Feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety? Are limiting beliefs and past trauma preventing you from fully living your life?
You're not alone.
We all carry emotional baggage, and it often feels like a heavy weight on our shoulders, clouding our experiences and making it hard to enjoy the present moment.
But what if a simple, self-help technique could offer relief?
Enter the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), commonly referred to as Tapping. This gentle yet powerful approach to emotional well-being has the potential to transform your life.
In this blog post, we'll explore what EFT is, how it works, its uses, as well as some expected outcomes. Prepare to gain a clear understanding of EFT tapping therapy and uncover if it could be the missing piece in your emotional wellness journey.
Ready?
Let's dive in!
Table of Contents:
Introduction
In today's fast-paced world, stress, anxiety, and trauma are increasingly prevalent, affecting millions of people globally.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five Australians are living with a mental health condition, and the numbers are rising.
With mental health challenges becoming more common, the search for effective, accessible tools to manage emotional well-being is more critical than ever.
Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT), also known as EFT tapping or EFT therapy, offers a unique blend of acupressure and cognitive reframing that could be the answer many are looking for.
EFT involves tapping on specific points on the body while focusing on a negative emotion or memory. This process is designed to activate the body’s natural healing system and release emotional blockages, much like releasing a pressure valve.
By understanding and utilising EFT, individuals can experience significant improvements in their emotional and physical well-being.
Let's now take a closer look at exactly what EFT is.
What is EFT?
EFT could best be described as a form of psychological acupressure developed in the 1990s by Gary Craig.
It draws from various disciplines, including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and energy psychology.
The core idea behind EFT is that negative emotions are linked to disruptions in the body's energy system.
It's suggested that by tapping on specific meridian points while addressing these negative emotions you can restore balance and alleviate distress.
The technique involves a combination of gentle tapping on acupressure points and vocalising affirmations. This dual approach aims to clear emotional blockages from the body's energy system, enabling individuals to process and release difficult emotions.
EFT is easy to learn, can be practised anywhere, and requires no special equipment, making it an accessible self-help tool.
How Does EFT Work?
While the exact mechanisms of EFT are still under investigation, several theories propose how it might work:
Stimulation of the amygdala: The amygdala, responsible for emotional processing, plays a key role in the body's stress response. By tapping on specific points while focusing on negative emotions, EFT may help regulate this response.
Reduction of cortisol levels: Studies suggest that EFT can help lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, thereby reducing overall stress and anxiety.
Disruption of emotional triggers: Tapping may disrupt the brain's pattern of responding to emotional triggers, creating new neural pathways that promote calm and clarity.
Reduction in emotional intensity: As a result of these new neural pathways, individuals can experience a significant reduction in the intensity of their emotional responses.
It's important to be aware that most individuals will experience some form of visceral reaction in response to releasing their trapped emotions.
This can include crying, emotional overwhelm, or experiencing tingling sensations and the feeling of energy moving through their body.
These reactions are all a normal part of the process and signify that healing is occurring, with most people quickly returning to a state of calm - and even joy - once they have allowed the trapped emotion to be fully released from their body.
What Are The EFT Tapping Points?
EFT tapping involves a sequence of tapping on specific points on the body. These points correspond to meridians used in traditional acupuncture and acupressure.
The main EFT tapping points include:
Karate Chop Point: Located on the side of the hand, this point is tapped while setting up the session with a specific statement.
Eyebrow Point: Beginning of the eyebrow, above the nose.
Side of the Eye: On the bone alongside the eye.
Under the Eye: On the bone under the eye.
Under the Nose: Between the nose and upper lip.
Chin Point: Midway between the bottom of the lower lip and the chin.
Collarbone Point: Just below the collarbone.
Under the Arm: About four inches below the armpit (approximately on the bra line)
Top of the Head: Directly on the top of the head.
While there are other meridian points on the body you can tap, these 9 EFT tapping points are sufficient to achieve the emotional release desired.
When Should You Do EFT?
EFT tapping can be done at any time, but it is especially beneficial during moments of emotional distress.
Common scenarios include:
During Stressful Situations: When you feel overwhelmed by stress at work or in your personal life.
When Experiencing Anxiety: To calm your nervous system and manage racing thoughts.
After a Traumatic Event: To process and reduce the emotional impact of trauma.
Before Challenging Tasks: To reduce anxiety before high-challenge tasks such as public speaking, exams, or other stress-inducing activities.
