EFT: A Proven Practice for Anxiety and Stress Relief
How to find peace with EFT and why it works
To be anxious once in a while is to be human. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve experienced anxiety at some point. But for some unlucky people, anxiety is a way of life. It never seems to go away. In 2013, there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK. And the search for ways to fight anxiety never ends.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is an effective, drug-free approach to treating anxiety. Stephanie Newton, an Intermediate Practitioner of EFT, describes it as psychological acupuncture without the needles. Stephanie has helped many people find relief from anxiety with this amazing technique. If you’re feeling imprisoned by anxiety and need help breaking free, keep reading to find out how EFT can help.
EFT as a treatment for anxiety and chronic stress: A brief overview
The consensus among health professionals is that stress and anxiety are bad for us. They affect sleep, blood pressure, weight, and the immune system. Medication can treat anxiety, but there are side effects to consider. Talk therapy works, too. But it’s expensive, and sometimes it takes years.
EFT is a proven treatment for anxiety. No side effects come with it, and it can take only six sessions to experience significant relief. Also, once you learn how to do it, you can use it as a self-care practice forever.
So how does EFT lower anxiety and stress? It has to do with the amygdala, the part of our brains where we process, experience, and store emotions. When the amygdala receives stress signals, it alerts the rest of the body. Our systems are then flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. Studies have shown that using EFT to tap on meridian points causes cortisol levels to drop along with stress levels.
“Though we’re not yet sure why, tapping seems to turn off the amygdala’s alarm—deactivating the brain’s arousal pathways. Tapping on the meridian endpoints sends a calming response to the body, and the amygdala recognizes that it’s safe. What’s more, tapping while experiencing—or even discussing—a stressful event counteracts that stress and reprograms the hippocampus, which compares past threats with present signals and tells the amygdala whether or not the present signal is an actual threat.”
― Nick Ortner, The Tapping Solution: A Revolutionary System for Stress-Free Living
Dawson Church Ph.D. conducted a controlled, randomized study on the relationship between EFT and cortisol levels. The first group received talk therapy as a treatment for stress and anxiety. The second group received no treatment at all. And the third group practiced an hour-long EFT session. Cortisol levels in the EFT group dropped 24% on average, a significantly higher decrease than the other groups (Church, Yount, & Brooks, 2012).
EFT International has a fantastic archive of scientific research on EFT. It’s empowering to learn about EFT and how you can take control of your anxiety— you don’t have to let it rule your life. According to research and testimonials from EFT International, EFT also offers the following benefits:
Relief from insomnia
Drug-free treatment with zero side effects
Increased confidence
A decrease in cortisol which can improve weight, blood pressure, and more
Improved relationships with family and friends
Better immune function and resistance to seasonal colds and viruses
Increased motivation
More affordable than indefinite numbers of talk therapy sessions
If you’re curious about how to get started with EFT, Stephanie Newton at Diamond Hypnotherapy is the perfect practitioner to introduce you. Reach out to her today for a free phone consultation.
EFT for anxiety and stress relief: Some inspiration and testimonials
Scientific research goes a long way when trying lesser-known therapy. But nothing is more inspiring than a sincere testimonial from someone who’s been through it. Anxiety feels like drowning. Stories from people who have been through it are lifelines in a deep and scary ocean.
One of the best things about tapping for anxiety is that it works quickly. In Lisa’s story, she was in the middle of helping a friend host a dinner party and became overwhelmed with anxiety. She went outside for a break and did a quick round of tapping. She acknowledged her anxiety about the party and reminded herself that she was safe. She was able to return to the party feeling calm and confident.
But sometimes the issues run deeper. Melanie visited an EFT practitioner, Carna Zachariah-Miller, to work through her anxiety and agoraphobia. She acknowledged some abandonment issues surrounding her mother. They started with that. But even after some improvement in Melanie’s anxiety, Carna felt there were some lingering issues. In particular, going to the supermarket was a recurring theme in Melanie’s anxiety. Why was the supermarket such a strong trigger?
They started tapping on it. Within a few sessions, Melanie recalled a horrible experience in a checkout line at a supermarket 20 years earlier. Having a specific target to tap on brought Melanie the focus she needed to process her emotions and find relief from her anxiety. She followed up with her practitioner to say that she was now able to shop at the supermarket without panicking.
“Tapping is one of the most direct and powerful ways to peel away the layers of chronic stress.”
— Dr. Mark Hyman, World Renown Functional Medicine Doctor and NYT Best Selling Author
Stephanie Newton has a wealth of experience with EFT as an anxiety treatment. She has several glowing testimonials on her site from grateful clients:
A man who was recently widowed found peace and relief from anxiety
Someone who didn’t realize that past events were affecting her present-day life and was able to work through them with EFT and Stephanie’s guidance
A woman who was able to take what Stephanie taught her about EFT and use it to help herself and her child with anxiety during the COVID19 pandemic
Someone who successfully overcame a phobia
Someone who found a feeling of “lightness and calm” after working through some old emotional issues
Having anxiety is natural. Especially in these stressful times! But there’s something better out there. You don’t have to live with anxiety every single day. You can take control and try something new. You can free yourself from that sinking, panicked feeling. You can feel better.
Still on the fence? Here’s what practicing EFT for anxiety might look like
By now you understand the basics of EFT and why it works. But maybe you’re still unsure if it’s right for you. Let’s go deeper into what an actual EFT session looks like so you can imagine what it can do for your anxiety.
Put your anxiety into words. It’s important to be specific! People who use specific terms over general ones have more success with EFT. Example of a specific phrase: “Even though my company is struggling due to COVID19 and I’m afraid of losing my job, I love and accept myself.”
Rate the intensity of your anxiety on a scale of 1-10. You need a reference point so you can tell if EFT is helping!
Repeat your chosen statement three times while tapping on the side of your hand (karate chop point).
Move through the tapping points while repeating shorter reminder phrases that keep your chosen statement in mind. Tap on each point at least five times. There is no hard and fast rule about how many times to tap on each point; just do what feels right.
Pause and rate the intensity of your anxiety again. Is it lower? Then EFT is helping! Keep going. Is it the same? You might need to be more specific in your phrasing.
This is just a brief overview. For more clarity on the tapping points, you’ll need a practitioner like Stephanie to guide you. Once you learn how to tap, you can use it on your own as a self-care tool. The steps above make it clear— incorporating EFT into your daily routine is completely realistic!
Closing thoughts
Anxiety is so commonplace in this crazy world that it’s easy to become used to it. We accept it because we can’t see a way out.
But anxiety over external forces that we have zero control over is 100% useless. It’s like trying to get somewhere by riding a stationary bike. You’re going nowhere, and you’re exhausting yourself!
EFT is a breath of fresh air. It’s a ray of hope. And it’s accessible to everyone. Even better, it’s evidence-based. There are endless testimonials out there from people who have tried it and loved it. Simply put, EFT works.
If you’re new to EFT and wondering what it’s about, Stephanie is a great guide. She offers virtual sessions too, so you can even stay at home for your appointment. Give her a call today and find out how EFT can help you overcome your anxiety.
Sources
Archive Of Articles out Eft Tapping For Anxiety and Stress
Sue Hughes-Tracey Strawbridge-Sophia Cayer-Hilary Jones - https://eftinternational.org/category/eft-practice/stress-anxiety/
Church D, Yount G, Brooks AJ. The effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: a randomized controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2012;200(10):891‐896. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e31826b9fc1
Mental Health Statistics: Anxiety
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-anxiety
