Tapping or Emotional Freedom Technique is a really great self help tool that can be done anytime, anywhere and for any condition. Of course it doesn't replace medical advice or any treatment you are undertaking but it can be a great support alongside other interventions.
See my page on the tapping technique for more information and to see a video with the tapping points that you can easily follow with your own symptom. You can find it here.
Some answers to common questions about the tapping process:
How long do I tap the points for?
About 8-10 taps on each point is fine. If you feel comforted by tapping a particular point stay there longer.
What pressure should I use to tap?
A gentle tap is all that's required, there is no particular pressure needed, a light touch is fine.
Is the sequence of the points important?
No, it's just easier to remember the points if you tap from the head down. You should do the 'set up' on the side of the hand first but after that the sequence of the points doesn't matter. It helps to tap all of the points but sometimes, for example in a public place, you might not feel comfortable tapping all the face points so just do what you can - like tap around the nail beds.
How often should I tap to get the best results?
You can use tapping as a 'first aid' remedy such as when you feel anxious or worried about something to help you feel calmer but you can also use it for longer-term issues like lack of confidence or a physical symptom. In this instance you could tap whenever you feel unconfident or are aware of your symptom but also explore some aspects around your symptom and tap on them. Perhaps you have a bad memory of something that rocked your confidence or you remember the day you first experienced a pain. There are so many aspects to symptoms and you can keep exploring and tapping. Perhaps set a daily or weekly time for some tapping. You might be very surprised with what comes up for you but just keep tapping on it...
What is the point of the 'set up' process?
This addresses an issue called 'psychological reversal' - basically where you have a desire to achieve a particular goal but then sabotage your progress toward it through your action (or lack of action). An example would be you know exactly what you need to do to eat healthily but can't seem to stop yourself raiding the biscuit tin. You want a clear, uncluttered room but can't shake yourself out of a state of inertia to even make a start. You desire joy and peace in your mind but seem programmed for irritation and anxiety. Procrastination, negative thinking, avoidance, the same life lessons returning to you time and time again. Helping psychological reversal is not about will power, it's just that life made you believe something about yourself which is now influencing you. It's something I work with a lot in kinesiology because these unconscious beliefs really keep you stuck and unable to move towards your desires. By initially tapping on this you are helping resolve these conflicting states; that's why the phrase is 'even though (I have these thoughts or symptoms) I accept myself' or some similar words.
What actually are the tapping points?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, much importance is placed on the meridians. These are lines of energy running throughout the body. They are like a communication system and each meridian flows into the next. The meridians are subject to physical, mental and emotional influences that can cause their flow to change - like too fast, too slow, weak, overbearing or blocked altogether. The meridians have an association with muscles, organs, systems and emotions and are thought to play a key role in the recovery of health. When complementary therapists talk of 'balancing energy' they are often referring to flows through these or other energy channels. Lots of therapies use the meridians like kinesiology and acupuncture. The points that are tapped are the end-points of the meridians so you are encouraging a free flow through them whilst bringing a symptom to mind which is probably influencing their flow in a negative way.
By combining psychology (by engaging the thoughts you have about a specific symptom) and influencing the meridian system, the body can be encouraged out of a state of stress and into a state of relaxation. When we are operating with a more relaxed nervous system, we have access to logical thinking, an improved ability to change perceptions and the body can go into a state of healing rather than a state of 'flight, fright or freeze', which is the reaction to a stressed state. Published studies have shown that tapping lowers key stress hormone levels and the therapy continues to be the subject of clinical trials.
See my page on the tapping technique for more information and to see a video with the tapping points that you can easily follow with your own symptom. You can find it here.
Some answers to common questions about the tapping process:
How long do I tap the points for?
About 8-10 taps on each point is fine. If you feel comforted by tapping a particular point stay there longer.
What pressure should I use to tap?
A gentle tap is all that's required, there is no particular pressure needed, a light touch is fine.
Is the sequence of the points important?
No, it's just easier to remember the points if you tap from the head down. You should do the 'set up' on the side of the hand first but after that the sequence of the points doesn't matter. It helps to tap all of the points but sometimes, for example in a public place, you might not feel comfortable tapping all the face points so just do what you can - like tap around the nail beds.
How often should I tap to get the best results?
You can use tapping as a 'first aid' remedy such as when you feel anxious or worried about something to help you feel calmer but you can also use it for longer-term issues like lack of confidence or a physical symptom. In this instance you could tap whenever you feel unconfident or are aware of your symptom but also explore some aspects around your symptom and tap on them. Perhaps you have a bad memory of something that rocked your confidence or you remember the day you first experienced a pain. There are so many aspects to symptoms and you can keep exploring and tapping. Perhaps set a daily or weekly time for some tapping. You might be very surprised with what comes up for you but just keep tapping on it...
What is the point of the 'set up' process?
This addresses an issue called 'psychological reversal' - basically where you have a desire to achieve a particular goal but then sabotage your progress toward it through your action (or lack of action). An example would be you know exactly what you need to do to eat healthily but can't seem to stop yourself raiding the biscuit tin. You want a clear, uncluttered room but can't shake yourself out of a state of inertia to even make a start. You desire joy and peace in your mind but seem programmed for irritation and anxiety. Procrastination, negative thinking, avoidance, the same life lessons returning to you time and time again. Helping psychological reversal is not about will power, it's just that life made you believe something about yourself which is now influencing you. It's something I work with a lot in kinesiology because these unconscious beliefs really keep you stuck and unable to move towards your desires. By initially tapping on this you are helping resolve these conflicting states; that's why the phrase is 'even though (I have these thoughts or symptoms) I accept myself' or some similar words.
What actually are the tapping points?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, much importance is placed on the meridians. These are lines of energy running throughout the body. They are like a communication system and each meridian flows into the next. The meridians are subject to physical, mental and emotional influences that can cause their flow to change - like too fast, too slow, weak, overbearing or blocked altogether. The meridians have an association with muscles, organs, systems and emotions and are thought to play a key role in the recovery of health. When complementary therapists talk of 'balancing energy' they are often referring to flows through these or other energy channels. Lots of therapies use the meridians like kinesiology and acupuncture. The points that are tapped are the end-points of the meridians so you are encouraging a free flow through them whilst bringing a symptom to mind which is probably influencing their flow in a negative way.
By combining psychology (by engaging the thoughts you have about a specific symptom) and influencing the meridian system, the body can be encouraged out of a state of stress and into a state of relaxation. When we are operating with a more relaxed nervous system, we have access to logical thinking, an improved ability to change perceptions and the body can go into a state of healing rather than a state of 'flight, fright or freeze', which is the reaction to a stressed state. Published studies have shown that tapping lowers key stress hormone levels and the therapy continues to be the subject of clinical trials.
