Hi sorry to chime on... But now I am also in that state of high strss (goodbye wired and tired..hello adreneline).
I have downloaded at least a half dozen mediation apps on my phone and have been trying to do them every night but they don't work for me for this reason..
When you are in a state of acute stress or anxiety, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. Most guided mediations tell you to take long slow inhales (ok) and long slow exhales. This is where the problem starts for me..my body starts to sense lack of oxygen (b/c it wants to rapid breathe). This sets off more panic b/c it feels like I am soffocating and so i am gasping for air in the next two breathes. They also tell you to relax (relax your jaw, relax your arms). Again hard to do when you are in fight or flight and your whole body is a stress ball unwilling or unable to relax.
Any suggestions? You mentioned EFT. Aren't there devices that help with that. I think someone on this board used with great success.