HELLO magazine: I tried EFT (tapping)
Every week I write a column for Hello Magazine, and am on a mission to cut through the noise and find out what really works, in order to help you become the happiest, healthy version of yourself. I set out to explore everything and anything I can to increase happiness, and promise not to hold back.
Living in a world that’s constantly pushing and pulling us to achieve more, do more or earn more – can be overwhelming to say the least. One thing we can all agree we want more of, and let’s be honest, need, is happiness. Th quest to be happy can feel both all-consuming and never-ending, and often we don’t know where to start to reach those desired dopamine levels or feel energised by joy.
There’s a lot of noise out there in the wellness industry, with an abundance of treatments, therapies and professionals on offer – all promising to boost our general wellbeing and in turn make us happier. But what really works? How do you know where to start? This week I wrote about my experience with trying EFT, in order to overcome anxiety.
EFT sits happily under the umbrella of ‘holistic’ treatments, and despite remaining relatively unknown by the masses, its popularity as a healing modality is growing. There’s no shortage of famous faces singing its benefits, with even Prince Harry claiming to be a convert. The Emotional Freedom Technique (also known as ‘tapping’), is similar to acupuncture, but without the needles. The process entails gently self-tapping various points on your face and body (the ends of your meridian lines), in order to clear blocks or built-in pockets of trauma. It’s a mind-body technique, that is said to calm anxiety, treat phobias, unlock traumatic memories, clear panic, heal PTSD, depression, addictions and so much more. Having tried a myriad of holistic treatments thus far, tapping feels like a missing piece of my happiness puzzle.
My attention was brought to EFT many years ago, by a holistic health practitioner I was working with to heal from an auto-immune condition. When I had reached the point of being completely exacerbated, exhausted by a constant brain fog and suffering chronic fatigue, she suggested we give it a go. Despite initially considering the treatment a waste of both of our time, I reluctantly gave in as a last resort. When we began the session, my brain fog was so severe that I was waking up every single morning confused at where I was, not remembering how I had got into bed and feeling like I’d drunk three bottles of wine the night before. Of which I had not (to clarify!). Within the first 10 – 15minutes of our session, it felt as if someone had cleared my vision and I could see again. The fog lifted and I felt complete clarity in my mind. This concept might sound bizarre unless you too have had the misfortune of suffering with a chronic illness. I burst into tears and couldn’t believe how different I felt, free from confusion and the most ‘normal’ I had felt in a long time. Nothing I had ever tried had had such an immediate effect on a symptom that had otherwise felt incurable.
Fast-forward to today, on my new mission for increased happiness and health – I decided to try another session. I’ve always been curious as to whether that first session was a wonderful placebo, or whether EFT is as powerful as it claims to be. I booked in with Georgia Wood, an EFT practitioner and yoga teacher in South London.
During a current very chaotic and stressful period my life, I have recently began to experience my first bout of anxiety. Having never suffered before, my body has been experiencing the physical sensations of panic while my mind races at 100 miles an hour. Despite being equipped to deal with the rational side of my brain, knowing that it’s just being overwhelmed and I’ll get through it, it’s the physical sensations I can’t seem to control. After a 10-minute consultation with Georgia, I knew I was in very safe capable hands. Our first session took place on zoom, and after15mins of discussing how I was feeling and why I thought that way, we began. Repeating phrases after Georgia, and following her lead on the screen, I began by gently ‘tapping’ a point on my head. We followed this same pattern – Georgia speaking and tapping with me copying her – and moved down through various points on my face and to my collarbone. When we started the session, I reported feeling 8/10 anxiety. I felt initially conscious that this method wasn’t going to work on me and it would be a waste of everyone’s time, as the tapping does feel strange to begin with. Logically my mind couldn’t understand how the process would help me feel calm, but we kept going as I was desperate to find something to help. We repeated this process for about 20 minutes, with the phrases getting shorter and still following the methodical tapping process. It wasn’t a sudden shift, but as soon as we stopped, I noticed the anxious ‘bubbling’ feeling I had been experiencing had lessened almost to a point of non-existence. I was down to a 3/10 – in such a short space of time. I still cant explain how/why it works, but there’s no doubt in my mind as to its effectiveness as a treatment.
It’s hard to explain why tapping works – but it does. There’s something about accessing your memories and connecting your thoughts to your body, that allows you to process and release stored tension/fears/worries. Through the process, you’re able to reframe and rewire the conditioned negative response of the brain – which is why it’s so effective for letting negative thought patterns and behaviours go. It’s the brains natural neuroplasticity which allows it to change and adapt, even later in life. Georgia’s incredibly calming, nurturing nature really helped to support the change and allow space for any emotions that arose.
The most brilliant part of EFT, is that you can do it anywhere at any time. Since our session, whenever I have felt that niggly bubbling feeling rising in my chest, I follow the pattern taught my Georgia and am able to relax as it relinquishes control. I will spend 5 – 10 minutes in the bathroom or at home whenever I need. So often when we struggle with anxiety, panic, phobias and fears – we can feel out of control when they start to rise as we aren’t always well-equipped to deal with them. Since our session I have recommended friends for trouble with sleeping, night terrors, panic disorders and heartbreak – it seems there’s nothing EFT can’t help.
Book a session with Georgia Wood - £75min per session on zoom
georgia@back-to-you.com