How Emotional Freedom Technique Can Help You Deal with Stress
Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as Tapping or simply EFT, has gained much popularity over the last decade. More than 100 peer-reviewed studies have been published, confirming its effectiveness in combating stress, anxiety, and even PTSD.
EFT appears quite simple; it’s akin to acupressure but without the needles. It involves a person gently tapping on specific parts of the body whilst focusing on the emotional issue at hand. By tapping on our body, we stimulate the amygdala and gradually start releasing the energy associated with the emotional issue.
The Tapping Sequence for Stress
We usually start by tapping the side of the hand while forming our setup statement, which is part of the EFT tapping script. For example, while tapping the side of the hand, we can say three times, “Even though I have this [insert your issue], I deeply and completely accept myself.” Or you can also say, “Even though I feel [insert your feeling], I deeply and completely love, accept, and respect myself.” You can say either of these two phrases three times and then move on to the next part of the tapping script called the reminder phrases. While tapping the remaining points: top of the head, eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, beginning of the collarbone, and under the arm, say at each point a phrase that reminds you of the painful feeling or experience.
For example, if your setup statement is, “Even though I feel stressed, I deeply and completely accept myself,” your reminder phrases could be:
– Top of the head: This overwhelming feeling of stress
– Eyebrow: I am sweating a lot because of this stress
– Side of the Eye: This stress is really affecting me
– Under the eye: I feel tense
– Under the nose: I really want to let go of this feeling
– Chin: This stress is temporary, and I am resilient
– Collarbone: I feel stressed but I can get through this
– Under the arm: I give myself permission to let go of this stress and feel calm again.
Keeping Records of Your Tapping
Once you go through all your reminder phrases, it’s good to take some time and record how you felt before and after the tapping session. One of the best tools for this is an EFT tapping worksheet, which you can print out or fill out on your device. This is a perfect way to keep your daily tapping practice records in place and also allows you to monitor your progress. You can also create your own daily journal, or if you prefer illustrating your emotions, you can do that too.
Go Beyond
With EFT, you can address various issues in your life; it isn’t limited to just stress and anxiety. Many people have successfully used Tapping to overcome their limiting beliefs related to money, wealth, and even weight loss. However, each journey is unique, and every individual’s experience differs from one another. Working with an EFT practitioner can greatly assist you in your daily practice and enhance your capacity for self-discovery, healing, and lifelong well-being.
