The Christmas holidays are already in full swing with end of year work parties galore. 🎄
The time of year when everyone pretends they’re having magical, heart-warming moments when really all they want to do is curl up in bed and avoid everyone, and half the population is actually one passive-aggressive comment away from flipping a table and throat punching that relative they can’t stand. 🤜
If the build up to Christmas and the ensuing family gatherings or relationship tension is starting to frazzle the fuck out of your nervous system, you’re not the only one.
For MANY women (especially those navigating toxic family dynamics, crappy communication, or controlling partners), this time of year can be wildly triggering. 😣
But there is something different you can try out this year…
Before you text back..before you react…before you spiral…before you actually throat punch your relative…
There’s a simple, powerful tool you can use to calm your farm:
EFT (TAPPING).
Let’s walk through it.
It stands for Emotional Freedom Technique, and it does what it says on the tin.
The holidays activate the same parts of your brain linked to childhood attachment wounds, because it involves either being shoved together with family you don’t want to hang out with, or you’re missing family you DO want to hang out with.
For others, you’re facing ambiguous loss from having family still in your lives that ever actually met your needs.
That means:
🤔 Old patterns get louder
🥺 Emotional flashbacks hit quicker
😞 Conflict feels heavier
😭 Disrespect stings harder
🤯 And your body responds before your brain even understands why (because you’re reacting from your childhood wounding, not your adult brain).
🥃 Add in alcohol, expectations, financial stress, cooking for 49 people, and pretending everything’s fine..
Of course your nervous system is cooked. 😕
This is where tapping comes in.
HOW EFT HELPS YOU STAY REGULATED
EFT is like giving your nervous system a warm weighted blanket and a cup of tea while the world around you is yelling about who ruined the potato salad. 🥗
It works because it:
✋🏼 Interrupts your stress response
🙃 Calms your body instantly
🧠 Helps you make decisions from logic, not panic
✋🏼 Creates emotional space before reacting
🧐 Stops you from slipping into old patterns (fawning, fixing, exploding, shutting down)
If you’re dealing with holiday conflict, tapping is your new best friend.
Give this quick holiday tapping sequence a nudge
Find your breath. 🫁
Tap gently on the side of your hand (karate chop point) and repeat: ✋🏼
“Even though this day is a LOT… I honour how I feel.”
“I’m safe.”
“I can breathe.”
“I choose peace… even if others choose chaos.” ✌️
Repeat while tapping through your facial points (above the eye, side of the eye, under the eye and collarbone.
Keep going until you feel your shoulders drop and your brain comes back online, where you feel the negative emotion has neutralised.
This is how you respond like a grounded adult instead of a triggered version of your 12-year-old self.
And If The Conflict Is Coming From Your Partner…
That’s another layer entirely, and one that deserves attention.
If holiday tension is highlighting red flags you’ve been trying to ignore all year, you’re not imagining it. 🚩
That’s why I created a free checklist for you:
“10 Signs Your Relationship Is ACTUALLY Toxic”
It’s blunt. It’s eye-opening. And it will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Download it for free: link in bio
You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed this time of year.
You’re allowed to take time out for you.
You’re allowed to choose calm over chaos.
You’re allowed to honour your own needs (no it’s not being selfish to do that). 🤷🏼♀️
Tap before reacting. Breathe before responding. Choose peace, even if others aren’t capable of it.
Your nervous system will thank you, and so will your future self. 🥰
As always, if you want a guide on your journey, drop me a message and let’s chat about how coaching and/or energy work can help.
You’ve got this, and I’ve got your back.
Catcha on the flip side,
