Why something still feels stressful (even if you know it’s not dangerous)

Sometimes you actually know, something is not really dangerous.
And yet it feels stressful!

Maybe you’d like to be more visible. You want to share your opinion. You’d like to take a step into something new.

But somewhere in your system, thet brakes are on. There is doubt, tension or restlessness.

And the more you think about it, the less sense it seems to make.
So why does this still feel so strong?

Biologically logical

What often happens has little to do with what you want. And everything to do with how your system works.

A part of your brain, the amygdala, has one job that it is constantly busy with: keeping you safe!

It scans situations for possible threats. And links what you are experiencing now to what you have experienced before. And when it thinks it perceives a threat, it goes into Fight or Flight.

So suppose … at some point in your early life you were visible in a group and that felt unsafe.
Because there was criticism. Or discomfort. Or rejection.
It can be as simple as a classroom event back in the day. You had to say something or do something and there was laughter. Or you were judged.

Then your system can later think: “hey, this looks just like that one time, so be careful!” Your system doesn’t actually distinguish between ‘looks like’ or ‘is the same’. The ‘danger’ is seen and the alarm bells go off.

Even when you’re an adult. Even if you rationally know that it is different.

Tension doesn’t mean that it is unsafe. That’s an important nuance.
Because when something feels tense, stressful, we quickly think: see, this is not right!
But often it simply means that your system recognizes something and wants to protect you.
Against something from the past.

What does help

Many people then try to push through. Or to convince themselves, to rely on logic.
‘Oh, come on, there’s no danger. Just go on and do it.’

But your body remembers. And pushing through doesn’t feel safe. So you continue to feel this, even though you may intellectually know that nothing is wrong.
So what helps is creating and experiencing safety in your body.

EFT tapping is a gentle and effective way to do this. By tapping and at the same time paying attention to what you feel, you calm your nervous system.

You give the signal to your amygdala, saying: it’s okay, we’re safe.

And this is where space is created.
That’s when real change happens.

Tension releases, your nervous system relaxes.
And maybe you still feel some tension, but your system also feels ‘it’s ok’.

And from that place you can take small steps. At your own pace.

Tapping on specific situations & daily tapping

You can use EFT tapping for these kinds of specific situations that are stressful.
But tapping as a daily maintenance ritual is also very nice and helpful.

By tapping more often, you train your system to go into relaxation faster.
This way, you can handle stressful situations better and better.

Give it a try and experience the results!