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Unlocking Your Body’s Natural Ability to De-Stress Using EFT Tapping

Byjeannarice1

If you’re like me, you might have either never heard of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) before, or if you have, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s just another fad or if it actually works. 

I remember first coming across EFT several years ago and honestly, I didn’t give it much thought. I had my doubts about whether tapping on certain points on the body could have any real impact on emotional well-being. But recently, I’ve revisited EFT, delved into its mechanisms, and learned about its evidence-based clinical application. And I’m here to tell you, it’s not just some random technique to overlook – it’s the real deal and I’d love to share with you how EFT tapping can unlock your body’s natural ability to heal! 

EFT: A Journey From Skeptic to Believer

My journey from skeptic to believer began when I explored EFT more deeply and discovered the remarkable results it offers. People from all walks of life have found tremendous emotional, mental, and physical healing through this simple yet powerful technique. 

It truly is a game-changer for mental wellness, and the best part? You can learn to do it yourself, teach your children, and share it with your loved ones. It’s like having a secret tool in your emotional toolbox that you can pull out whenever you need it.

EFT has been found to effectively address a wide range of challenges, including unpleasant memories, food cravings and addictions, destructive thoughts, stress, subconscious blocks, overwhelming emotions, mental and emotional tension, anxiety, fears and phobias, psychosomatic illness or pain, and bad habits.

EFT: Evidence-Based and Effective

What initially caught my attention was the scientific backing behind EFT. It’s been proven effective in clinical studies in treating a wide range of issues, from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

As Dr. Caroline Leaf has pointed out, “87% of illnesses are connected to our thoughts and emotions. Other factors, such as our diet, genetics, and environment, account for the remaining 13%.” EFT taps into this emotional, non-verbal part of us, and empowers us to restore balance and well-being.

EFT: Using Touch to Communicate With Our Non-Verbal, Emotional Mind

EFT works by tapping into the non-verbal part of our memory, offering a gentle reminder to our bodies that we are safe in the present moment. It helps us interrupt, break, or dissolve those negative thought processes and triggers that are often stuck in the subconscious. It’s all about rewiring our neural pathways to shift us from negative patterns to a more positive and healthy mindset.

EFT: Acupuncture Without Needles

EFT is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) science, using the wisdom of acupuncture, but in a gentler approach. Since EFT doesn’t involve needles, it’s based on the power of touch and pressure at these acupuncture points. Studies have shown that pressure on acupressure points can be just as effective as needles, making EFT a gentle and accessible form of “acupuncture without needles.”

EFT: Unblocking Energy Flow

EFT also considers something called “psychological reversal.” Think of it as a blocked energy flow within your body. Consider trying to power a flashlight with the batteries inserted backward; it just won’t work. Your body, too, has a natural flow of energy, and when that flow gets reversed or blocked through adverse life experiences, we can experience undesirable symptoms and conditions – your body simply doesn’t function the way it should – or could. This kind of reversal or blockage acts as a roadblock to your body’s innate healing process.

In acupuncture, the goal is to clear these obstructions and allow your energy to flow freely through the 12 meridians. EFT shares the same objective but with a particular focus on emotional energy flow and processing. It helps release and dissolve emotions that keep us stuck and cause blockages, much like removing obstacles from the river to ensure a smooth and healthy flow.

Setup for EFT – The Power of Acceptance

In EFT, the Set-Up Statement and Affirmation are central to the process. It’s not about forcing you into positive thinking right away. Instead, it encourages you to accept your current emotional state. 

Create your own set-up statement, “Even though I feel _[insert problem]_, I deeply and completely accept and love myself.”

This self-acceptance is the first crucial step toward transformation, as it helps dissolve the inner conflict many of us have. We often play unconscious roles of the “upper-dog” and “underdog,” trying to control the weaker or “unacceptable” parts of ourselves. But when we accept all facets of who we are, that’s when the true healing begins.

