If you’ve ever found yourself caught in a swirl of looping thoughts - the kind that circle back again and again no matter how many times you tell yourself “just stop thinking about it” - you are not alone.
And you’re not doing anything wrong.
Overthinking is often a sign that your system is doing exactly what it was designed to do: stay alert, stay prepared, and stay on guard. It’s just working a little too hard.
What many of us were never taught is this:
Your mind can’t settle until your body feels safe first.
Not the other way around.
And this is where gentle, body-based techniques - including tapping (Progressive EFT), breathwork, and subtle movement - can make all the difference.
Why Your Thoughts Keep Looping (It’s Not What You Think)
When uncertainty rises, the nervous system instantly begins scanning for danger.
Your heart might quicken.
Your chest might tighten.
Your breath may shorten without you noticing.
From your system’s point of view, looping thoughts are simply an attempt to solve the unsolvable - a way of trying to get you back to safety.
But here’s the reassuring part:
Your mind isn’t the one deciding whether you’re safe.
Your body is.
The limbic system - the part of the brain responsible for threat detection - doesn’t speak the language of logic. It speaks the language of sensation. Tight shoulders, clenched jaws, shallow breaths… these are the cues it listens to.
Which is why you can tell yourself a thousand times, “There’s nothing to worry about,” and still feel unsettled.
The mind follows the body, not the other way around.
How Body-Based Techniques Shift Your System Out of Threat Mode
When you bring calming sensations into the body, something remarkable happens… Your limbic system hears the message:
“I’m safe enough now. I can let go.”
This is why techniques like:
gentle tapping on meridian points
bringing awareness to the breath
softening the jaw
releasing the shoulders
placing a hand on the chest
slow, rhythmic movements
…can quieten anxiety faster than thinking your way out of it ever could.
These practices speak directly to the part of the nervous system that decides whether to stay on high alert or return to ease.
And once the body softens, the mind finally begins to follow.
Why Progressive EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Works So Well
In a full session inside The Shetland Resolve Calm Collective, I guide you through Progressive EFT - a gentle tapping sequence that pairs physical touch with honest acknowledgement of how you feel.
This combination helps the nervous system recognise:
“Ah… I’m being heard.”
“This is safe enough to relax.”
“I don’t need to hold so tightly anymore.”
It’s like offering your whole system a steady hand and a deep exhale.
And for many people, tapping becomes a reliable anchor - especially when thoughts feel loud, repetitive, or overwhelming.
A Tiny EFT Practice You Can Try Right Now
If looping thoughts are spinning today, try this small moment of connection:
Lightly tap the pad of your thumb onto the side of each fingertip on the same hand.
Notice your breath without trying to control it.
Let your shoulders soften, even just a little.
Whisper internally:
“My body can soften. My thoughts can follow.”
Even this tiny shift begins the process of signalling safety.
Want to Explore the Full Guided Practice?
Inside The Shetland Resolve Calm Collective, you’ll find the complete session this blog was drawn from - including:
🌿 A full Progressive EFT tapping sequence
🌿 A guided round for calming looping thoughts
🌿 A round to help anchor calm in uncertain times
🌿 Access to Diane’s entire library of paid relaxation audios
🌿 New resources added every month
All for £35/month (no contracts, cancel anytime)
If you felt a spark of calm reading this, imagine what a full guided session could bring.
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