Emotional freedom technique (EFT) practitioner Jess Wilkins-Cooke explores how we can connect more deeply with our body’s signals to help release tension

What are the most common signs of tension in the body?

Some easy places to check for holding tension include your shoulders. Are they up by your ears? Is your jaw tight, or maybe there’s a knot in your stomach? Just noticing these signs can give us the space to let go. Our bodies are unique, and so tension can show up in hundreds of different ways, including gut issues, headaches, and trouble sleeping.

You might also find that your body is adept at telling you when something is too much. Do you have a persistent twitchy eye when meeting a deadline, or an aching back and shoulders when things have been hectic at home? When we build tension in the body, it has to go somewhere, and it’s worth getting to know where it goes for you.

What complementary therapies could help me let go of tension?

Choose therapies that have an element of communication with the body, such as reflexology, acupuncture, or EFT tapping – which is my particular therapy of choice as both a practitioner and a client.

One of the reasons I love tapping is because of how versatile it is. In sessions, we can use it to break down long-standing patterns of anxiety, chronic pain, and so many other challenges that can become stored in the physical body. But we can also use it as a powerful self-help tool for ease and balance in everyday life.

The reasons why we might carry tension in the particular way we do, or experience it strongly in certain situations, are individual, and often unconscious. With a tool like EFT, we can explore those reasons, and bring safety and ease back to those parts of us that are holding on to tension, soothing the body and mind, and allowing a deeper relaxation.

Is it true that emotions can contribute to physical tension?

It’s more true than we may realise. It is so easy to attribute a physical symptom to circumstance, or even to call it ‘just one of those things’, not noticing that emotions are a powerful contributor. Everything is connected in our being. We know that when we are depleted physically, it can impact our mood and emotions, and the same is true the other way around.

We can support ourselves by bringing wellbeing practices into the every day, and they don’t need to take long. Yoga, mindfulness, and EFT are about connecting with ourselves in the present moment. If we have more of an understanding of where we are, we can better map the route to where we would like to be.

It can also help to connect with what is bothering us, maybe by journaling or sharing with a trusted friend. Where the issue is complex or long-standing, we may need to seek support to unpack it gently and safely.

Jess’s top tips to help you reconnect with your body

  • Start with the basics. Often, life is so busy that we get halfway through the day before even realising we’re hungry or thirsty. Set a timer to check in with yourself every hour – what do you need right now? Your body will thank you.

  • Learn somatic techniques. Simple, powerful self-help practices like EFT or breathwork bring us back into the body in moments of stress, and also help to calm our nervous system and emotions. When we can find safety in the body, we are much better placed to think clearly, manage difficult situations, and explore the beliefs and patterns that might be holding us back.

  • Stick with it, and be kind to yourself. It’s not always comfortable, especially if our chronic stress is manifesting as painful conditions, or as anxiety that has us feeling overwhelmed. Often, our default is to avoid these challenging experiences, but it doesn’t help resolve them. Seek support, and check in with how you speak to yourself and your body in these difficult moments. Would you speak to a friend that way?

However tension is showing up for you right now, change is always possible with the right tools.

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Read more about Jess on Therapy Directory.