I don't understand what EFT works for.

[runningbird]

My problem is that I feel terrible about not having a job or a source of income for a year, and thus living with my parents and living a very uneventful existence. I wouldn't say that I constantly feel "emotional" about this, but that it is a block on my "attitude" that makes me view myself as less worthy and competent than others. The emotional part usually happens when everyone is talking about work and the fun trips they take and things they do in their free time, and I have little to talk about. I feel judged.

So, I couldn't use EFT in the midst of conversation, but could I use it in my free time to release the block on my "attitude", or disposition to feeling judged and looked down upon? Is there a better way? Honestly I think it is mostly placebo from the studies and theory I have looked into, but I am willing to try something.

Sometimes recently I just feel hopeless about life.
There have been so many opportunities for jobs and income that seemed very promising, but they keep falling through again and again. And the situation just keeps getting more embarrasing.

[Mogget]

So use something other than EFT if you think it is only a placebo and don't know whow to apply it to your situation in any case... I would go with hypnosis/NLP state elicitation and anchoring to get yourself a better headspace and to project better at interviews etc.

I have personally found EFT helpful sometimes - for me it works well as a "reset" to any debilitating or looping emotional or sensory experience and I use it accordingly. My non-energetic interpretation of how it works is: as an interuption to anticipated stimulus to the nervous system, either internal or external kinaesthetics. Anticipation can heighten your responses, and your nervous system can actually pre-emt, over-react, or go on reacting long after the stimulus has ceased if it gets to looping, or anticipating....

By interrupting your sensory input when you go banging away on these various nerve points you get a clean state to evaluate you current sensory data and adjust your response accordingly. By repeating the tapping sequences you can ratchet your response down to a normal or acceptable level. Having the opportnity to have a normal response to a formerly stressful situation teaches you better ways of handling the situation, and can generalise into a better approach in future.

[runningbird]

Thank you for your response. I guess it won't hurt to try.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by runningbird

Honestly I think it is mostly placebo from the studies and theory I have looked into, but I am willing to try something.(

It's definitely not a placebo effect. The main EFT website has hundreds of stories where people were healed of things and they didn't even believe that EFT would work, they just did as their practitioner instructed them to do.

There are also many stories of people who were healed with EFT, then refused to believe that it was really EFT that healed them. Sometimes they even claim that they never really had a problem to begin with.


I can attest to EFT working. About 3 years ago I cured myself of lactose intolerance with it, and that is supposedly a non-curable condition. So, it worked for me.

[Eduard E]

Me neither. That's why I got pulled toward other acronyms, like CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). Also, try this: CBT San Francisco Bay Area Depression Anxiety Cognitive Behavioral Psychologist

[Abitofzen]

I understand where you're coming from... I can't count how many times I had to move back in with my parents... but the last time was over 10 years ago... so with any luck, I'm finally free

Less than a year ago, though... I was jobless, relying on my wife (fiance at the time) for support... which was fairly embarrassing.

These things happen.

Just remember to take care of your loved ones when it's your turn...

As far as EFT goes:

Originally Posted by runningbird

So, I couldn't use EFT in the midst of conversation

You can use EFT practically anywhere... you might not be able to do a full 'sandwich' procedure, but you can definitely tap or hold some finger points while consciously breathing a bit deeper...

I did a post on just this a while back:

PeacefulProsperity.com/Simple-Secrets-of-Covert-EFT

Take a look if you find this interesting.

I am also convinced that EFT is more than placebo... but even if it wasn't, the placebo effect has been shown to be as powerful as morphine in 49-85% of cases (depending on which research you study)... which shows us just how powerful belief can be.

The lesson of EFT, hypnosis, NLP, and many other healing methodologies is:

When you gain rapport with the deeper aspects of yourself... unexplainable healings are possible!

With proper application of EFT, you will experience the emotional charge being reduced or eliminated from the feelings of judgment...

You will come back into a place of acceptance of self.

And that's a nice place to be

keep smiling,

Ben

[runningbird]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have been meaning to give it a try - I felt better after reading about the technique, but have been procrastinating seriously practicing it. I need to get into a routine.

