How EFT Tapping Can Help Neurodivergent People Navigate Emotional Regulation & Self Care

Life can feel overwhelming at times, and for some neurodivergent (ND) individuals, managing stress and emotions, social interactions, overthinking, or sensory overload can be particularly challenging.

Conditions like ADD/ADHD, autism and AUDHD, and other neurodivergent traits can often bring heightened sensitivity to stimuli, a tendency to ruminate, or emotional dysregulation. EFT Tapping is used for a wide variety of issues, from stress and anxiety relief, to eating disorders and PTSD, to phobias and even self-esteem.

“My message for everyone is the same: that if we can learn to identify, express, and harness our feelings, even the most challenging ones, we can use those emotions to help us create positive, satisfying lives.” –  Marc Brackett

EFT Tapping, or Emotional Freedom Techniques, offers a unique, accessible mind-body tool for managing these challenges effectively either alone or with a EFT professional. I have to start by saying that I am not a therapist and  I am not attempting to treat ND traits in individuals but rather to suggest additional ways of managing daily life & self-care under the supervision of their mental healthcare professionals.

For the sake of my familiarity, I will focus mostly on ADD and ADHD traits (in my family) since I manage myself with EFT and so do some other ADD and AUDHD individuals I know. There are numerous YouTube videos online as well as the Tapping Solution App that allows you to try it and see if you find it helpful.

EFT Tapping can be used a mindfulness technique so let’s explore five ways EFT Tapping can benefit neurodivergent individuals...

**Legal Disclaimer: If you're under psychiatric care or have a history of trauma, please always check with your mental healthcare professional before trying any sort of new modality **.

1. Interrupting Overthinking and Rumination

Neurodivergent individuals might experience racing thoughts or excessive rumination, particularly when fixating on past events or potential future scenarios. Overthinking can become a mental loop that feels impossible to break, escalating stress and anxiety.

EFT Tapping is a simple technique that combines tapping on acupressure points with verbal affirmations. By physically engaging with the body’s nervous system, it helps disrupt repetitive thought patterns, soothing through repetition and brings the mind back to the present moment.

Whereas some individuals may find meditation challenging to keep the mind 'quiet,' tapping can engage the senses, provide both a focus and distraction from overthinking, and allow you to 'get it all out' by articulating your feelings in an honest, helpful way.

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By tapping, you're calming the body's nervous system while stopping the mind from ruminating, obsessing, or repeating scenarios that could heighten your emotional state and keep you from letting go of the negative feelings.

For example, tapping on specific points while stating what you’re feeling (“Even though I’m overwhelmed by this thought, I deeply accept myself”) sends calming signals to the brain, particularly the amygdala. This interruption not only soothes the immediate cycle of overthinking but also helps rewire your response over time, promoting greater mental clarity.

2. Regulating Emotions

Managing emotions as a neurodivergent individual can sometimes feel intense and unpredictable. Emotional dysregulation can be difficult to manage when it comes to re-calibrating once you feel intense emotions.

You might notice your anxiety spiking over things that seem minor to others, or frustration bubbling up when someone interrupts your focus.

Maybe you even catch yourself feeling irritable for no clear reason, or even beating yourself up over not meeting your own expectations. It’s not just in the big moments—it’s those little, everyday stressors that can build up and make self-regulation feel like an uphill climb.

Or maybe it's hard to let the negative emotions go once you're feeling them. You might be so upset about something that happened a few hours ago but struggle to get past it and get your work or studies done.

One article notes that especially for people with ADHD:

"EFT tapping provides a holistic approach to managing ADHD by tapping into specific acupressure points on the body and focusing on specific issues related to the condition. This technique can help individuals reduce symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, restlessness, and lack of motivation." --Dr Rangana Rupavi Choudhuri (PhD).

Here’s where EFT Tapping comes in to help. With just a few simple techniques, you can interrupt those emotional spirals and recalibrate when things feel overwhelming. By tapping on acupressure points and acknowledging what you're feeling in the moment, you’re signaling to your nervous system that it’s okay to calm down.

It’s not about suppressing your emotions—it’s about helping your mind and body work together to process them to release them. Whether you're dealing with sensory overload or the frustration of being thrown off track, tapping gives you a way to regain balance quickly. And over time, it helps you rewire your responses so those everyday triggers don’t hit quite as hard. It's like having a reset button for your emotions, always at your fingertips.

3. Addressing Fears and Insecurities Rooted in Masking

Many neurodivergent people feel like there's a lot of societal pressure to mask, or suppress their authentic selves to conform to neurotypical expectations. This masking often fosters fears of judgment, insecurity, or feelings of shame about not being “enough.”

Here are some examples from an article on Noetic providing some examples of masking in different areas include:

🟢 ADHD: Someone with ADHD might try to sit still, despite feeling restless.