EFT: Reminder Phrase

The reminder phrase is a concise phrase that helps maintain your focus on the specific issue or problem you are addressing while you tap on the acupressure points. This statement serves as a reminder of the emotional distress or issue you want to work on. It is typically a brief and targeted phrase that states the problem.

The Reminder Phrase in the tapping process acts like exposure therapy, reminding you of the specific issue you’re addressing while tapping the acupressure points. This combination helps unlock and release trapped negative emotions, effectively reducing the emotional charge associated with the problem. By focusing on the issue during the tapping process, your energy system becomes more attuned to it, helping to bring about positive change.

Try It for Yourself! 

Here are the step-by-step instructions for the EFT tapping sequence, or if you prefer to be guided through the process, here is my favorite example provided on Youtube:

Step 1: Assess Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) level, which is a measure of your emotional distress or intensity related to the problem you want to address. Rate your emotional state on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being no distress and 10 being the highest distress.

Step 2: The Setup Statement

  • Insert the name of your problem into the Setup Statement: “Even though I have (this problem), I deeply and completely accept and love myself.” This statement combines acknowledgment of the issue with self-acceptance, a critical aspect of the EFT process.

Step 3: Karate Chop Point

  • Tap continuously on the Karate Chop point on either hand while repeating the Setup Statement three times. The Karate Chop point is located on the outer edge of your hand, between the base of your pinky finger and your wrist. It’s important to tap gently but firmly.

Step 4: Tapping the Seven Points with the Reminder Phrase

  • While repeating the Reminder Phrase, tap about seven times on each of the seven points listed below. As you tap, focus on the problem you want to address and keep the Reminder Phrase in mind. Here’s a reminder of the seven points and the order in which to tap them:
    • Top of the Head (TH): Located at the crown of your head, tap gently with the tips of your fingers.
    • Eyebrow (EB): Located at the beginning of your eyebrow, just above the nose. Tap with two fingers.
    • Side of the Eye (SE): Located on the bone at the outer corner of your eye. Tap with two fingers.
    • Under the Eye (UE): Located below your eye, on the bone. Tap with two fingers.
    • Under the Nose (UN): Located above your upper lip, just below your nose. Tap with one finger.
    • Chin (CH): Located below your lower lip, just above your chin. Tap with one finger.
    • Collarbone (CB): Located just below the collarbone, where the ribcage meets the breastbone. Tap with two fingers or a whole hand.
    • Underarm (UA): Located about 4 inches below the armpit.

Step 5: Reassess how you feel with a second SUD rating after completing the tapping sequence. How do you feel now in relation to the problem? Rate your emotional distress on the same 0-10 scale. Ideally, you should notice a reduction in your distress level after completing the EFT tapping sequence.

Step 6: The goal is to get the SUD to a level 0, but be patient as it may take a few rounds of tapping to achieve this. Be open, compassionate, and curious with whatever comes up for you as you tap. You may find insight to something related to the problem, that you can also then do the sequence for the new related problem. 

EFT Tapping – Best Next Steps!

There is a plethora of free and paid options to incorporate EFT tapping into your life and start experience the benefits! Here are the ones I recommend:

Final Thoughts of EFT Tapping

EFT tapping is a self-help tool that can be used to address a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges, providing a powerful method for promoting emotional well-being and self-acceptance. It’s great for anyone, and all ages – and best of all, it’s completely free to learn and once you learn, it’s easy to remember! I encourage you to practice EFT regularly to experience the full benefits of this amazing technique.

If you’re intrigued at all, give EFT a try! You can find countless videos on YouTube that walk you through the process and offer specific, targeted goals like “reduce anxiety,” “lose weight,” or “be more productive.” 

It’s a journey worth taking, and I can tell you from personal experience that this seemingly simple technique can have a profound positive impact on your life!

EFT is more than just tapping; it’s tapping into your body’s own innate healing ability. Why not give it a chance and unlock your potential?

In wellness,

Jeanna 

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