Did you know that just touching in certain parts of the body uncovers a way to calm the mind and ease anxiety? EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques which include touching certain points with the fingertips on the hand, face and body. The tapping is done with intention to help in the reconciliation of the patient’s emotional pain. EFT tapping frees an emotional problem and recovers balance in one’s mind and body. EFT tapping points are the same that are found to be used in ancient Chinese technique referred to as acupressure or acupuncture. Millions of EFT tapping people place focus on a specific problem, be it a negative feeling, pain, or a memory of trauma. Such an aspect means, while focusing on the particular issue, the individual has to mechanically pronounce a set of affirmative phrases.
A 2022 review of over 50 research studies discovered that EFT tapping is very helpful in conditions like phobias, anxiety, insomnia, depression, PTSD, and pain and even improves athletic performance. This simple practice does not require any special tools. With this overview of EFT tapping points and their meaning, let’s understand its benefits, side effects, and more.
Potential Benefits of EFT Tapping
If you are planning to tap using EFT, the good news for you is that you can benefit from several facets in the course of tapping, which are mentioned below. This paper aims to present some of the possible benefits that can be associated with EFT tapping.
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Decreases Anxiety and Stress
In a study carried out by the American Psychological Association, researchers discovered that after performing EFT for an hour, the individuals found a noticeable reduction in the stress hormone cortisol.
This stress reduction was remarkable compared to those individuals who used psychoeducation and those who didn’t avail of any treatment. Moreover, researchers discovered that EFT tapping therapy is effective and efficient for decreasing stress-related physical signs such as increased heart rate, fatigue, sweating, etc. Hence, EFT tapping for anxiety is one of the primary benefits for people looking to improve their mental health.
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Soothes Mind
EFT tapping can help soothe your mind by controlling the nervous system. You may start being less concerned about issues that bothered you earlier. Researchers hypothesise that tapping rebuilds your brain’s neural network, which is responsible for managing phobias and other negative emotions.
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Lessens Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms
EFT tapping may help military veterans diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). A study discovered that veterans who availed of this therapy found a significant reduction in their psychological stress. 80% of them find a remarkable reduction in PTSD symptoms within six months of undergoing this tapping therapy.
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Improves Concentration
One of the remarkable EFT tapping benefits is that it boosts your concentration and decreases anxiety. An older study revealed that high school basketball players who performed EFT tapping for 15 minutes found improvements in their free throws by over 20%.
How Often Should I Do EFT Tapping Therapy?
This therapy hasn’t become as ordinary as other ancient Chinese medicine-based techniques, such as acupuncture. However, there is no critical risk involved in performing EFT tapping when you incorporate it into your daily or weekly routine. The results are more promising if you practise this tapping therapy more often. Many practitioners advise undergoing EFT tapping daily. It can be a short session during the morning to begin your day positively, or you can even do it during the evening to get a relaxing sleep.
Risks Associated with EFT Tapping
There are various dangers of EFT tapping. The following are some of them:
- Excessive use of this tapping therapy may make you highly reliant on it to control your emotions. This kind of reliance will affect other vital coping strategies.
- If you are suffering from mental health conditions such as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), then this practice can show compulsive behaviour.
- Improperly using this tapping technique can cause slight irritation or discomfort at specific tapping points in your body.
Bottom Line
EFT tapping is a wealth of evidence telling us that the body and the brain are linked. It focuses on specific energy points and whatever emotions or issues you are having, can help to relieve the distress. It also helps calm your brain’s stress response and encourage emotional and physical healing. More and more research proves that this is a worthwhile solution for people who want to improve their physical and mental health by tapping treatment is becoming a worthwhile solution.
