EFT, or Emotional Freedom Techniques, is a peculiar thing. It’s a bit like acupuncture, only instead of needles, you tap on certain points on your body with your fingers. It sounds like something out of a New Age fair, but it has been gaining popularity in recent years.
The technique was invented by a chap called Gary Craig in the 1990s. He was a Stanford-trained engineer, which seems an unlikely background for someone who would invent a healing technique, but there you go. Craig was inspired by the work of a psychologist called Roger Callahan, who had developed a similar technique called Thought Field Therapy.
The theory behind EFT is that negative emotions are caused by disruptions in the body’s energy pathways. Tapping on specific points on the body is said to balance the body’s energy, reducing the intensity of negative emotions and physical symptoms. It’s a bit like hitting the reset button on a computer.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. This all sounds a bit far-fetched, and you’d be right to be skeptical. But there have been some scientific studies on the effectiveness of EFT, although the evidence is mixed. Some studies have found that EFT can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, while others have found no significant effects.
One thing that should be noted is that EFT is considered a complementary or alternative therapy, and is not widely accepted as a mainstream treatment. The American Psychological Association has not taken an official position on EFT, but has suggested that more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness.
Of course, there are plenty of practitioners and individuals who swear by EFT and say it has changed their lives. But then, there are also those who have tried it and found it to be of no use. As with most things in life, it’s a bit of a lottery.
Personally, I must admit that I have tried EFT myself, so I can speak from experience. I have had enormous success with it and something I always return to. I do find the idea of tapping on specific points on the body to alleviate emotional distress to be an intriguing one. And who knows, perhaps one day the scientific community will come to a consensus on the effectiveness of EFT. But until then, it remains a curious and somewhat controversial therapy.
