If living with stress and anxiety has become the norm, it is time to recognize the impact your mental health has on your body. Stress, anxiety and frustration, if left untreated, weaken our immune systems, leading to internal imbalance.
Headaches, digestive problems, high blood pressure, chest pain, impotence, and insomnia are just some of the physical symptoms that manifest. Stress has also been linked to more serious health problems, such as coronary heart disease, cancer, lung ailments and cirrhosis of the liver.
You can reduce the effects and eliminate stress with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a highly effective, simple and quick remedy for easing negative emotions and realigning the body’s internal balance. 
EFT has shown success in not only eliminating stress-induced emotions, but also in reducing food cravings, diminishing pain and helping to achieve positive intentions.
The technique combines physical acupressure points – the same meridian channels and pressure points used in acupuncture – with the power of positive thinking.
Coined “psychological acupressure”, EFT is based on the core principle that a free-flowing electromagnetic energy field governs our bodies.
When that energy field is obstructed, both our bodies and minds are negatively affected. By manipulating acupressure points, we can remove the block and allow our energy field to flow unobstructed once again.
How to Start Using the Emotional Freedom Technique
Instead of using needles, emotional freedom technique (EFT) uses a simple tapping technique done with the fingertips to activate nine specific acupressure points located in the head and chest to eliminate stress from everyday issues. The acupressure points from top to bottom are:
- The top of the head, at the center of the skull
- The point where the eyebrow begins, just above and to the side of the nose
- The bone on the outside corner of the eyes
- The bone underneath the eye, about 1 inch below the pupil
- The point between the bottom of the nose and the upper lip
- The point between the bottom of the lower lip and the chin
- The point where the breastbone and the collarbone meet
- The point 4 inches below the armpit on the side of the body
- The midpoint on the inside of both wrists
Tapping on these points firmly but comfortably, releases kinetic energy into the meridians, restoring mind/body balance. Each point should be tapped 5 to 7 times, about the length of a full inhale. While easiest to tap from top to bottom, the order does not matter, as long as you touch all the points.
Traditional emotional freedom technique (EFT) specifies taping with the index finger and middle finger and with only one hand, but practitioners vary on the method.
Many encourage using all of your fingertips and both hands since more acupressure points are stimulated using this method. Because more meridians are located on our fingertips, be sure to tap with the tips as opposed to the finger pads.
Don’t worry about precision; tapping the general area of the pressure points is just as effective. When performing emotional freedom technique (EFT), remove glasses and watches, as they block access to pressure points and can interfere with the electromagnetic energy field.
The tapping should be accompanied by positive affirmations stated clearly and with conviction. Affirmations describe a desired outcome, and when repeated, effect change on both a conscious and subconscious level. The power of affirmation has been demonstrated by many studies.
One recent study involving Applied Kinesiology showed that positive words and thoughts cause muscles to become strong, whereas negative words and thoughts cause muscles to become weaker.
When stating the affirmations and activating the meridians, think about the issue at hand. Address the problem head-on and do not disengage from your feelings.
Voice out loud any affirmation that resonates with you, or use the traditional EFT affirmation: “Even though I have this [name the problem here], I deeply and completely accept myself.”
You can use emotional freedom technique (EFT) to alleviate fears of failure and success, and to overcome limiting beliefs and body image anxieties. Dr Joseph Mercola, an advocate and medical practitioner of EFT since 2001, recommends performing EFT 10 times a day for optimal treatment, but you can use the technique as often or as little as you wish.
There are many videos on the Internet that walk you through the technique but perhaps one of the most complete and definitive one is a documentary film on DVD available to practice the emotional freedom technique (EFT).