I have heard good things about CBT too but I just am not sure of a concrete technique to use yet; I don't know enough about it. Thanks for the link but I will most likely check out a book instead sometime (hate reading books on pc).

[Curtis2011]

My reasoning is that for those who don't want to accept the idea of energy meridians within us, that's totally fine.

But the reality is that thousands of people using EFT are showing measurable, physical changes where they weren't before using EFT.

Even if it were a placebo effect, it is still working more effective than medicine in many cases. There are tons of stories on the website where people say "the doctor told me it would take 6 months to heal... I used EFT and two weeks later I made a full recovery and my doctor couldn't believe it".

Unfortunately the same people usually also add "I tried to tell my doctor about EFT but he just wouldn't accept it". If EFT is getting results like this, I don't see why not to accept it. You don't have to know how your car engine works to know that if you step on the gas pedal it will go forward. Likewise, even if an engineer says "all cars run on happy thoughts", that shouldn't stop you from driving cars just because you don't agree with the premise behind their creators.

[RagsToRiches]

I have had no tanigble results from EFT at all.

That isn't to say it's not useful for some people - but I was unable to make it work.

So for me personally I've found and use much more effective techniques for emotional mastery.

[Kneegrow]

Same here. I used it to no avail. It's pretty frustrating to be honest

[runningbird]

What have (both of) you used instead?

[Kathe76]

Jumping in here totally off the wall, but what is EFT?

[Plays With Life]

Originally Posted by Kathe76

Jumping in here totally off the wall, but what is EFT?

It stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It's this tapping thing you can do, on a specific set of some meridian points (ie, acupuncture/acupressure points) to resolve uncomfortable emotions.

[Kathe76]

Ah, say no more. Thank you for telling me. I did not know that was the official name for it, but I know what it is. Someone I know called that tapping.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by Plays With Life

It stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques. It's this tapping thing you can do, on a specific set of some meridian points (ie, acupuncture/acupressure points) to resolve uncomfortable emotions.

Not only emotions, but it tends to result in physical healing as well.

Originally Posted by Kathe76

Ah, say no more. Thank you for telling me. I did not know that was the official name for it, but I know what it is. Someone I know called that tapping.

Many people have sort of re-branded EFT as their own new twist of it. This is partially because of the many ways you can do EFT and still get results with it, partially due to copyright issues with the creator of EFT, and partially just the way people want to market EFT to the public.

The thing they all have in common is to tap on certain meridian points. Aside from that, every practitioner tends to have their own "favorite way" of doing it.

[Coffeesmurf]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

But the reality is that thousands of people using EFT are showing measurable, physical changes where they weren't before using EFT.

Even if it were a placebo effect, it is still working more effective than medicine in many cases. There are tons of stories on the website where people say "the doctor told me it would take 6 months to heal... I used EFT and two weeks later I made a full recovery and my doctor couldn't believe it".

Positive stories posted on a website actively advocating EFT doesn't really prove anything at all. For all we know, every one of those stories could be fabricated. I'm sure you can find lots of positive stories about how Scientology improved peoples lifes immensely on their website, for instance.

Please not that I'm not saying EFT doesn't work. I'm just saying that, unlike CBT, there isn't enough evidence to support that it does. If it really is as effective as they say it is - then put it to a scientific test.

[Jasonv]

There was a study conducted using Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT). TAT is similar to EFT in that it involves using holding meridian points while saying a statement.

The study found that people using TAT were able to maintain weight loss better than the people in the study groups using other techniques.

This is also true for me in my own experience. I used TAT about the negative beliefs and associations I had about food a couple years ago and I was able to lose and keep off a lot of weight.

The study is now being conducted on a much larger scale, I think with government funding. You might be able to read about that on the creators site. www.tatlife.com

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Coffeesmurf

If it really is as effective as they say it is - then put it to a scientific test.

Scientific testing is a pretty time-consuming, expensive, and unnecessary way to find out if it's effective or not.

It's free and it only takes a minute or two. All you have to do is give it a try, and see if you like the results.

[Coffeesmurf]

Originally Posted by Angela

Scientific testing is a pretty time-consuming, expensive, and unnecessary way to find out if it's effective or not.

