EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

and Eating Disorder Recovery

With my experience in using EFT, I believe it could be effective in helping people with eating disorders.  I’m certainly not suggesting that anyone stop anything they’re currently doing in their recovery, but I can see EFT being a useful tool.  And, of course, a physician should be consulted regarding medical issues.  I’ll share a simplistic explanation of EFT here to give the gist of what EFT is, and I’ll also share some things about my own experience with EFT to illustrate how it can work.  In addition, I’ve included some things to keep in mind if you would like to try EFT and some links on the use of EFT in eating disorder recovery as well as EFT and Christian beliefs.

What Is EFT?

EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique.  As I attempt to explain what EFT is, it may sound strange, but there is a scientific basis for it, and it’s an effective technique for many of the emotional as well as physical problems we experience.

Our Bodies Have an Electrical Nature

EFT is based on the fact that our bodies have an electrical nature.  It’s through this energy flow that messages are sent through the body enabling us to see, hear, feel, taste and smell.  The circuits through which our energy flows through the body are called meridians.

If you find it difficult to imagine our bodies having an electrical component to them, realize that some common tests you’re probably familiar with are designed as they are to record electrical activity.  An EKG records the electrical activity of the heart, and an EEG records the electrical activity of the brain.  Also, how else would we experience shocks from static electricity if our bodies didn’t have any electrical nature?

Our Electrical Nature and Emotions

We commonly believe that our thoughts and memories cause our negative emotions.  However, there is a bit more to it than many of us have heard of before, and that is an energy disruption, like an electrical short if you will.  With that in mind, the sequence is 1) a memory, 2) energy disruption, 3) negative emotion.

Some people have more of a tendency toward disruptions in their energy systems than others, but this does not mean there is anything wrong with them.  Each of us is unique with tendencies all our own.  It’s just how we are made.

How EFT Can Help

While tuning into a memory with an associated negative emotion and saying certain phrases about their experience, a person taps on certain meridians (generally on the face, collarbone, under the arm and on the hand).  This tapping corrects the energy disruptions that cause the negative emotions.  The individual is then able to recall the memory without feeling the emotions previously attached to it.  Therefore, they don’t have to be affected by that experience anymore.  This brings emotional freedom.

How I Used EFT

I worked, over the phone, with an experienced practitioner.  I told Eloisa what I wanted to work on, and she asked me questions related to the details of specific memories.  Then she would come up with phrases that I repeated as I tapped on certain meridians.  As I did the rounds of tapping, the emotions associated with my memories dissipated.  In some instances, I worked on issues that were emotionally challenging for me and in other instances, I worked on physical problems and addressed the underlying emotional issues. 

We didn’t spend a lot of time discussing things as it was the tapping that actually helped me because that’s what cleared my emotions by correcting past energy disruptions.  Eloisa sometimes asked me, “What is the earliest memory of this emotion you’re feeling right now?”  I would then tap on that.  To help test my progress, she sometimes asked before and after rounds of tapping, “On a scale of 0-10, how would you rate the intensity of the emotion you’re feeling?”  Other times, to test my progress, she asked, “Where in your body do you feel this emotion?”  As that emotion was released, I no longer felt it in my body.

Sometimes my emotions were pretty intense, and one of the advantages of EFT is that you don’t have to relive emotions to the fullest extent in order to release them.  For example, one time when I felt a lot of anger, and I was afraid that if I let all of it surface at once, I would lose complete control.  Eloisa asked what I could put the anger in.  This concept was new to me, so I had no ideas.  Eloisa suggested a balloon.  This was an amazing session because I pictured the anger inside of a balloon and gradually released it through the balloon’s opening.  Another time I felt overwhelming hurt, and she asked what I could put it in.  I pictured a huge black iron pot.  It was actually so large that there was no way I could picture myself placing the hurt inside of the pot because I couldn’t reach the top of it.  Eloisa suggested that I have God help me.  I then imagined handing the hurt over to Him, and He placed it into the pot for me.  I’m amazed at the images that come to mind during EFT sessions that help me release my emotions.  It’s like I’ve discovered a whole new part of my brain.

At the time of this writing, I’m still doing EFT.  I generally have a three-hour session once each week.  In three month’s time, I’ve had the following results:

Ability to work through a very sensitive gag reflex so I could tolerate extensive dental work (which is the reason I tried EFT)

Worked through work issues

Worked through family issues

Blood pressure went back to normal

Energy returned

Vision went back to normal

Sleep pattern improved

I have found EFT to be particularly helpful in areas where I felt stuck, where I could logically see something in the past from a different point of view, but I was still emotionally affected by it.  It was very helpful for me when my emotions seemed to be too much to handle.  By doing EFT, I was able to release those emotions and let go of things that were hurting me.

I have a number of health problems I plan to address yet through EFT.  Sometimes I do EFT on my own, but so far, my best results come while I’m working with Eloisa.

If You Would Like To Try EFT

If you would like to try EFT, here are some things to keep in mind. 

EFT tends to work quickly and the results can be dramatic.  However, if you have complicated or chronic issues, it can take some time to thoroughly address various aspects of what you’re working on.  Keep working at it, and you may be amazed at the results.

You don’t have to incorporate any type of spiritual belief in your EFT sessions, and you don’t have to have the same spiritual beliefs as your practitioner.  I incorporated my Christian beliefs into my sessions and found it very helpful.  However, it is not necessary for EFT to work.

You can start your EFT journey skeptical, but you can still get results.

The mind and body connection is stronger than we sometimes realize.  You may get what are called “pleasant side effects” meaning that as you work on emotional issues you may notice that some physical problems disappear.  This may not happen, but don’t be surprised if it does. 

Be honest with yourself and with your practitioner.  If you are unsure of whether you want to recover from your eating disorder, share that with your practitioner.  You can even tap on that.

By googling EFT practitioners you can find various sites with listing of practitioners from different parts of the world.  EFT can be done over the phone (my practitioner called me) so it isn’t necessary that you find a practitioner in your area.    

When I looked for a practitioner, I noticed that not all of them post their fees on their websites.  For those who did, I noticed the cost varies quite a bit.    

I generally have three-hour sessions, but you can have shorter sessions if that works better for you and your practitioner.

I work with Eloisa Ramos. Here is a link to her site.  Healing with EFT

EFT and ED Recovery

EFT is fairly new yet, but it is being used in eating disorder recovery. 

The traditional psychiatry, psychotherapy and medicine practitioners at the Mirasol eating disorder treatment center work closely with practitioners of complementary medicine.  EFT is one of the alternative treatments offered in their program.  Mirasol

I found that the National Centre for Eating Disorders (UK) offers training for the use of EFT in eating disorder recovery.  National Centre for Eating Disorders

EFT and Christian Beliefs

If you wonder if EFT is in conflict with your Christian beliefs, I offer links to a few articles for your review.

Here is an article by Larry Nims that I think addresses this concern very well. 

Addressing Christian Concerns About EFT and Energy Psychology Therapies

I found other writings that referenced the above article.  The comments were positive overall.  This blog post by Cia Watson offers both positive and negative feedback.  Addressing Christian Concerns about EFT

Here is an article by Steve De Santo about EFT and Christian beliefs. Christianity & EFT

If you would like to work with a Christian EFT practitioner, you may want to consider working with Susan Tracy, who incorporates prayer in her EFT sessions or Cia Watson, who combines Christian beliefs and spiritual warfare in her practice of EFT.  

*I do not endorse everything on every site for which I’ve provided links.  Use your own discernment.

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