Do This to Cut Cortisol by 43%, Relieve PTSD, & Rewire Your Nervous System - With Jessica Ortner

In this transformative episode of The Model Health Show, host Shawn Stevenson welcomes Jessica Ortner, New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of The Tapping Solution, to explore Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping as a powerful, science-backed method to reduce cortisol by 43%, alleviate PTSD symptoms, and rewire the nervous system. Ortner shares her personal journey with anxiety and how tapping became a life-changing tool, supported by over 300 peer-reviewed studies, including a landmark replication study showing a 43% cortisol reduction—more than double the effect of psychoeducation. A groundbreaking study on veterans found 90% remission from PTSD after 30 sessions of tapping, with long-term results still holding at 80%. The episode dives into the neuroscience behind tapping: how stimulating acupressure points sends calming signals to the brain’s alarm center, interrupting stress loops and enabling memory reconsolidation. Ortner explains how tapping works as a 'reset' for the body’s electrical system, helping people break free from trauma, chronic stress, and physical pain—even improving gene expression related to inflammation and immunity. She emphasizes that tapping is accessible, free, and can be done anywhere, making it a vital 'emergency tool' for mental and physical health. The conversation culminates in a live demonstration of the tapping process, guiding listeners through a two-round session to experience immediate relief. The episode underscores a paradigm shift: our nervous system is not broken—it’s trying to protect us. The real breakthrough comes when we stop fighting our patterns and instead communicate safety to our body. Ortner’s new book, *Rewired*, offers a roadmap to identify and transform subconscious patterns, from procrastination to self-criticism, with stories and practical tools. Listeners are encouraged to try tapping not just for crises, but as a daily practice to build resilience. The episode closes with a powerful call to action: share this life-changing technique with others, especially those in high-stress professions like first responders. With episode 1000 of The Model Health Show approaching, the message is clear—this is not just a tool for survival, but for thriving.