Anxiety is the body’s fear response and it can come in the form or worried or obsessive thoughts, physical symptoms or behavioural avoidance, i.e. avoiding the things you fear. In the past, Doctors have prescribed medication for anxiety, panic and stress, but over the last few years research has shown that there are more effective ways of treating the anxiety which is ongoing. Anxiety disorders can include social anxiety, specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. To learn more about the anxiety and other mental health disorders go to Anxiety Online and Beyond Blue.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been the standard psychological treatment for anxiety problems but there is now a new kid on the block, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/Tapping). EFT/Tapping (a.k.a. psychological acupuncture) has been shown in brain imaging studies to reduce activity in an area of the brain called the Amygdala. This area acts like the smoke-alarm for stress and when EFT is applied, the smoke alarm can be quickly turned off. Dr. Peta Stapleton from Bond University describes what the science shows us about EFT for stress and anxiety in her Research Spotlight series.