(PRWEB) May 30, 2006 -- The British public say they are more afraid of public speaking than they are of snakes or spiders. Most live normal lives despite their stage fright, but an estimated 11 million suffer from social anxiety disorder, a severe fear of meeting strangers, becoming the center or focus of attention, or performing for a group. Also known as social phobia, social anxiety is the third most common psychiatric disorder in the UK after depression and alcohol dependence. Psychiatric drugs that treat the condition are being tested in clinical trials.

But the best treatment for social anxiety, according to a growing number of psychologists and health care professionals, may be a drug-free procedure called EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques). Its premise is that fears, phobias, and the physical symptoms they generate are caused by disruptions along the body’s energy meridians. These are the same energy paths mapped thousands of years ago by Chinese acupuncturists. Stimulating key acupuncture points by tapping on them with the fingertips restores the energy flow and alleviates symptoms of fear.

This simple procedure has been found clinically successful for all forms of anxiety in over 10 years of clinical trials.

Psychiatrist Curtis Steele, calls EFT Tapping the single most effective technique he has used in 45 years of practice. “I’ve had considerable success using EFT Tapping in the treatment of social anxiety, fears, panic attacks, and many other disorders,” he says.

The physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder include rapid heartbeat, sweating, tremors, nausea, diarrhoea, muscle tension, muscle cramps, blushing, confusion, and dizziness. These symptoms stem from an excessive fear of scrutiny by others or a persistent fear of embarrassment and humiliation when speaking to strangers. The symptoms also occur when meeting new people, when using a public restroom, or when participating in any performance, sales event, or board room presentation. According to the American Psychiatric Association, social anxiety can lead to panic disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression.

Severe social anxiety can cause chronic unemployment, dropping out of school, drug or alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts, and other devastating results.

The problem often begins in childhood, becomes intense during high school, and lasts a lifetime. More common in women than men, social anxiety appears to run in families. It affects one out of four people in the UK.

EFT performance coach David Childerley, works with leading recruitment companies to help staff overcome fears, reports that in training workshops, it’s not uncommon for someone who was paralysed with stage fright to use the EFT tapping process while focusing on that fear. While doing so, they suddenly relax and begin speaking or singing while thoroughly enjoying the experience. EFT Tapping is also offered by David as a first-aid treatment for people having an emotional melt-down just before making a presentation or cold calling new prospects.

It usually takes just a few minutes to learn EFT, and the results are often instantaneous and permanent. Once the underlying cause of fear and panic disappears, it doesn’t usually come back

That’s good new for those who are too terrified to think about things like auditions, job interviews, speeches, marriage proposals, or even a trip to the supermarket. Overcoming shyness, bullying, stage fright, and other fears with EFT’s combination of tapping and mental imagery is welcome news to the corporate presenter.