By using EFT as a quick intervention during stressful times, you can help restore a sense of calm, and enhance your emotional resilience and overall well-being.
EFT and Trauma
Trauma, and in particular PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), leaves deep emotional scars that can significantly impact your life. And while other forms of therapy can help in alleviating symptoms, they not only tend to have limited success, but they can also end up re-traumatising the individual.
Research has shown, however, that EFT can effectively reduce symptoms of PTSD in individuals and improve their quality of life.
For instance, a study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that veterans who received EFT treatment experienced significant reductions in PTSD symptoms compared to those who did not receive EFT.
A separate study published in the Journal for Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that EFT treatment led to an increase in happiness and a decrease in anxiety, depression, and PTSD among patients.
EFT works to reduce the effects of trauma by desensitising traumatic memories and reducing their emotional intensity, allowing individuals to release associated negative emotions and begin the healing process.
By regularly practising EFT, individuals can gradually diminish the emotional charge of traumatic memories, allowing them to move forward with greater peace and resilience.
EFT and Anxiety
Anxiety is a common issue that affects more than one in six Australians.
EFT for anxiety targets both the physical and emotional symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. Tapping on specific points can help calm the nervous system, reduce cortisol levels, and interrupt the cycle of anxious thoughts.
EFT can be particularly effective in managing situational anxiety, such as before a public speaking engagement or during a stressful work meeting.
By using EFT to address the root causes of anxiety, individuals can develop a more resilient response to stress, leading to improved overall quality of life.
Regular EFT practice can also help in reducing generalised anxiety symptoms, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.
Other Applications For EFT
The applications of EFT extend beyond trauma and anxiety. Some other notable uses include:
Phobias and Fears: Whether it’s spiders, heights, or public speaking, EFT can help confront and reduce the intensity of phobias. By tapping on the fear and its associated feelings, individuals can diminish the phobia’s hold over them.
Depression and Low Mood: By shifting negative thought patterns and tapping on feelings of sadness or hopelessness, EFT can promote a more optimistic and hopeful outlook. It can help to break the cycle of negative thinking that often accompanies depression.
Physical Pain and Discomfort: Studies show that EFT can positively impact managing chronic pain and even reducing postoperative pain. By addressing the emotional components of pain, EFT can lead to significant physical relief.
Weight Loss and Cravings: EFT can help address the emotional aspects of eating habits, reducing cravings and promoting healthier choices. It can be particularly useful for those struggling with emotional eating.
Performance Enhancement: Athletes, performers, and professionals can use EFT to reduce performance anxiety and improve focus and confidence. By tapping on performance-related stress, individuals can enhance their capabilities and achieve their goals.
Improving Relationships: EFT can help individuals address emotional blocks and patterns that negatively impact relationships. By working through these issues, people can improve their communication and connection with others.
Grief and Loss: EFT can provide support during times of grief and loss, helping individuals process their emotions and find a path to healing.
Conclusion
EFT tapping offers a versatile and effective approach to managing a wide range of emotional and physical issues.
By integrating acupressure with cognitive reframing, EFT helps activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms, reduce stress, and promote emotional well-being.
Whether you are dealing with anxiety, trauma, phobias, or physical pain, EFT can provide a powerful tool for self-healing and personal growth.
But remember, EFT is not a magic bullet. It requires willingness, commitment, and practice.
However, for many, it has proven to be a game-changer in achieving emotional freedom and a greater sense of peace.
If you're looking to explore how EFT can improve your life, consider booking a complimentary Discovery Call to begin your journey toward emotional well-being.
By tapping into the potential of EFT, you might be surprised by the freedom and relief waiting to be discovered.
Embrace the journey, and unlock your path to emotional freedom and a happier, healthier life. With consistent practice and an open mind, EFT can become an invaluable part of your emotional wellness toolkit, helping you navigate life's challenges with greater ease and resilience.
References:
Church D, Hawk C, Brooks AJ, Toukolehto O, Wren M, Dinter I, Stein P. Psychological trauma symptom improvement in veterans using emotional freedom techniques: a randomized controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2013 Feb;201(2):153-60. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31827f6351. PMID: 23364126.
Bach D, Groesbeck G, Stapleton P, Sims R, Blickheuser K, Church D. Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019 Jan-Dec;24:2515690X18823691. doi: 10.1177/2515690X18823691. PMID: 30777453; PMCID: PMC6381429.
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