Tapping has been clinically proven to manage stress, reduce cortisol levels, improve anxiety and even treat PTSD in veterans. “Because tapping is a gentle and easy-to-follow technique, anyone struggling with stress, anxiety or pain can benefit from it,” says Ortner.
Tapping follows a sequence of five steps, often called a round, that takes about two minutes to complete. Lower intensity issues may only require four or five rounds to provide relief, while more intense issues may take 10 or 12 rounds. Intense or chronic issues are best addressed through consistent tapping over time.
It's our bodies natural response to stress - to MOVE. That's the sympathetic hormones. By tapping, and talking (and thus breathing) and focusing on the current state of our stress/panic, the body processes the spiked cortisol levels but then allows time for the parasympathetic system to kick in.
This happens because tapping is a process of “reminding yourself of the negative feelings you've experienced in the past”. You're focusing on the past trauma or negative event and “reminding yourself of how bad it was”. And this can cause an intense feeling of anxiety.
It's not uncommon for people to experience a negative reaction after (or during) an EFT session, especially if you are tapping for yourself. Feelings such as anger, anxiety, uneasiness, sadness, or even temporary worsening of the issue(s) might emerge.
A study of 5000 patients found that 90 percent of patients who did tapping therapy saw improved anxiety, compared to 63 percent of patients who practiced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (with or without medication) instead.
Think to yourself, “Just 10 more seconds.” Take a deep breath, and make it through those next 10 seconds. If you still have more to do, repeat the process.
Proponents say major evidence of skin tightening, improved skin tone, as well as a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, is apparent after four weeks of tapping for just five minutes a day.
The five-minute rule involves trying an activity for just five minutes. In depression counselling, the psychologist and client agree that after doing the activity for five minutes the client is free either to continue the activity or stop doing it.
“Trauma Tapping Technique is a First Aid technique that can heal symptoms of stress and trauma. It is related to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) but can be used without language. It is a mind/body tool that clears physical and emotional blocks from your energy system with your fingers, breath and intention.
EFT Tapping is all about what suits you and what the presenting problem is! The answer to this question is not so much as how many times a day but based on what is needed. In a professional setting, we would recommend 6 weekly sessions and then tap on you as often as needed in between sessions.
Very often, a side effect of tapping is feeling sleepy or a bit “zoned out.” Yawning and crying are also very common, which can signify the release of suppressed emotions.
Research indicates that tapping as a somatic experience along with cognition reduces cortisol levels, increases serotonin levels, calms the amygdala, activates the prefrontal cortex and affects gene expression.
Pressure Point Extra-1 (Yin Tang) Pressure point Extra-1 is also called Yin Tang. It is at the midpoint (the center) between your eyebrows (see Figure 1). Doing acupressure on this point can help with stress and anxiety.
It can help with a variety of issues including anxiety, stress, panic attacks, anger, negative habits, fear, phobias, lack of motivation and trauma. By tapping on these specific points on the head, face, chest and hands it allows energy blockages to be released.
EFT tapping therapy has been demonstrated to improve the symptoms of several mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression. EFT tapping for anxiety is an effective way to reduce anxiety symptoms such as excessive worry, irritability, sleeping difficulties and difficulty concentrating.
If you are experiencing mild-to-moderate difficulties, you may well be able to use EFT on your own. However, we would not recommend using EFT as a self-help tool if you have a history of trauma or PTSD. Similarly, it may be better to work with a therapist if you are seeking help with a long-standing issue.
EFT Tapping and EMDR Therapy have certain similarities in that they are both excellent alternative healing techniques that help thousands of people today. You can learn EFT Tapping for yourself and others, as well as become a professional EFT Practitioner who can help people with physical and emotional problems.
Recently a client said to me, “Do I have to say things out loud while I am tapping on them?” I started to explain that no, you can always do EFT silently, in your head, or even just tap without words on the feelings you feel, and it is still as effective.
Tapping rewires the brain's response to the threat—and the thoughts and emotions associated with it—and we experience more calm in our body as the relaxed amygdala sends the signal to the endocrine system to stop producing stress hormones.