Understanding the Power of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

I first heard about Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) through Gary Craig's website. Just a note, I am in no way affiliated with him or his organization but I thought I'll give him credit for sharing his knowledge about it. After getting acquainted with the term "EFT" or "Tapping," I became curious about how I can use it to improve my health, then my emotions and behavior. As I understood the process, I started doing it and saw the positive effects on me that is why I am sharing some information and creating awareness about this technique. While Tapping is a wonderful self-help technique and has been used successfully around the world, I would still recommend you reach out to a healthcare professional, if you have medical or mental issues.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a form of psychological acupressure that is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. It was first used in the 1970s and its theory was based on the energy meridians of acupuncture. It involves tapping on specific points on the body while focusing on a specific emotional or physical issue.

The goal of EFT or tapping is to release emotional blockages and reduce the intensity of negative feelings such as anxiety, stress, and pain.

Some of the benefits of Tapping include:

• Reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

• Improving sleep quality.

• Reducing chronic pain.

• Improving overall well-being and emotional balance.

• Helping people overcome phobias, traumas, and other emotional issues.

To tap these points, you can use your fingertips to gently tap or massage each point in a repetitive motion. It is important to tap firmly enough to feel the sensation, but not so hard as to cause pain.

Here is an example of how to tap the points in the EFT Tapping Sequence:

1. Start by tapping the top of your head (crown) with your fingertips.

2. Move to the inner eyebrow point and tap that point.

3. Tap the side of the eye.

4. Tap under the eye.

5. Tap under the nose

6. Tap under the mouth (chin)

7. Tap the collarbone (breastbone)

8. Tap under the arm (about 4 inches below the armpit)

Now you know where to tap, let's begin🤚

• Identify the specific issue or problem that you want to address. This could be a physical symptom, an emotional challenge, or a particular memory or event that is causing distress.

• Rate the intensity of your current emotional state on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest level of distress.

• Tap on specific points on your body, as stated above, while repeating a statement that summarizes the issue you are addressing. As a guide, let us use the EFT guide developed by Gary Craig, his setup statement has two parts: a statement of your issue known as the Reminder phrase and then the affirmation. It looks like this:           

   "Even though I [state your issue], I deeply and completely accept myself. "                                                                                             

  As you tap on every point, say the fear or the problem you are experiencing, for example:                               

  "Even though I am afraid to speak on stage, I deeply and completely accept myself."

    Top of the head: I am afraid to speak on stage

             Eyebrow: I'll be so embarrassed

           Outside of the eye: I will freeze once I'm on stage

            Under the eye: I will faint

            Under the nose: I will not be able to speak

            Chin: I'll be so embarrassed

            Collarbone: I will freeze

           Under the arm: I will walk out of the stage

• Continue tapping for several rounds, focusing on your issue and repeating your reminder phrase as you tap.

• After tapping for a few minutes, rate the intensity of your emotional state again on a scale of 0-10.

• Repeat the process as needed, until you notice a significant reduction in the intensity of your emotional state.

EFT or Tapping helps in releasing emotional blockages and reduces the intensity of negative feelings such as anxiety, stress, and pain. Tapping on specific points in the body can help to stimulate the body's energy pathways, which can improve the flow of energy and promote a sense of emotional balance and well-being. Additionally, the process of focusing on a specific issue or problem while tapping can help to bring awareness to the underlying emotional causes of a problem, which can be helpful in identifying and addressing deeper issues. Tapping is not intrusive and is easy to use. Even a child can do it! 

It's important to note that EFT is considered a complementary therapy and is not a substitute for traditional medical treatment. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new therapy. 

✔️Try this

Familiarize yourself with the Tapping points using your dominant hand. You can use either hand but it is usually easier to start with the dominant hand. Practice speaking the statement and think of some issues you are facing right now. It might be fear, lack of confidence or even trying it when you have a headache. Then follow the steps outlined in this blog.