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EmotionalFreedomTechniques(EFT):TapInto
Empowerment
wakeupworld.com /2012/08/23/emotionalfreedomtechniquesefttapinto
empowerment/wuw_paginate/disabled/
ByPollyAnnaRice
GuestWriterfor WakeUpWorld
Everyindividualisuniqueandthevariationsintheirlivesandlifechoicesarephysicalmanifestationsofthe
distinctiveenergy,essence,anddispositiontheypossess.Whenanindividualissearchingformentaland
emotionalhealingmodalities,thereisaneedfortherapythatispersonal,ef fective,costefficient,andupliftingso
thepersoncanmoveforwardwiththeirlifeinapositivewayemotionalfreedomtechniques(EFT)surpassthose
expectations.

WhatIsEFT?
EFTisrootedinenergypsychology ,applyingAncientChinesemedicinetheology,whichfocusesonthebody s
energygrid. Theenergygridutilizespathwaysandnodalpointsthroughwhichyourchi,orlifeforce,flows. This
theorystatesatraumaticevent,negativepsychologicalconditioning,orotherexperiencescancauseadisruption
inyourenergyflowthroughablockageorimbalance,prohibitingtheproperflowofchiwhenyourchiis
imbalancedorblocked,mentalandemotionalillnesses,disorders,andissueswillarise.
GaryCraig,thefounderoftheEFT technique,discoveredbyemployingthesemedicinalphilosophies,youwould
beabletotapspecificacupressurepoints,themeridianornodalpointsonthebody senergygrid,releasingthe
blockageandbringingyourbody senergyflowbackintoastateofhomeostasis.
However,EFTdoesntjustmakeuseofacupressurepointstimulationthistechniqueincorporatesother
psychotherapiesalreadybeingusedinconventionalcognitivebehavioraltherapies,suchasrelaxationand
memoryrecall,causingalongtermcognitiverestructuringwithinthebrain.
Whenyourbrainreconstructsitscognitiveprocesses,younolongerprocessthoughtsoremotionsthewayyou
didbefore,meaningyoucannullifythenegativefeelingsorreactionsyoucurrentlyhave,orhavehadforyears,
resultinginaneutralreactiontothesamememoryorsituationwhensuccessfullyemployingEFT .

WhatTheResearchSays
EFThasproventobeausefultechniqueforawidevarietyofdisordersorillnessesinvariousstudies,EFT has
successfullytreatedanxietydisorders,depression,hostility ,aggression,posttraumaticstressdisorder ,addictions,
phobias,eatingdisorders,obsessivecompulsivedisorders,panic,attentiondeficitdisorder ,hypertension,social
anxiety,careerissues,andsomatoformdisorders.EFT alsohasimprovedcolds,headaches,jointpains,arthritis,
chronicfatiguesyndrome,rashes,lowercortisollevels,irritablebowelsyndrome,andfibromyalgia.Let stakea
lookatsomeofthesestudiesandexperimentsalittlecloser .
InacasestudycitedbyFeinstein(2010),a52yearoldwomanwithstageIVbreastcancerdecidedagainst
conventionalmedicineinterventionsandinsteadusedEFT onnumerouspersonalissuesthatsurfacedaftershe
wasdiagnosed.ThepatientreceivedsixclinicalEFT tappingsessions,lasting60to90minutesinlength,then
continuedtousethemethodsdailyuntilafollowupexaminationeightmonthsafterthediagnosistheappointment
revealednotraceofcancer ,butsomescartissuewherethecancerhadbeen(Feinsteinetal.,2010).
Stapleton,Sheldon,Porter ,andWhitty(2011)conductedarandomizedclinicaltrialontheef fectsEFTexerted
overfoodcravings,theperceivedpoweroffood,psychologicalsymptoms,andwillpowerof96overweightand
obeseadults.Whentheresearchersinitiallyretestedtheparticipants,immediatelyafterreceivingtheirEFT
treatment,theparticipantshadsignificantreductionsinfoodcravings,foodwieldedlesspoweroverthe
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participants,andwillpowerwasimproved.Theimprovementsincravingsandthepoweroffoodweremaintained
atthesixmonthfollowup.
AnotherrandomizedcontrolledstudyperformedbyChurch,Brooks,andDeAsis(2012)with30firstyear
psychologystudentsscoringinthemoderatetoseverelydepressedrangesontheBeckDepressionInventory .
TheparticipantsintheexperimentalgroupreceivedfourEFT sessionsof90minutesthetreatmentprovedtobe
bothclinicallyandstatisticallysignificant,astheaverageposttreatmentdepressionscoreoftheEFT condition
groupresultedinnotdepressed.
InacontrolledpilotstudybyBenor ,Ledger,Toussaint,andHett(2009)withCanadiancollegestudentswith
severetomoderatetestanxiety ,EFTaccomplishedbenefitsequaltothatoffivecognitivebehavioraltherapy
sessions.
Clickhereforimagesofbrainscansfromanexperimentby AndradeandFeinstein(2004)usingEFT treatments
forparticipantswithgeneralizedanxietydisorder(GAD)thesescansshowtheaveragebrainscanprocession
overacourseoffourweekswithtwelvesessionsofEFT .Thefirstscaniswhatanidealbrainscanlookslikeand
thesecondscanistheaveragescanoftheparticipantswith(GAD)beforetheybeganEFT sessionsthebrain
scansprogresstowardtheirnaturaloridealhomeostasisstatethroughEFT ,reducingdysfunctionalbrainwave
frequencies.
ThisstudycontrastedEFT withcognitivebehavioraltherapy ,combinedwithmedicationwhennecessary,asa
controlmechanism.TheEFTparticipantsweremorelikelytomaintaintheirnewfunctionalbrainwavepatterns
comparedtothecognitivebehavioralgroup.Moreover ,AndradeandFeinstein(2004)notedpeopletreatedwith
antianxietymedicationsdidreducetheiranxietysymptoms,buttheirbrainscansmaintainedbrainwavefrequency
dysfunction,implyingthemedicationactsasacosmeticlayerwithoutactuallyaddressingtherealissue(s).

