Why Your Stress Bucket Is Full, and How EFT Tapping Helps HSPs and ADHDers cope better
~ 5–6 min read | Struggling to cope, snapping at everyone, or shutting down? Learn how the stress bucket model explains emotional overwhelm for HSPs and ADHDers, and how EFT helps.
Short on time? Here’s what you’ll find:
Why your stress bucket fills faster in summer (especially if you’re sensitive or neurodivergent)
What the stress bucket model actually is and how it works
Real-life summer examples that overflow your bucket faster
How EFT tapping releases the pressure your body is holding
An Emotional Alchemy ritual with flower essences, journaling, and tapping to release the pressure
Why highly sensitive and neurodivergent people get overwhelmed more quickly
If you’re a Highly Sensitive Person or live with ADHD, your nervous system picks up more than most. You feel the energy in the room. You can’t ignore the background noise. Your brain is juggling tabs even when you’re trying to rest.
All of it adds drops into your stress bucket. And because your system processes more, your bucket fills faster.
It’s not a flaw, it’s your wiring. It means you need ways to empty the bucket regularly. If you don’t, it spills over.
Signs your stress bucket is overflowing
You might notice:
• Snapping at people you care about
• Crying over something small
• Feeling stuck on simple decisions
• Forgetting things you normally wouldn’t
• Pushing through until you crash
• Feeling like you just “can’t do it today”
• Sleepless nights when your brain won’t switch off
• Getting irrationally upset by things like insect bites or loud neighbours
This isn’t you being dramatic. This is your body saying, “I’m full.”
Why mindset work alone isn’t enough
Affirmations and journaling are helpful. But they won’t shift your stress hormones on their own. When your system is overloaded, what you need isn’t a pep talk. It’s a physiological reset.
That’s where tapping comes in. It works directly with your nervous system, not just your thoughts.
What freedom looks like with EFT tapping
This is where everything changes.
Tapping creates the space you’ve been craving. Not just emotionally, but physically.
You wake up and feel calm, not behind.
You stop second-guessing every decision.
You go through your day without bracing.
That’s emotional freedom. That’s what’s possible!
How EFT tapping calms your body and why that matters
This isn’t just about feeling good. EFT has real, measurable effects on your system.
• Cortisol drops by up to 43% (your main stress hormone)
• Heart rate and blood pressure lower naturally
• Immune response improves significantly
What this means for you
Less cortisol means a calmer mind and clearer thinking
Lower heart rate and blood pressure means your body isn’t stuck in fight or flight
Stronger immunity means more resilience and fewer sick days
You can handle loud birthday parties, busy supermarkets, or wasps at the picnic without your whole system tipping over
You can get through a day without snapping over something small or needing a lie down by 3pm
You can sleep better, think straighter, and actually enjoy the summer, even if things still feel full
These aren’t just nice side effects. They’re essential for sensitive, neurodivergent people trying to function in a demanding world.
It’s why EFT helps you truly reset, not just manage stress.
See the research via Dr Peta Stapleton →
Emotional Alchemy Ritual
Step 1 - Choose a Flower Essence
• Take Elm if you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate
• Take Impatiens if you’re feeling snappy, rushed, or irritable
Step 2 - Journal on this
• What’s filled your bucket this week?
• What would it feel like to have just a little more space?
Step 3 - Tapping Sequence
Following my KARAT framework to find the gold beneath all this stress
K – Know what’s going on
Say it how it is. No need to dress it up.
“I feel ___ when ___.”
“I feel ___ about ___.”
Example: “I feel overwhelmed when I’m juggling work and the kids are whining and the bins need taking out.”
A – Accept that it’s here
Tap the side of your hand 3 times while saying:
“Even though I feel like this, I’m not going to pretend it’s fine. This is where I’m at, and that’s okay.”
R – Release some of the pressure
Go through each tapping point and fill in the blank with what’s real for you.
• Top of Head: I feel ____
• Eyebrow: This has been a lot
• Side of Eye: My bucket is full
• Under Eye: I’ve been holding too much
• Under Nose: It’s okay to let some of it go
• Chin: I can release the pressure
• Collarbone: I don’t have to hold it all together
• Under Arm: I’m letting some of this out now
A – Adopt something that helps
Keep tapping and say what would actually help, no toxic positivity.
• Top of Head: I can deal with one thing at a time
• Eyebrow: I can let this be enough
• Side of Eye: I can give myself five minutes
• Under Eye: I don’t have to fix everything today
• Under Nose: I can show up how I am
• Chin: I can move slower
• Collarbone: I’ve got choices
• Under Arm: I’ve got a bit more space now
T – Transform how you get through the day
Take a breath.
Say what’s shifted, even slightly.
“I feel ____ instead of ____.”
“Now ____ feels a bit lighter.”
No magic wand. Just less in the bucket.
Want help emptying yours?
If your nervous system feels full and frazzled, book a free Seeds of Possibility Call with me.
We’ll chat about what’s been filling your bucket and what might help you release it.
No pressure. Just space to breathe and explore what’s possible.