Do you ever struggle to focus? If you’re like most people in our fast-paced world, you probably do.
Apparently, people in classrooms and office buildings across the country have been taking more and more “study drugs” as a way to stay awake, alert, and focused for hours at a time, allowing them to better tackle whatever task they have at hand.
Is it just me, or does that sound a little scary?
Thankfully, I’m not the only one who’s concerned. In fact, the situation has become so widespread that the American Association of Neurologists released a stern warning against this disturbing trend.
What’s going on? What are these study drugs anyway and why are so many people using them?
The Stress of Getting It All Done
So here’s the thing – you probably already know what these study drugs are. Once I did a little digging, I realized that I also knew exactly what they were:
Vyvanse, Concerta, Ritalin, Adderall… Do any of these ring a bell?
The correct term for these medications is “cognitive function drugs”, and they’re typically prescribed to people with mental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. They’re legitimate medications for people who need help, and maybe you or a loved one might even have a prescription.
The problem is that so many people without a disorder of any kind are now regularly using these drugs.
Some fake the necessary symptoms to gain a prescription from their doctor, while others acquire them illegally.
They’re everywhere these days and may have even become the norm in many sports as well. In a recent interview, the cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, Richard Sherman, made the startling claim that “about half of the [NFL] league” takes Adderall to improve their performance on the field!
There are numerous reasons why this is such a big concern. For one thing, these drugs can have very negative side effects such as insomnia, sudden increases in blood pressure, and even heart attacks and strokes. As if those risks weren’t enough, study drugs can also be highly addictive.
With everyone from students to professional athletes now using these drugs just to function, it’s clear that most of us are not adequately dealing with the stress of everyday life.
Our tasks, goals, benchmarks, and deadlines are meant to be challenges, not insurmountable hurdles that require medical assistance for us to be able to tackle them. If that’s how they appear, then we need to take a different approach.
There are many natural techniques that help the average person find the concentration levels that they’re so desperately in search of. EFT Tapping is one of them, and in my opinion, it’s the best alternative of them all to these dreadful study drugs.
Why EFT Tapping Can Be an Effective Replacement for Study Drugs
The effect that most study drug users chase after is “the zone.” It’s the feeling of completely tuning into whatever it is they’re choosing to focus on. Once they’ve swallowed that pill, distractions fall by the wayside and they can get the job done.
But what are these distractions exactly, and why are they so all-consuming that people with no legitimate medical need think they require pills to block them out? That’s a question that can be addressed through Emotional Freedom Techniques. And once the answers are revealed and dealt with, it’s easy to tune them out when we need to.
So often, our limits to performance are anchored in our emotions. What if we don’t succeed? What will become of us? That pressure can be enormous.
Furthermore, our distractions sometimes have nothing to do with what we’re working on at all. We can become so preoccupied with stress at home or even in the larger world, that it has a terrible effect on our productivity.
EFT Tapping is first and foremost a stress relief tool that allows us to address troublesome emotions that are making our lives difficult.
By physically tapping on the body’s meridian energy points as we carry out the kind of keen personal inquiry typically found in psychotherapy, we can release these troublesome emotions that may have been holding us back, possibly making us ill, and yes, even making it difficult for us to focus and perform.
Simply put, with EFT Tapping one can eliminate the perceived need for study drugs altogether.
If you haven’t tried tapping before, take a look at this short video to learn the technique. Within minutes you will be able to deal with much of the stress that you encounter every day.
Ending a Potential Epidemic
It’s scary to think of a future where everyone in our society requires medication just to get through the day. Sadly, that’s not as unrealistic as it may sound. Recent statistics show that Americans are abusing prescription medications more than they are illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.
Study drugs make up a large chunk of these “legal” drugs.
Perhaps the scariest part is that many of those using these drugs are our very own children. What does it say when dangerous drugs are becoming an increasingly acceptable way to move forward on the path to success?
