Have you ever felt like your mind is stuck on a loop, replaying worries or replaying an event over and over again in your mind. That’s rumination, a common but exhausting mental treadmill where negative thoughts about the past and future consume us. But there’s hope in a surprisingly simple technique to help lessen the intensity of rumination: bilateral tapping. This technique, which involves activating both brain hemispheres in an alternating pattern, is a game-changer. Bilateral tapping automatically activates our body’s natural relaxation response, which in turn quiets the mental noise, and brings emotional relief.
The Power of the Parasympathetic Response
The key to breaking free from the grip of negative self-talk lies in our parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s “rest and digest” mechanism. This part of the body tells us it’s okay to relax physically and emotionally. We don’t have to be on guard all the time. Bilateral tapping is a fast track to this calm state, offering a quick and easy way to switch off the stress response and find our balance again.
Understanding the ANS and the Vagus Nerve
The ANS oversees our body’s involuntary functions (breathing, digestion, heart rate, hormones), toggling between action mode (sympathetic) and calm mode (parasympathetic). The vagus nerve is particularly important in signaling our brain that it’s time to chill out and calm down. By enhancing communication between the brain’s hemispheres, activities like bilateral tapping or simply walking can activate this nerve, encouraging a peaceful state of mind. When you are in a calmer state, your rumination and anxiety will automatically decrease.
The Science of Bilateral Tapping
Bilateral tapping can be as straightforward as using your hands to tap back and forth on your thighs or as convenient as using devices like Bi-Tapp tappers. This rhythmic, back-and-forth tapping harmonizes the brain’s hemispheres, tapping into the vagus nerve’s power to usher in the parasympathetic response. This method provides a direct and effective means to reduce anxiety and the insidious cycle of negative thoughts.
A Case Study: Overcoming Postpartum Depression
Emily’s journey through postpartum depression illustrates the profound impact of bilateral tapping. Thoughts that she was making mistakes and doing something wrong overwhelmed her, leading to sleepless nights and a darkening mood and outlook. During acute periods, traditional techniques, such as manual tapping techniques (EFT), felt too complicated when her mind was already spinning. Turning to Bi-Tapp tappers, Emily found an effortless way to engage her parasympathetic nervous system and turn off her ruminating mind. Using the tappers daily resulted in improvements in sleep and mood, bringing her overall well-being back into balance and providing significant mental and emotional relief.
Bi-Tapp helps your nervous system stop working against you
Navigating your way out of the negative thought trap can seem daunting, especially when it feels like your own body is against you. Yet, the simplicity of bilateral tapping, automated by tools like Bi-Tapp, can calm the storm and restore inner peace. By simply turning on the tappers, we can unlock our parasympathetic response, paving the way for recovery and resilience. Remember, when caught in the storm of negative self-talk, this simple technique might just be the anchor you need.
Read more about the benefits of bi-lateral tapping here:
