job? No sweat—I'm already planning my next move.

And look, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. It’s actually pretty empowering to keep moving forward, right? I mean, research shows that we often stress over things that don’t even matter in the grand scheme of things. But here’s the catch—because I’m always moving on, I don’t always give myself the time to process my emotions, to sit with them. And that? That’s what leads to feeling disconnected from myself. Ever felt that? Like you're going through the motions but you're not really there?

Well, here’s where things take a turn for the better. I found something that’s been an absolute game-changer for me: Tapping, or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). It’s a method that allows you to really feel what’s going on inside without letting it control you. Instead of shoving your feelings down and locking them in a box, you acknowledge them and, well, release them in a healthy way.

It’s super simple but so powerful. All you do is tap on specific meridian points on your body while focusing on the emotion you're feeling. Trust me, it’s way more effective than you might think. Common points are the top of your head, your forehead, the area between your eyebrows, your temples, the outside of your wrist, and right where your collarbone meets your breastbone. You tap on these points—five to seven taps each—while reciting a mantra.

And here’s one of my favorites:
"Even though I feel [insert emotion here], I accept and love myself."

I like to repeat this mantra while tapping and just let the emotion flow. It’s about acknowledging what’s going on without judgment, and allowing yourself the space to heal and move forward with balance.

Of course, you can tweak the mantra and the points to fit what you’re feeling, but that’s the basics. I know it sounds a little woo-woo, but trust me—this is a game-changer for getting back in touch with your emotions instead of burying them. And, honestly, that's how you take back your power. You don’t have to “move on” from everything without giving yourself the time to feel.

That's the real journey—showing up for yourself and giving yourself the grace to process. So, why not try it out? Trust me, you deserve it. 💖