HowItW orks
TheresearchshowsyouthebeginningsofthewideapplicationsforEFT ,butIwanttoexplaintoyouwhyandhow
itworksbecausethereareseveralstratumstoconsider .Thefirstlevelwewillconsideristheelectroconductivityof
thehumanbody,thenepigenetics,andfinallythecognitiverestructuringprocess.
Yourbodyisabeautifulandamazingtransmitterandreceiverofenergyasrepresentedbyitselectromagnetic
field.Thehumanbodyproduceselectromagneticfieldswithcellsandtissuesthatcanbemeasuredontheskin,
whileallofourorgansproducebiomagneticenergy .
Withintheseenergyfields,diseasesanddisturbancescanoftenbemeasuredbeforetheirphysicalsymptomscan
bedetected.EFT literallytapsintothesespecificenergyfieldstoredirecttheirflowinaproper ,balancedmanner,
alleviatingelectromagneticandbiomagneticfieldsofdisturbancesandblocks.
Epigeneticsisasubfieldofgeneticresearch,exposinganinherentvariabilitywithingeneticexpressionpreviously
thoughtimpossible.YourDNAdoesnotactuallycomewithaconcrete,inflexibleblueprintdictatingyourevery
thought,action,andcountenanceconversely ,itisavastsetofprobabilities,combininginformationfromyour
defaultgeneticexpression,yourthoughts,yourbeliefs,yourbehaviors,andyourenvironmentalandbiochemical
influences.
Alloftheseinputsinteractonthecellularlevel,communicatingwiththeentiretyofyourbodyabouttheinformation
received,respondingbyactivatingordeactivatingthepotentialswithinyouruniquegeneticexpression. Thisiswhy
overtimeidenticaltwins,peoplebornwithduplicateDNA,begintolookdif ferenteachindividualhastheirown
experiences,psychology,andenvironmentalexposuresof feringanalternativeexpressionofactiveandinactive
geneticpotentials.
Asepigeneticsprovesgeneticandcellularexpressionisaf fectedbyconsciousthoughtandbehavioralinputs,
EFTofferssomaticandcognitiveinputsthatactivatepositive,balancedpotentials,whiledeactivatinggenetic
potentialsexpressingimbalanceandharm.