Tapping gives us a reliable, simple, and free way to address whatever anxieties, doubts, and daily distractions may be getting in the way of what we’ve set out to do. And with so many youngsters growing up with mobile devices, we’re going where they are with The Tapping Solution App.
It’s worth it to give it a try, not just to shake a steady diet of study drugs, but also to cope with whatever pressures and stresses you’re facing. By learning how to tap, you can achieve everything you’ve set out to accomplish, and in the process, help us move toward a healthier country. Let’s leave the medication for those who truly need it!
How to Tap to Focus Better…
OK, so are you ready to do some Tapping? Before we start, take a deep breath in… and then out. I always find that starting with a deep breath helps to get my energy flowing and opens up my mind to better find what to tap on.
Calibration: On a scale of 0-10, how much do you feel that you are struggling to focus right now (0 being not at all, and 10 being you’re really struggling to focus)
We’ll start off with a very general round of tapping, and then get into more specfics. (If you don’t know how to do the actual tapping, click here to learn how to tap)
ROUND ONE – General Tapping
Starting on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I can’t focus, I accept myself anyway”
Again on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I just can’t seem to focus, I accept myself anyway”
One last time on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I really want to focus, but I just can’t seem to, I accept myself anyway”
Now we’ll go through all the points:
Eyebrow Point: “I can’t focus”
Side of the Eye: “I just can’t seem to focus”
Under the Eye: “I really want to focus”
Under the Nose: “But I just can’t seem to focus”
Chin Point: “I’m struggling to focus”
Collarbone Point: “I need to get things done”
Under the Arm: “I need to focus, but I just can’t seem to focus”
Top of the Head: “I can’t focus, but I accept myself anyway”
And now take a deep breath again.
Go ahead and calibrate again. On a scale of 0-10, how much do you feel that you are struggling to focus right now? Don’t worry if it’s close to the same, as we’re just getting started.
That was just a general round. Let’s get to tapping on some more specifics for you.
ROUND TWO – What are you distracted by?
When you think about focusing, what do you think might be getting in your way?
Is there something else in your life that is running in your mind that is taking away your focus? Are you worried about your finances? Or struggling with a relationship? Has something happened today that you’re upset about? Has anything happened recently that has changed your stress level, either up or down?
Fill in this sentence: I’m struggling to focus because in the back of my mind, I’m distracted by _____________.
OK, let’s do some tapping…
Starting on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I’m struggling to focus because I’m distracted by _______________, I accept myself anyway.” (If you can’t think of anything just say “…because I’m distracted by something, and I can’t figure out what it is…”
Again on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I just can’t seem to focus because in the back of my mind I’m thinking about ______________, I accept myself anyway”
One last time on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I really want to focus, but I just can’t seem to because I’m distracted by __________________, I accept myself anyway”
Now we’ll go through all the points:
Eyebrow Point: “I’m distracted by _______________”
Side of the Eye: “I just can’t seem to focus”
Under the Eye: “I really want to focus”
Under the Nose: “But I just can’t seem to focus because I’m distracted by ________________”
Chin Point: “I’m struggling to focus”
Collarbone Point: “I need to get things done”
Under the Arm: “I need to focus, but I just can’t seem to focus because I’m distracted by _________________”
Top of the Head: “Even though I can’t focus because I’m distracted by ___________________, I accept myself anyway”
Back to the Eyebrow Point: “I’m struggling to focus because I’m distracted by ________________.
Side of the Eye: “What if I let this distraction go?”
Under the Eye: “What if I allowed this distraction to go away for a little while, so I can focus?”
Under the Nose: “What if I allowed myself to focus for a little while?”
Chin Point: “I’m struggling to focus because I’m distracted by _____________, but I accept myself anyway”
Collarbone Point: “I’m really distracted by _____________ in the back of my mind, but I don’t have to be”
Under the Arm: “I can allow the noise of the distraction to quiet down for a little while, and allow myself to focus”
Top of the Head: “I can allow the distraction to quiet down for a little while, and allow myself to focus”
Go ahead and calibrate again. On a scale of 0-10, how much do you feel that you are struggling to focus right now?
