Last week, I was startled awake with low blood sugar and a lot of frustration.
After I treated the low, I tapped my chest with my fingertips, repeating the phrase “I’m frustrated, but I’m safe.”
I just kept tapping and saying it over and over.
As I tapped, I could feel the frustration start to ease. My body relaxed, and I stayed awake long enough for my blood sugar to even out. Once it did, I fell right back asleep.
This is a tool called EFT, which stands for Emotional Freedom Technique
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EFT is a stress-reduction tool that involves tapping on specific points on the body while acknowledging what you’re feeling. There are multiple tapping points, and the tapping sends calming signals to your nervous system, letting it know it’s safe to relax.
While there are many points on the body, I used just one in this moment. I was low, exhausted, and didn’t have the energy to tap through all the points. One point was enough. It also gave me something to do instead of reaching for more food (and avoiding that inevitable blood sugar spike later).
Next time you’re startled awake by a low, or anything else, this is something you can try. You don’t have to say the “right” words. You can say whatever is true in the moment. You can say you’re frustrated, annoyed, or mad at Type 1 Diabetes. The tapping helps your body settle and process those emotions.
Let me know how it goes!
PS Here’s an Instagram video that I made the morning after this happened
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