Emotional Freedom Technique and self-compassion with Katia Loizou

Our mid-30s onwards can be a fraught time when everything happens at once. Life changes, career changes, relationship changes and then…. our body and mind change. Being patient with ourselves and those around us is a lot harder, because life feels hard. Many weeks, it feels like we are “one Jenga block away from losing our sanity”. Here are some practical recommendations of dealing with the overwhelm in the moment and a longer explanation of EFT that can provide relief as well.

• Find the trigger of your emotional response and find a way to take yourself out of the immediate situation and gut reaction to it. Example: your partner does something irritating. Remind yourself why you are on this path of relationship with them.

• A parent or child pushes your buttons. Create space between them as a person and their actions. Ideally create some space for yourself to sit and remember to breathe, before responding (pantry, bathroom, balcony).

• A day slips away from you with a seemingly endless number of things that are going wrong. Reframe: find one thing that went ok, is good (weather?) or somethingn you are looking forwrard to.

All easier said than done, so let’s dive into EFT with practitioner Katia Loizou.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a scientifically proven technique, used to reduce psychological distress. EFT is a form of Energy Psychology that combines ancient wisdom (Acupressure), with modern psychology (Cognitive and Exposure therapy).

How does EFT Tapping work?

Based on traditional Chinese medicine, the body has a network of energy pathways, called meridians, in which vital energy is believed to flow. These pathways help balance energy flow to maintain your emotional, physical and cognitive health. Any imbalance can influence disease or sickness. Acupuncture uses needles to restore balance to your body’s energy. EFT uses fingertip tapping to stimulate the acupoints, which is why it is also referred to as “Tapping” or “Psychological acupressure”. EFT sends calming signals to the amygdala, which is the stress center of the brain responsible for fight or flight, by releasing the stress hormone, cortisol. By doing so, this reduces our arousal and brings us back to a quieter, more resourceful state. When tapping and acknowledging an issue, the body relaxes and the amygdala doesn’t set off a “fire alarm,” thus minimizing the negative effect of that said issue. Our memory of the event is still intact, but the psychological and physiological response to it changes permanently because the brain is being rewired.

The Science behind EFT Tapping

Over 300 studies of clinical trials have been researched in more than 10 countries, by more than 60 researchers, whose results have been published in peer-reviewed publications. A large body of research identifies associations between physiological and psychological symptoms, and EFT’s efficacy has been established to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and more.

What’s so special about EFT Tapping?

Clinical EFT is an evidence-based practice.

● It has proven to be effective and long-lasting.

● It’s so deceptively easy that anyone can learn it, even children. Tapping can seem too simple to work, but it is used by the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) for PTSD with veterans, and there is research to support it.

● It’s flexible enough to adapt to any situation or issue.

● It can work quickly to get to the heart of the issue, working to rewire the brain and calm the amygdala, creating safety in the body to ease stress and release fears.

● It can be done anywhere and anytime.

● It is a very gentle, non-invasive technique that doesn’t produce any known negative side effects.

● It doesn’t require any special equipment.

● It is one of the most directed and powerful ways to peel layers away of chronic stress and works even if you are skeptical and don’t believe in it.

EFT Tapping and female self-care

Women in their 30s and 40s face a myriad of challenges and changes as they navigate through various life stages and roles. One of the common reasons is perimenopause, that may begin as early as their mid-30s or as late as their mid-50s. Another one is mental load, which typically falls on women’s shoulders. The cognitive and emotional work needed to manage a household, the demands of balancing a career and family life, along with hormonal imbalances, can lead to added stress, anxiety and sleep deprivation, among other symptoms. Taking some time for yourself is the best way to reduce stress and manage your mental load more efficiently.

Ways EFT Tapping can be helpful, include:

● Relieve stress, anxiety and depression

● Improve some types of physiological markers, including fibromyalgia, tension headaches, chronic pain and psychological trauma in athletes.

● Diminish cravings and addictions, ex. Binge eating, smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc.

● Release unwanted habits

● Weight loss

● Set specific goals to help you improve your physical and mental health

● Improve performance, ex. Sports, school, business, arts, etc.

● Release traumatic events from childhood or recent years that are holding you back

● Improve relationship with oneself by increasing self-esteem, self-worth, self-confidence, and self- love

● Reduce procrastination, ex. help to start or finish a project and getting back into a routine after

having a child

● Release phobias or fears, ex. Fear of public speaking

● Overcome core beliefs (core beliefs are negative thoughts about ourselves that over time we have come to believe as true)

● Foster better sleep cycles and sleep patterns, ex. overcoming insomnia.

Conclusion

EFT Tapping is an extremely versatile and effective self-help technique for immediate relief of distressful symptoms outside the clinical setting, that can make you happier, healthier and more vibrant long term.

Watch the 30 minute video below and do some of the exercises with us to release and relax.