Emotional Freedom Technique

 Practice Emotional Freedom Technique

(EFT Tapping)

Let's practice the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping). This potent, transformative mind/body healing technique alleviates physical and emotional pain and discomfort. If our bodies fall out of sync physically, mentally, or emotionally, we can trigger multiple health conditions and illnesses. EFT can restore the body's energy balance, enabling you to regain your mental well-being.

EFT Tapping, a mind-body therapy, is gaining attention for its potential in reducing stress, quelling cravings, improving performance, and alleviating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its promising history, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, uses EFT Tapping. The technique eliminates negative emotions by tapping on acupressure points and employing positive affirmations.

What is EFT Tapping?

Commonly referred to as 'tapping' or 'psychological acupressure,' the alternative treatment targets physical discomfort and emotional stress. The proponents of the technique believe that tapping specific parts of the body can balance your energy system, relieve pain, and effectively combat negative emotions.

History of EFT Tapping

Acupoints treatment has been around for thousands of years, with acupuncture being the most famous method. Meanwhile, EFT Tapping, which substitutes needles with fingertip tapping on acupoints, emerged in its current form in the 1990s. Engineer Gary Craig developed EFT Tapping, drawing from clinical psychologist Roger Callahan's work. Nowadays, practitioners apply EFT Tapping to handle everyday stress and anxiety, enhance performance, and curb food cravings. Licensed therapists also use this technique to address PTSD, trauma, phobias, and other mental health issues.

How EFT Tapping Works in the Body

EFT Tapping borrows the concept of meridians from acupuncture. Meridians are pathways through which life-force energy, or "chi," flows in the body. The disruption of this energy flow could lead to disease. Stimulating acupoints is believed to enhance energy flow and promote overall health.

Unleashing the Power of Acupoints

Meridian points, rooted in Chinese medicine, are considered pathways for energy flow in the body. This energy flow helps maintain balance and health. Imbalances in the energy flow can cause diseases or illnesses. EFT Tapping, unlike acupuncture, uses fingertip pressure on acupoints instead of needles. Advocates believe that tapping accesses your body's energy and sends signals to the brain area that modulates stress. They argue that stimulating meridian points reduces stress and negative emotions associated with a specific issue, ultimately restoring disrupted energy.

Restoration of Energy Balance in the Body

Recent research indicates that stimulation of the acupoints prompts the production of specific brain chemicals. These include endogenous opioids that provide pain relief, and serotonin, which plays a role in regulating sleep, mood, and memory. Another is gamma-aminobutyric acid, which calms the body. Essentially, tapping these points dispatches comforting signals to the brain. This helps to ease the stress associated with traumatic memories or negative emotions.

EFT Tapping mirrors acupuncture, as it also concentrates on the body's meridian points, or 'energy hot spots.' The process's primary objective is to restore balance within the body's energy system. This balance is considered a crucial strategy for alleviating symptoms sparked by negative emotions or experiences.

Benefits and Impacts on Mental Health

The methodology contends that any disruption within the energy system can trigger all kinds of pain and negative feelings. EFT Tapping has seen widespread use in treating individuals wrestling with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The technique has proven extremely effective for treating PTSD among war veterans and military personnel. The significant reduction in their psychological stress levels and the substantial improvement in their PTSD criteria make it a promising treatment. The technique also reports successful outcomes from patients with anxiety who opted for EFT tapping as an alternate form of treatment.

Furthermore, research has found EFT effective in enhancing self-esteem in nurses, relieving stress, improving health outcomes, and reducing anxiety scores significantly.

EFT Tapping Points and Process

Typically, the EFT Tapping process incorporates nine acupoints located on the face, hands, and body. The process necessitates mental focus. This starts with identifying a negative emotion or situation and formulating a statement that acknowledges and neutralizes it. This blend of tapping and mental concentration contributes to calming the brain and body, thereby facilitating the acceptance of positive affirmations.

When leveraging EFT Tapping to address PTSD, clinical sessions assist the brain in developing neutral responses to stressful memories over time. Consequently, patients can recall traumatic memories without an emotional response or experience a significantly less intense emotional reaction.

EFT Tapping in 5 Steps

Step 1:

Identify the issue. Recognizing the problem you are confronting is the prime necessity of this technique. The issue identified will serve as the focal point during the tapping process. Focusing on one problem at a time strengthens the effectiveness of this procedure.

Step 2:

Test intensity. Establish a benchmark for the severity of the issue. Use a scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 10 signifies the worst case. This measurement will gauge the emotional or physical discomfort caused by the concern. The benchmark also serves as a tracking point for your progress after completing the EFT sequence.

Step 3:

The setup. Articulate a phrase that directly addresses the issue and acknowledges the problem. The phrase should also attest that you accept yourself regardless of the ongoing issue. Customize the setup phrase to suit the specific issue. However, make sure the phrase targets your feelings rather than the feelings of others.

Step 4:

EFT Tapping Sequence. Start the tapping sequence by tapping the side of your hand point, while repeating your setup phrase three times. Then, tap successively down your body seven times on the determined points. Repeat this whole sequence two or three times.

Step 5:

Test the final Intensity. Upon completing the sequence, reevaluate the status of the issue using the established scale from 0 to 10. If the desired score of 0 is not reached, repeat the setup and tapping sequence until it is achieved.

Conditions Where EFT Finds Application:

1. Addictions

2. Anger Issues

3. Allergy Relief

4. Abuse

5. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD - ADHD)

6. Claustrophobia

7. Depression

8. Fears and Phobias

9. Food Cravings

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

11. Pain Relief

12. Stress

13. Trauma

14. Self-Esteem Issues

15. Weight Loss

By employing the Emotional Freedom Technique, you can liberate yourself from negative emotions and beliefs. This approach may dramatically improve your life and potentially add quality years to your existence.

While there are abundant success stories accentuating the potential of EFT tapping, there is still ongoing research into its effectiveness for other disorders and diseases. Therefore, it's vital to consider traditional treatment options alongside EFT. If you decide to explore this alternative therapy, it is advisable to consult with your doctor first to avoid potential injury or exacerbation of symptoms.

The Bottom Line

EFT Tapping presents an innovative method of addressing emotional and mental health concerns. Although research is still ongoing, the technique has proven beneficial for various conditions, particularly anxiety, depression, phobias, and PTSD. As with any alternate therapy, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before starting EFT Tapping, especially when handling serious mental health issues.

1. EFT Tapping
2. What Is EFT Tapping
3. Free Tapping Manual