How Can EFT Help During Perimenopause?

Perimenopause can be a time of significant change, and for many women, it brings challenges they weren't quite expecting.

Perhaps you've started feeling more anxious than usual, even about things that never used to bother you. Maybe you're finding yourself becoming overwhelmed more easily, feeling irritable with the people you love, or struggling with your confidence.

Or perhaps there's simply a feeling that you're not quite yourself anymore.

If any of this sounds familiar, you're certainly not alone.

While we often hear about the physical symptoms of perimenopause, such as hot flushes, night sweats and disrupted sleep, the emotional impact can be just as significant.

And sometimes, it's these emotional changes that feel the hardest to navigate.

The good news is that there are ways to support your emotional wellbeing during this stage of life. One approach you may not have come across before is EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), also known as tapping.

Why can perimenopause feel so emotionally challenging?

Perimenopause is the transitional stage leading up to menopause, during which hormone levels fluctuate and eventually decline.

These hormonal changes can affect much more than our menstrual cycles. For some women, they can influence mood, emotional wellbeing, sleep and how we respond to everyday stresses. You may experience anxiety, mood swings, irritability, tearfulness, brain fog or a loss of confidence.

Physical symptoms can add another layer of difficulty. When you're dealing with disrupted sleep, fatigue or uncomfortable symptoms alongside everything else life brings, it's understandable that everyday situations might begin to feel more overwhelming.

And, of course, all of this is happening alongside everyday life.

For many women, their 40s and 50s are already busy years, often involving careers, family responsibilities, changing relationships, ageing parents and the demands of looking after everyone else.

When we're juggling so much, it can be difficult to find the time and space to look after ourselves.

It's perhaps no wonder that some women reach a point where they feel exhausted, overwhelmed or disconnected from the person they used to be.

But you don't have to simply push through these challenges or navigate them on your own.

What is EFT (tapping)?

EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques and is often referred to simply as tapping.

It's a gentle mind-body technique that combines elements of psychological approaches with tapping on specific acupressure points, mainly on the face and upper body.

During EFT, we bring our attention to a particular feeling, thought, memory or challenge while gently tapping on these points.

Rather than trying to avoid difficult emotions or push them away, EFT invites us to gently turn towards what we're experiencing with curiosity and compassion.

Many people find tapping calming and grounding, and it offers a way to pause, acknowledge difficult feelings and explore what might be happening beneath them.

One of the things I particularly love about EFT is that, once you've learnt the basics, it's something you can also use yourself in everyday life, helping you approach difficult moments with more awareness and self-compassion.

How might EFT support you during perimenopause?

EFT may offer emotional support in several areas that can become particularly challenging during this stage of life.

1. Anxiety and feeling overwhelmed

Perhaps you've noticed yourself worrying more than you used to, feeling on edge or finding everyday situations harder to manage.

Sometimes there may be an obvious reason for your anxiety. At other times, it can seem to appear out of nowhere.

EFT gives us an opportunity to slow down, acknowledge what we're feeling and explore the thoughts and emotions contributing to our distress.

As we do this, we can begin to develop a sense of calm and feel better equipped to navigate difficult situations.

2. Irritability and emotional ups and downs

Do you ever find yourself reacting more strongly than you intended, perhaps becoming frustrated or tearful over something that wouldn't usually bother you?

These experiences can be unsettling, particularly if they leave you feeling guilty or disappointed in yourself afterwards. They can also affect our relationships with partners, children, friends or colleagues.

EFT offers a gentle way to explore these feelings without judgement.

Rather than criticising ourselves for how we're responding, we can begin to approach our emotions with more understanding and compassion.

Over time, this can help us become more aware of our emotional responses, giving us the opportunity to respond differently and approach difficult moments with greater patience and compassion.

3. Confidence and self-esteem

Perimenopause can sometimes coincide with changes in how we see ourselves.

Perhaps you're questioning your abilities, doubting decisions or feeling less confident than you once did.

For some women, this stage of life also brings deeper questions about identity, purpose and what they want from the years ahead.

EFT can provide a space to explore the thoughts, beliefs and experiences that may be contributing to these feelings.

It can also be an opportunity to develop a kinder, more supportive relationship with yourself.

As we begin to understand ourselves more deeply, we can reconnect with our strengths, develop greater trust in ourselves and move forward with renewed confidence in who we are and what the years ahead may bring.

4. The emotional impact of physical symptoms

Physical symptoms such as disrupted sleep, hot flushes and fatigue can understandably affect how we feel emotionally, sometimes creating a difficult cycle in which physical discomfort and emotional stress feed into one another.

For example, perhaps you've been experiencing hot flushes and have started worrying about having one during an important meeting. Or maybe disrupted sleep is leaving you feeling exhausted, anxious about the night ahead or wondering how you'll cope with another busy day.

EFT offers a gentle way to explore the emotions surrounding these experiences, whether that's worry, frustration, embarrassment or feeling overwhelmed. As a mind-body approach, tapping may also help you experience a greater sense of calm, both emotionally and physically.

By acknowledging these feelings and exploring the thoughts and fears that may lie beneath them, we can begin to change how we relate to these experiences, developing understanding, acceptance and self-compassion.

5. A different way to experience perimenopause

Perimenopause isn't just about hormonal changes. For many women, it can also be a time of reflection, bringing up questions about ageing, identity and what we want from the next stage of our lives.

In a society that often places so much value on youth, it's easy to absorb negative messages about getting older without even realising it. Perhaps you've found yourself thinking, "My best years are behind me" or "I don't recognise myself anymore."

But what if we could begin to look at this stage of life a little differently?

EFT offers a gentle way to explore the beliefs, fears and expectations we may be holding onto, helping us become more aware of old patterns of thinking and open ourselves up to new perspectives.

This isn't about ignoring the challenges or forcing ourselves to think positively. It's about approaching ourselves with curiosity, understanding and compassion.

Perhaps this stage of life could also be an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, rediscover what matters to us and begin to recognise new possibilities.

Rather than simply trying to get through perimenopause, perhaps we can begin to explore how we want to experience this next chapter of our lives.

What does the research say about EFT?

Although EFT may be unfamiliar to you, there is a growing body of research exploring its potential benefits for emotional wellbeing.

Studies have reported promising findings in areas such as anxiety and stress, and researchers have also begun exploring EFT specifically in relation to menopause. Research into EFT continues to develop.

If you're interested in learning more, you can explore the wider body of research through the EFT International research database.

What happens during an EFT session?

If you've never tried EFT before, you might be wondering what a session actually involves.

When we work together, we begin by talking about what's been happening for you and what you'd like support with.

I'll then guide you through the tapping process, helping you gently explore the emotions, thoughts or experiences that feel most relevant.

Sessions are collaborative and tailored to you. We work at a pace that feels comfortable, and you're always in control of what you choose to share.

My aim is to create a warm, compassionate and supportive space where you feel heard, understood and able to explore whatever is coming up for you.

I'll also share practical tools that you can take away and use in your everyday life.

Curious to try EFT yourself?

I'm Natalie, an Accredited and Certified EFT Practitioner with a degree in Psychology. I specialise in supporting women through the emotional challenges of perimenopause.

I offer individual EFT sessions online via Zoom, providing a warm, compassionate space where we can explore what's happening for you.

If you'd like to find out more about EFT or have any questions, you're very welcome to book a free 15-minute introductory call.

We can have a chat about what you're experiencing, answer any questions you might have and see whether working together feels like the right approach for you.

You can find out more at www.nataliemobbs.com.