Emotional Freedom Technique
In this article, we present you some methods and techniques that can help you in stress management and burnout prevention. One of the efficient methods is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
Its author Gary Craig states that EFT could deliberate us from difficult thoughts, feelings, and even uncomfortable body sensations. EFT works through specific zone activation while focusing on situations that represent some personal fears or traumas.
Gary Craig elaborated EFT based on the knowledge of various theoretical and practical healing systems like ancient Asian healing practices, neuro-linguistic programming, energy medicine, somatic exposure therapy, etc. He claimed that the technique may relief a wide variety of psychological and physical dysfunctions, and tried to organize it simply and with ease as a self-support practice. According to him, EFT can clear negative emotions and some emotional traumas. Thus Craig incorporated all these sources and classified EFT as energy therapy, employing the idea of Qi (chi). This is, in Asian medicine, the “energy” that has historically been believed to flow through the body.
Although it is still questionable among scientific circles for not having a healing effect, EFT could give a lot of benefits, even if it is just a placebo stimulus. If it works, what does it matter if it is a placebo?! For psychological health, it has an even stronger effect. Craig believes tapping/stimulating acupuncture points provide the basis for significant psychological problem’s improvement.
How EFT can be used to relieve stress and anxiety?!
The person starts by focusing on a specific emotional issue while tapping on typical, corresponding these emotional issues, body points and zones. Ancient Chinese call them ‘endpoints of body meridians’ – such as the top of the head, eyebrows, under and side of eyes, chin, cheek and collar bone, under the arms, palm, fingertips, upper chest, the back area between the shoulders and neck, etc. While tapping, the person could focus his or her attention on the emotional component of a physical manifestation, rating the emotional intensity of his or her reaction. In some variations of EFT practice, eye movements and deep breathing are incorporated to increase the efficiency of the technique. The tapping is repeated until a change in the emotional intensity is noted.