The Science Behind EFT
At first EFT/Tapping might sound woo-woo, but it’s not…
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) aka Tapping is classified as a Good Science (science that adheres to the scientific method) & is backed by Research
- EFT/Tapping is an evidence-based, cutting-edge healing modality with over 250 clinical studies published in academic peer-reviewed Scientific Journals demonstrating its efficacy
- EFT/Tapping combines Cognitive & Exposure Therapy along with Acupressure
- U.S. Veterans Administration approved EFT treatment/therapy for clients suffering from PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Pain & more
Tapping, what EFT is commonly referred to, is the action/technique of EFT, the tapping of your fingertips on various acupuncture points (acupoints) on your body. Research has shown that pressure caused by the Tapping on acupoints can be as effective as acupuncture itself. Only without needles. And you can do it on yourself, in the comfort of your own home.
How cool is that?
But what are acupoints exactly and how are they effective?
Energy flows through meridian lines or channels in our body. This energy is believed to control how we think, feel, move; in other words, this energy or Chi, is intricately involved in our very existence. For our overall well-being, it is essential that our bodies be in a state of balance. Stress and trauma, among other things, cause an imbalance in our body, disrupting the flow of energy. When the flow of energy is disrupted, illness can manifest. Our bodies then become a breeding ground for negative thought patterns, suppressed emotions, unhealthy life choices…
With me so far?
The aforementioned acupoints lie along these meridian channels. Tapping on these acupoints restore the body’s equilibrium.
While scientists have been unable to prove the existence of Chi as there’s no way yet to measure or observe Chi with scientific instruments, the same can’t be said of EFT.
The validity of EFT/Tapping has been established by rigorous, evidence-based methods. Check out Research.EFTUniverse.com to see for yourself.
So, what does EFT do, and how is it effective?
EFT has been credited in helping a wide range of problems from anxiety, depression and PTSD, to athletic performance, enhancing romantic relationships, eliminating writers block and helping high-stress jobs like investment bankers to wealth managers, and more.
The list is endless.
How could Tapping on your face and body help anxiety, I’m sure you’re asking.
What, is it like some “spooky action” as Einstein would say?
Nah. It’s actually kind of easy… weird, but easy. Let me break it down for you.
When you ruminate on an event that brings about a cauldron of negative emotions within you like a fight with a loved one, a horrible childhood, a tragic breakup, incredible discomfort and unhappiness in the work environment… your stress level increases and, in turn, you feel frustration, rage, profound sadness, embarrassment, and the like. Tapping reduces the intensity of those negative emotions to the point where you feel almost nothing, oftentimes in minutes.
Okay, but HOW does EFT work?
LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING…
The brain (or limbic system if you
want to get all science-y) encodes
a negative experience with an
emotional charge. A
conditioned response is
then encoded to
correspond to
that
particular
memory.
For example,
after witnessing a
tragic plane crash, a
person might develop a fear
of flying. A child bit by a barking
dog, might be fearful of canines in
adulthood and get massive anxiety from
just hearing a faraway bark.
Point being, when they think of the memory,
and play it on a loop in their minds,
they establish what’s referred to in
behavioral psychology as a
conditioned feedback loop.
Well, EFT asks us to recall and confront that negative emotional experience, a technique referred to as “exposure” in psychology. We then pair that past trauma with a new cognitive input, all while tapping and voicing a statement of self-acceptance: “Even though I feel [insert feeling here] I deeply and completely love and accept myself.” After reciting that setup statement a few times, we tap on various acupoints on our body.
I know, I know, it totally sounds ridiculous at first, to tap on our body while saying negative statements like “this anger,” “this frustration,” “I’m so pissed off,” but amazing things are actually happening in our body. Stress is being released, your rapidly beating heart is calming down, the body is relaxing, you’re becoming one with serenity. With that, you have interrupted the emotional triggering caused by the painful event. That painful memory is now tied to a calming physical stimulus. And there you have it. Pattern broken. Triggered no more.
Boiled down: Trauma was buried in every cell of your body.
The action of Tapping released that long-buried trauma and calmed you down to the point where your body said, “Wait a minute. I’m okay. I feel safe.” Your nervous system no longer associates the painful memory with stress and the negative emotions felt therein.
The Technique of Tapping gifted you with Emotional Freedom.
