EFT
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a method that combines elements of acupressure and modern psychology. It involves gently tapping on specific acupressure points on the body while focusing on emotions, memories, beliefs, or situations that cause distress.
EFT reduces the emotional charge connected to memories and situations, making it easier to think clearly without becoming overwhelmed by emotions. That is when the acceptance, forgiveness, and healing can take place. It is an approach that combines elements of Eastern acupressure and modern psychology.
Our brain and nervous system store emotionally charged experiences and learn to recognise similar situations in the future. Whenever the subconscious mind encounters a situation that resembles a past experience, it fires up all the red lights, rockets, and sirens it has - physical reactions. It's like driving a car: you automatically scan the road and environment for any speeding or braking cars, kids, or pets running out on the road, debris, holes in the road, signs - anything that could cause you to act promptly to avoid a danger. Yet you're still moving forward, having a conversation, and appearing completely unconcerned.
EFT has helped me become less hypervigilant and less focused on searching for signs of past danger in my environment.
What is EFT?
Energy Medicine point of view:
EFT is called acupuncture without needles. By tapping on specific points on the face, torso, head and/or fingers we tap on so-called meridians - energy pathways in the body. According to traditional energy medicine, tapping helps restore balance within the body's energy system and supports the healing process.
Scientific point of view:
EFT seems to affect amygdala (responsible for stress) and hippocampus (memory centre) resulting in changes in neurological responses, reduction of cortisol levels in the body and reduction of arousal triggers. By tapping on the acupuncture points we are sending signals to the stress centre amygdala, that in its turn sends relaxing signals to the whole body “no danger, no need to run away, no need to stress”.
How can EFT help?
EFT focuses on helping you develop emotional intelligence, allowing you to better understand and regulate your emotions. In other words: you learn how to be grounded -- how to listen and acknowledge what your body and emotions are trying to tell you.
It can help you identify the relationship between your emotions, your thoughts, and your behaviours.
You can learn effective strategies to cope with stressful situations. You learn to allow emotions, feelings and thought to surface and flow. You learn to accept them instead of ignoring or criticising them.
EFT can be used both in individual sessions and in work with couples.
In summary: EFT can be a self-help method once you learn how to use it properly. It can also be a powerful technique when used by a therapist to help with issues that have had a negative effect on your life for a long time.