Stressed out? Relax!

Many people in the African community in the UK face serious financial hardship regardless of the state of the economy; the current economic downturn has led to loss of jobs and several welfare benefits are destined for cuts. Poverty, unemployment and ill health can cause a person serious stress and anxiety. In this interview, Zhana*, a stress management consultant gives advice on how a simple relaxation technique can help people living with HIV reduce stress levels.

MAMBO: What made you choose relaxation skills as a career?

ZHANA: I have been very interested in helping other people to find solutions to their problems, whether these be financial, relationship, emotional or health problems. I believe that the key to solving a problem lies in taking clear decisions, and the right attitude towards it. Once you’ve mastered the art of clear, controlled thinking, you’ll be in a better position to find answers to your problems.

MAMBO: You have been recommending Emotional Freedom Technique to your clines. Can you explain what it is?

ZHANA: Anything that is stressful, worrying or traumatic becomes less so if you stop feeling upset or unduly worried about it. EFT is a form of energy healing, and it involves using the fingers to tap on particular pressure (or acupuncture) points of the body in a particular sequence, while making positive statements. The human body is made up of electrical systems. Any physical or emotional problems are usually the result of a breakdown in this system. If we tap into those pressure points, we are better able to manage the problem.

MAMBO: How would EFT be of help to a person living with HIV?

ZHANA: We know that there is no cure for HIV, but the effects of HIV infection can be managed, primarily by conventional medicine, but the emotional and psychological effects of HIV infection can be addressed using non-medical approaches. EFT can, for example, help a positive person to calm down and to think more clearly when he is not feeling well, or has difficulty accessing a particular service. The technique works by eliminating negative beliefs and replacing them with more positive, life-enhancing ones. To demonstrate, using three or four fingers, you can tap onto your forehead, eyebrows, under the ears, under the cheeks, and on the shoulders in order to release the tension in your pressure points. If, throughout the tapping exercise you recite positive statements such as “I am anxious about my health”, or “I understand that I need support and help for my condition”, you will feel better and cope better with the health issue.

MAMBO: How popular is EFT with the African and BME community?

ZHANA: EFT has been very popular with white people, but it’s so far not very popular with Black people. For someone to benefit fully from EFT, they need patience and self-esteem. The technique is usually effective after six weeks of practice, but some people give it up only after a few days.

MAMBO: How many times does one need to do the tapping exercise?

ZHANA: Once or twice a day is usually sufficient.

To learn more about the Emotional Freedom Technique, please email Zhana at zhana2002@hotmail.com, or for information about the next courses on EF, please visit www.blacksuccess1.com/relaxationworkshops.htm.

Posted On: 04 November 2010 at 04:42PM
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