The body’s ability to heal itself is powerful and multi-faceted. In alternative healing practices, it’s widely believed that physical ailments and illnesses are a manifestation of emotional distress and energetic blockages.
If that’s true, then the contrary should also be possible: by clearing negative emotions and uplifting our energetic field, we can heal ourselves physically and psychologically. This is the premise behind the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
Also known as tapping therapy, EFT combines elements of cognitive therapy, exposure therapy and energetic healing into an easy-to-learn technique that addresses numerous issues. It draws on the principles of Chinese acupuncture, which teaches us that the body’s energy travels along specific pathways. Certain points on these pathways, known as meridian points, strongly influence the energy flow in our bodies. Scientists believe that’s because they stimulate the central nervous system and release helpful chemicals.
A research paper conducted by Dr Daniel J Benor specifically mentions opioids (pain-relieving medication), serotonin (the happy hormone) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (which has a calming effect on the body) as chemicals released through tapping.
Tapping releases negative or ‘trapped’ emotions, which helps treat conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD and OCD. It can also address ailments that affect our everyday functioning, such as cravings, lethargy, lack of focus, brain fog, phobias, and more.
While tapping may alleviate fairly intense conditions, the process is relatively simple, so any person in the right headspace can conduct it anywhere, at any time. It does, however, require significant mental focus.
One of the first steps is to identify a problem that’s bothering you. Next, create a statement acknowledging that feeling or problem followed by an acceptance phrase. For example, “even though public speaking makes me nervous, I know I’m trying my best and have a positive message to spread.”
This is known as a setup statement. To alleviate negative emotions, you must acknowledge how the issue makes you feel. The purpose of countering a negative thought with a positive affirmation is to neutralise the issue. Using tapping while repeating a contradictory statement teaches the brain to respond calmly to a stressful memory.
Over time, your body’s response to that specific memory or problem will become neutralised. So, while you’ll still be able to retain the details of that memory, your emotional reaction will be less intense and eventually disappear.
How to tap
Identify the issue. Then, rate its intensity on a scale of zero to 10 (10 being the worst). Assessing the level of physical discomfort or pain it causes you helps you monitor your progress after doing an EFT sequence.
Rate the intensity of the problem on a scale of zero to 10.
Compare with your initial intensity level. Repeat until you reach zero or feel better.
Create a setup statement
This describes your issue and includes a component of self-acceptance. You can also create a shortened version of the statement to repeat when tapping.
Follow the EFT sequence
Tap each meridian point on the body while reciting your setup statement or reminder phrase. Begin by tapping the karate chop point and repeating your phrase three times. Then, tap the following points several times, moving down the body in ascending order:
- Eyebrow: where the brow starts at the bridge of the nose.
- Side of the eye: on the bone along the outside of either eye.
- Under the eye: on top of the cheekbone under each eye.
- Under the nose: the area beneath the nose and above the upper lip.
- Chin: the crease between your bottom lip and chin.
- Collarbone: about 5cm below and to the side of where your collarbones meet.
- Under the arm: beneath each armpit.Finish the sequence at the top point of the head.
Tapping therapy takes practice and may require multiple tries before you experience relief. Whether or not this technique is effective varies from person to person, but it never hurts to check in with yourself and be mindful of your emotions.