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Researchersandpractitionersassertthephysicalactivitywiththeactivationofmentalprocessesaltersthe
targetedresponsebecausethestimulationofacupressurepointstransmitssignalstotheamygdalaandrelated
brainstructures,reducinghyperarousaltothegivenstimulusormemorythebrainthenreconsolidatesthe
memory,cognition,feeling,ormentalpicture,whilethenewlyreducedorabsenthyperarousalisretainedasthe
newreactiontotheinitialstimuli(Feinstein,2008).
Ruden(2010)assertsEFT techniquesfocusingonstressproducingcues,suchasfearortraumaticmemories,
depotentiatetheneuralpathwaysmaintainingmaladaptiveconditionedresponsesthismeanstheEFT techniques
recodetheconditionedresponsesthatproduceillef fectswithdesiredbehaviorsorfeelings. Thiscreatesa
cognitiverestructuringofthebrain,sooldparadigmsnolongerregulateyourresponses.

TheProcess
ThereisabasicEFT procedure,consistingoftappingoneachofeightenergymeridianpointswhileusingan
affirmationstatementthatcoincideswithamemoryorafeeling. Theprocessionoftappingcanvarydependingon
thetherapistorpractitioneryouareworkingwith,ascantheaf firmationstatements.
Somepractitionersusetheindustrystandard,EventhoughIhave(orfeel)thisfearofrejection,Ideeplyand
profoundlyacceptmyself,whileotherpractitionerspreferastreamofconsciousnessdialogue.Withthelatter
method,youwouldtapasyousaywhatevercomestomindthatyouwouldliketoworkwith,usingashorter
phrasetorepeatasyoucontinuetotapontheproceedingpointstoreinforcetheissueyouareworkingon.
Eventhoughthesequenceofpointtappingmayvary ,Iamgoingtosharewithyouwhathasworkedforme,which
alsoseemstobethemostcommon.Asyourepeatyourchosenphraseorissue,youtaponyourkaratechop
point,orthesideofyourhand,followedbytheinsideofyoureyebrows,thenthesideofyoureyes,thebone
underyoureyes,underthenose,betweenyourlowerlipandchin,thenyourcollarbonepoint,underthearm,and
thenthetopofthehead. Thiswouldconcludeonerepetition.
Youwanttobesurenottotaptoohard. Youwanttostimulatethemeridians,butyoudonotwanttocause
bruisingorpain.Lookatthefollowingchartforavisualrepresentationofthepropertappingpoints.

WhereCanILearnIt?
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ThereareseveralwaystolearnoradministerEFT ,suchaswiththehelpofatherapistoracertifiedEFT
practitionerinbothgroupandindividualsettings.Ifyouareable,Isuggestlearninginasettingwhereyoucan
haveacertifiedEFT practitionermakesureyouareaccuratelytappingyourenergymeridians.Becausethis
methodissoquickandeasytolearn,youdonothavetopourmoneyintoendlesssessionswithanEFT therapist.
Thisissomethingyoucandoonyourown,whereverandwheneveryouwouldlike,empoweringyouinyourhealth
andhealing.
TherearealsoinstructionalDVDsyoucanuseathomesuchas TheTappingSolution andProjectTapping:
TappingIntoAbundanceWithDr.CarolLook .Thesearegreatalternativesforthoseofyouwholiveinareas
whereyoudonothaveaccesstoacertifiedEFT practitioner.
IfyoudecidetolearnortryEFT ,Isuggeststayingwellhydratedtoincreaseyourbiologicalelectroconductivity
andtodoonesessionrightbeforeyougotobed.Whenyoulearnsomethingnew ,oralterapatternofthinking,
andimmediatelygotosleep,youhaveseveralhourstointegratethenewtemplateinyourbrainwithout
interruptions,resultinginamoreef fectiveandsolidifiedchange.