🟢 Autism: An autistic person might suppress stimming behaviours, like hand-flapping, to avoid attention.

🟢 Specific Learning Difficulties: A person with dyslexia might shy away from reading aloud, or someone with dyscalculia might avoid tasks involving numbers, all to sidestep potential embarrassment.

🟢 Personality Traits: A naturally introverted person might push themselves to be outgoing in social settings to align with societal expectations of sociability.

🟢 Mental Health: Someone with depression might project an image of happiness and vitality, hiding their true feelings.

EFT Tapping can offer a practical way to address these underlying fears and insecurities at their core. For example, someone who struggles with public speaking due to a humiliating childhood experience can use tapping to acknowledge and release the lingering emotional charge (“Even though I felt ashamed in that moment, I deeply accept and forgive myself”).

By confronting and working through these past experiences, EFT helps reduce the emotional weight they carry, fostering a greater sense of safety and confidence in being authentic. Over time, this practice cultivates self-acceptance, empowering neurodivergent individuals to feel more at ease with who they are, free from the fear of judgment.

4. Handling Specific Fears and Worries

For many ND individuals, specific fears—whether it’s a fear of rejection, making mistakes, or confronting change—can be amplified by heightened sensitivity. These fears can result in avoidance behaviors or chronic stress about future scenarios.

One article on Vitality Living College noted that:

Additionally, EFT can help identify and release limiting beliefs and negative self-talk related to ADHD by enabling a shift from a mindset of "I am not capable of focusing" to "I have the ability to focus when I use strategies that work for me." This shift in perspective can help individuals with ADHD feel more empowered and confident in their abilities, which can improve their performance and overall well-being." - Dr Rangana Rupavi Choudhuri (PhD).

EFT Tapping works by calming the body’s physiological response to fear, breaking the cycle of heightened reactivity. By acknowledging the fear while tapping (“Even though I’m scared of this upcoming change, I honor how I feel”), the technique creates a sense of safety.

This process not only eases immediate anxiety but also builds resilience over time, enabling ND individuals to approach challenges with greater courage and composure.

5. Easing Sensory Overload and Preventing Anxiety About the Future

Sensory overstimulation can be a common experience for ND individuals, often leading to irritability, frustration, or even shutdowns.

Being in a loud environment, dealing with bright lights, or handling multiple inputs simultaneously can feel overwhelming and stressful.

Past experiences of sensory overload, rejection, or social discomfort often leave ND individuals with heightened dread about similar future scenarios. Anticipating a stressful event can lead to a spiral of anxiety, making it hard to function.

EFT Tapping serves as both a remedy and a preventative tool. Before stepping into a potentially stressful situation, tapping can help reduce anticipatory anxiety. By addressing these feelings early on (“Even though I’m nervous about what’s coming, I choose to feel calm and capable”), individuals can set a calmer baseline for the experience.

Moreover, tapping is effective for processing residual stress from past events. This helps ND individuals release emotional baggage, easing the buildup of future anxiety and fostering a greater sense of self-control.

Why EFT Tapping Works So Well

EFT Tapping is unique because it is:

Accessible: You can do it anywhere—no tools or equipment required.

Adaptable: It works for a variety of challenges, from emotional regulation to reducing sensory overload.

Empowering: It gives individuals the ability to take control of their mental and emotional state in real-time.

Grounded in science: Studies have shown that tapping reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, and helps regulate the nervous system.

For neurodivergent individuals, these qualities make EFT Tapping a versatile and effective tool for navigating the ups and downs of daily life.

Final Thoughts

Living as a neurodivergent individual often comes with unique challenges, but tools like EFT Tapping offer powerful ways to manage and thrive. Whether you’re looking to stop ruminating and be able to let things go more easily, handle sensory overload and self-soothe, or face your uncomfortable situations with more confidence, tapping provides an accessible and practical method to regain control and ease anxiety.

If you’ve never tried EFT Tapping before, start small. Find a quiet moment, identify one stressor, and give it a try. You might just discover a new favorite tool for navigating life’s complexities. Try the Tapping Solution App here for 2 weeks free to see if it works for you.

ANDREA HUNT - Transformational Life Coach & EFT Tapping Practitioner based in Munich, Germany

As an Accredited Transformational Coach (Animas Centre UK) and Certified EFT Practitioner (AEFTP), I help you overcome low self-worth, imposter syndrome, and limiting beliefs using powerful EFT Tapping and coaching. Ready to transform your emotional health and boost your confidence?

If you’re curious about EFT Tapping and how it can enhance your emotional resilience while addressing issues like low self-worth, perfectionism, and negative self-talk, download my FREE EFT book!  ➡️ https://bit.ly/4e672x7

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