It's free and it only takes a minute or two. All you have to do is give it a try, and see if you like the results.

Sure, but any results could just be a placebo effect and jumping on one leg might be just as effective

Anyways - just wanted to suggest being somewhat critical of positive hype from the people behind a product. But if people get a good effect from doing it, I suppose it doesn't really matter if it's just placebo

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Coffeesmurf

Sure, but any results could just be a placebo effect and jumping on one leg might be just as effective

That is true, jumping on one leg might be very effective at feeling a little better. I'll bet it is, as a matter of fact. That doesn't diminish the possible effectiveness of EFT, though. It's nice to have many tools in one's belt -- if one doesn't work, another will!

I'm a big fan of free placebos. I don't know why they have such a bum rap.

[JSB]

Originally Posted by Angela

I'm a big fan of free placebos. I don't know why they have such a bum rap.

I agree. The placebo effect is engaging the body-mind's ability to heal itself directly. What a great result!

[Senin]

Originally Posted by Angela

Scientific testing is a pretty time-consuming, expensive, and unnecessary way to find out if it's effective or not.

It's free and it only takes a minute or two. All you have to do is give it a try, and see if you like the results.

Unnecessary?


Hmmm.


Who is it that says testing is unnecessary?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Senin

Unnecessary?
Hmmm.
Who is it that says testing is unnecessary?

It's me that says scientific testing is unnecessary for a subjective experience like EFT.

[mjump7]

Hey runningbird~

The thing is you don't have a job.

I'd say, try focusing on getting a job.

Then you won't need all these techniques and maneuvers to keep you happy.

Get a job.

Other people got the job and work daily without needing any of the techniques to help them get out of the gloomy hole.

And I say this with compassion, as I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

[Twinma]

EFT has helped me with my anxiety, fear of flying (to the point that I no longer have the fear after 16 years), nausea, headaches, and work-related issues like intimidation and doubt. I use it on my kids too.

I can tap on the collarbone point and it melts me. The founder is retiring on Jan 10 so if you wish to buy his DVD's or even download the free manual you should not wait. The site is emofree.com

[ProjectX]

There is another great Emotional release technique called the Sedona Method and it doesn't require a lot of time or motivation to do as tapping. All you do is "Let go" in your mind and negative thoughts can go away within minutes.
I have used both EFT and Sedona, both do work but I prefer the Sedona as it is easier. EFT is a more advanced form of release but it does require a lot of attention and privacy. The Sedona Method can be done any public place like in a bus.

[ohTen]

i've been doing EFT on and off for a year. here are my observations.

• EFT is definitely not a placebo. i feel tangible physical and mental changes after a tapping session. any physical pain lessens and the mind enters a clear, sleepy state.
  
• EFT before bed makes my dreams much more vivid and interesting. I also fall asleep much faster.
  
• EFT does not solve your problems, but it is an effective catalyst for taking action to solve them. If I tap on something consistently and regularly, i will gain some insight or have some breakthrough as to how I can change. This usually happens in a matter of days. Regardless of whether you're tackling your bad feelings about being unemployed with EFT, Prozac, or Booze: nothing's going to solve the problem except going out and looking for a job (or taking some action to get a source of income in place).
  
• That said, EFT is very effective in helping you get unstuck.
  
• EFT works best if practiced daily. It is a great pre-meditation exercise.
  
• The benefits of EFT are not felt instantly. Expect to keep at it for two to three weeks before seeing or feeling results. You need to have some momentum built up.
  
• Your mind needs to be in it for it to work. Idly tapping while focusing on something else is not effective.

[beatnix]

Originally Posted by Jasonv

There was a study conducted using Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT). TAT is similar to EFT in that it involves using holding meridian points while saying a statement.

The study found that people using TAT were able to maintain weight loss better than the people in the study groups using other techniques.

This is also true for me in my own experience. I used TAT about the negative beliefs and associations I had about food a couple years ago and I was able to lose and keep off a lot of weight.

The study is now being conducted on a much larger scale, I think with government funding. You might be able to read about that on the creators site. www.tatlife.com

Thanks for mentioning your experiences with TAT. I've got the book but haven't used the technique in a while so thanks for reminding me