Spiritual&PersonalImplications
BysuccessfullyimplementingEFTintoyourdailyroutine,youempoweryourselftotakecontroloveryour
emotions,thoughts,andhowyouchoosetoexperienceyourlife.Imagineeradicatingirrationalfearsastheyenter
yourconsciousnessorovercomingatraumaticeventthathasstifledsomepartofyourlife.
Younolongerhavetolivecaptivetothoughtprocessesthatdonotserveyourhighestgoodortakemedications
thatonlyserveasatemporarybandaidwhilepoisoningyoursystem. Youwouldnothavetotrytosuppress
negativeemotionsorthoughtsbecauseastheyenteryourawareness,youcansafelyandpainlesslyextinguish
them.
Bybringingbalanceandinnerpeacetoyourlife,youof fermorebalanceandpeacetotheworld.Everyenergy
fieldisinterconnected,ebbingandflowingtogethertocreateanevenlargerfieldofenergy .Bycorrectingyour
energyflow,youaidinbalancingthewhole. YouhavetheabilitytohealyourselfinmanywaysEFT isquick,easy,
costeffective,andencouragesyouruniquezenithexpression.
References
Andrade,J.,&Feinstein,D.(2004). Theneurologicalfoundationsofenergypsychology:Brainscan
changesduring4weeksoftreatmentforgeneralizedanxietydisorder .Ashland,Oregon:Innersource.
Retrievedfromhttp://www.eftuniverse.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2470
Benor,D.J.,Ledger,K.,Toussaint,L.,&Hett,G.(2009).Pilotstudyofemotionalfreedomtechniques,
wholistichybridderivedfromeyemovementdesensitizationandreprocessingandemotionalfreedom
technique,andcognitivebehavioraltherapytreatmentoftestanxietyinuniversitystudents. Journalof
ScienceandHealing ,5(6),338340.doi:10.1016/j.explore.2009.08.001
Church,D.(2010). Yourdnaisnotyourdestiny:Behavioralepigeneticsandtheroleofemotionsinhealth.
AntiAgingMedicalTherapeutics ,13,3542.
Church,D.,&Brooks,A.(2008,October). Theeffectofeft(emotionalfreedomtechniques)on
psychologicalsymptomsinaddictiontreatment .Paperpresentedat Tenthannualenergypsychology
conference.
Church,D.,&Brooks,A.J.(2010).Applicationofemotionalfreedomtechniques. IntegrativeMedicine: A
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Church,D.,&Brooks,A.(2010).Theeffectofabriefemotionalfreedomtechniquesselfinterventionon
anxiety,depression,pain,andcravingsinhealthcareworkers. IntegrativeMedicine: ACliniciansJournal ,
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Church,D.(2010). ThetreatmentofcombattraumainveteransusingEFT (EmotionalFreedom
Techniques):Apilotprotocol. Traumatology,16(1),5565.

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Church,D.,Brooks,A.J.,&DeAsis,M.A.(2012).Clinicalstudybriefgroupinterventionusingemotional
freedomtechniquesfordepressionincollegestudents: Arandomizedcontrolledtrial. DepressionResearch
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fromSheldonWhyPositivePsychologyisnecessary .pdf
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interventionforfoodcravingswithsixmonthfollowup. BehaviorChange,28(1),115.
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59(0),943966.doi:10.1002/jclp.10189
**Disclaimer:Thisarticleisnotintendedtoprovidemedicaladvice,diagnosisortreatmeny .Beforeengagingin
anyhealthprogram,itisbesttocontactahealthpractitioneryoutrusttomakethebestdecisionforyour
individualneeds.**
Abouttheauthor:
PollyAnnasdeepestpassionsincechildhoodhasbeenhelpinghumanity .Shehasembarkedonaspecial
spiritualandeducationaljourneythathasallowedhertheabilitytoshareherexperiences,gainesotericand
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scientificinsight,andhelpothersontheirindividualpathstopersonalgrowthandenlightenment.
Sheiseducatedinboththeartsandsciences,graduatingwithhonorswithabachelor sofartsintheatreand
entrepreneurshipandsheisabouttograduateSummaCumLaudewithamaster sofscienceinpsychology.She
willthenbeworkingonherdoctorateinpsychology ,consciousness,andcosmology .Beyondhereducation,sheis
aspiritualintuitiveempath,andisgainingfurthercredentialsandcertificatesinneurolinguisticprogramming,
spiritualguidance,transformativelifecoaching,andemotionalfreedomtechniques(EFT).Mybackgroundhas
allowedmetogainadeeperunderstandingofmyself,thehumancondition,andtaughtmehowtoconduct
thoroughresearch.
Pollyfeelsthereisnothingofgreaterimportancethaneveryindividualonthisbeautifulplanetrealizingtheir
authentic,intrinsicselfandtrueworth.FormoreinformationonPolly Annaandherarticles,checkouthersite
positivepollyanna.com

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