It’s April and here we are again…income tax time. Oi vey, if you’re like me, gathering your tax info together for your accountant is not one of your favorite tasks. Not only is it a tedious endeavor, but in this tough economy, it can be stressful to see the “bottom lines” as far as income and expenses are concerned. Can you relate?
So, instead of simply drumming your fingers on your desk to release pent-up stress, you might want to consider adding EFT to your “self-care” tool kit. Now, in case you’ve not heard of it—or seen it featured on Dr. Oz’s website — EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique.
The good news is, EFT is a simple tool to learn, and for many people, this technique is a powerful way to reduce stress. EFT consists of gentle fingertip tapping at specific places on the body that align with a person’s acupuncture meridian points. So, the acupuncture meridian points are stimulated without the use of needles.
To give you a bit of historical background, Stanford engineer Gary Craig developed EFT to assist people in reducing or clearing emotional pain and negativity that may have fueled their fears and self-destructive behaviors. Now, after teaching clients how to use EFT on themselves for the past nine years in my private practice—I must admit—I am a big fan of this tool. For this reason, I often teach EFT to people who want to release an unhealthy habit such as nail biting, cigarette smoking, or overeating.
For instance, I taught EFT to Richard (a fifty-year-old man) whose medical doctor referred him to me after Richard’s weight escalated to an unhealthy level. During our first session, Richard confessed (while staring at the floor) that he’d been eating fast food—a super-sized cheeseburger, fries, and a shake—multiple times throughout his week (for the past several years). Then, most every evening, after supper, he’d watch TV while nibbling foods … that were drenched in salt, fat, and sugar.
I explained to Richard that overeating high levels of salt, fat, and sugar can create addictive cycles. For example, former U.S. Food and Drug Administrator David Kessler, M.D., explains how foods high in salt, fat, and sugar alter the brain’s chemistry by creating a release of powerful chemicals, such as dopamine and natural pain-killing substances called opioids. Surprisingly, these are the very same chemicals that are released when people are addicted to alcohol, cigarette smoking, and drugs.
After Richard gained a clear “intellectual understanding” of why his unhealthy food cravings had gotten out of control, we addressed his junk-food addiction during two EFT sessions. Between sessions, Richard used EFT on his own. He was surprised and delighted when EFT’s tapping methods helped him move past his cravings — without reaching for the habitual junk foods. Richard was no longer “a puppet” of his unhealthy cravings! As a result, Richard was pleased to see his weight begin to go down, while his energy levels and self-esteem … began to go up!
In addition to weight loss, when doctors or psychologists send referrals to me, I often teach my clients how to use EFT for the following personal challenges:
- Stress
- Cigarette smoking
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Life transitions: career change, empty nest, or retirement
Finally, if the idea of adding EFT to your stress-reducing “repertoire” sounds appealing, then call or email me today. After all, you might be surprised to find that EFT’s tapping — to release pent-up emotions and unhealthy habits — is much more productive than simply drumming your fingers on your desk. In fact, after experiencing the gifts of EFT, you just may be happy that … you let your fingers do the “tapping!”
Name and client details changed to protect confidentiality.
To receive Trina’s FREE newsletter “Transformational Tips for Mindful Living,” sign-up on her website: www.TrinaSwerdlow.com
Trina Swerdlow, BFA, CCHT, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an artist, and the author and illustrator of Stress Reduction Journal. She currently has a private practice in downtown Danville. You can reach her at: (925) 285.5759, or info@TrinaSwerdlow.com.
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy services in California can be alternative or complementary to licensed healing arts, such as psychotherapy.
Leave a Reply