Now at this point, depending on what has come up for you, you have the choice to continue tapping on the distraction that has come up, or you can move on. If things came up as you were tapping, I suggest continuing tapping on that to resolve it, if it’s something you can address.
If you have something big that has come up that needs a lot of attention, and you’re at the office with other people around you, it may not be the best time. That’s when it’s best to tap to allow the distraction to quiet down for now, to allow you to focus. If you have the time and space to tap on what has come up, then feel free to do that.
ROUND THREE – What if I can’t focus and complete the tasks? And what if I do?
Very often the stress of having to get certain things done prevents us from focusing. When we’re too tied to a certain outcome or result, it can inhibit our ability to focus and achieve what we want to get done.
So let’s ask ourselves some important questions: If I’m not able to focus and get this done, what will happen? How will I feel? Am I concerned about what somebody will think of me if I don’t get this done? If so, who is that and what am I worried they think or say about me? How will I feel towards myself? What emotions come up when you think about not being able to focus and not accomplishing what you need to get done?
So fill in the blank with what you think might happen: “If I’m not able to focus and get this done, ____________________”
And then let’s think about the flip side. If you are able to focus and get the task done that you’re wanting to focus on, what will happen? Is there any downside to completing the task? What is the upside to completing it? How will you feel about yourself? Is there anybody that will be happy that you were able to focus and is there anybody that will be upset?
So fill in the blank with what you think might happen if you do get it done: “If I am able to focus and get this done, _____________________”
OK, let’s get to some tapping… 🙂 I asked a number of questions above that can bring up things to tap on. Find what is best for you to tap on. If you’re most concerned about what somebody will think of you, tap on that. Stressed about getting things done? Tap on that. Listen to your body when you answer the above questions and tap on the issue that is strongest for you.
For the purposes of this tapping, I’m going to focus on general stress and anxiety about focusing and getting the task or tasks done.
Starting on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I feel stressed and anxious about focusing and getting this done, I accept myself anyway” (feel free to replace with any other emotions that have come up for you)
Again on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I just can’t seem to focus, and I’m stressed and anxious about getting this done, I accept myself anyway”
One last time on the Karate Chop Point: “Even though I really want to focus, but I just can’t seem to because I’m stressed and feel anxious about getting this done, I accept myself anyway”
Now we’ll go through all the points:
Eyebrow Point: “I’m really stressed about getting this done”
Side of the Eye: “I’m worried about not getting this done in time”
Under the Eye: “I’m stressed about there being so much to do”
Under the Nose: “What if I don’t get this done?”
Chin Point: “I have to get this done”
Collarbone Point: “But I’m just so stressed about getting this done”
Under the Arm: “I feel so stressed about getting a lot of things done!”
Top of the Head: “Even though I’m stressed about getting this done, I accept myself anyway”
Back to the Eyebrow Point: “Maybe I can take it one step at a time”
Side of the Eye: “What if I let some of this stress go?”
Under the Eye: “What if I allowed this stress to go away for a little while, so I can focus?”
Under the Nose: “What would happen if I actually was able to focus and get this done?”
Chin Point: “Even if I’m not able to focus and get this done, I accept myself anyway”
Collarbone Point: “What if I just did my best and allowed the stress and anxiety to go away?”
Under the Arm: “I can allow the stress and anxiety to quiet down for a little while, and allow myself to focus”
Top of the Head: “I can allow the stress to release from my body, and allow myself to focus”
Go ahead and calibrate again. On a scale of 0-10, how much do you feel that you are struggling to focus right now?
Those were just three quick rounds to get you going. Continue tapping as you feel the need for things that came up for you.
And remember, you don’t need “study drugs” or anything else to help you focus. All you need when your struggling to focus is take a few minutes to find what’s blocking you and tap to let it go. 🙂
Until next time…
Keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner
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