Emotional Freedom Technique and Phobias

EFT Energy Healing Therapy for Phobias

Emotional Freedom Technique case records contain many thousands of files of people who have used EFT therapy for stress relief of their phobias to all manner of objects, situations and occurrences. This is accomplished with simple tapping on the classic EFT acupressure points while holding the phobic negative emotions in mind. This can be easily and quickly accomplished in a conventional office setting or while doing EFT by phone. Sometimes the use of EFT on phone is actually a highly preferable method with phobic individuals, since this Alternative Medicine stress relief technique can avoid many of the very issues that circulate around the fearful anxiety and negative emotions of many phobias (fear of driving, fear of leaving home, fear of germs, fear of strangers, fear of elevators, etc).

The first recorded successful use of a tapping energy healing therapy procedure (called TFT) involved a severe phobia to body washing and water (abultophobia). This widely reported treatment was performed by Richard Callahan, PhD.; it is reported this phobia never returned after more than 20 years.

Phobias are among the most intense and extreme emotional or physiological responses that can debilitate a person and severely limit a normal life. In a genuine phobic response, as opposed to a dislike, the reaction will be prompt and completely out of the individual’s control, resulting in feeling frightened to an overwhelming degree, with strong physiological side effects and a huge stress reaction (labored breathing, weakness, raise in blood pressure, heart palpitations) after each occurrence. In the typical phobia, the individual experiences a fear so intense that even the thought of the object, mentioning the word, or being remotely near the object will provoke an intense phobic reaction.

If it is your intention to use EFT therapy for stress relief of a phobia, it can be a challenge for even a skilled EFT therapist. Gary Craig, developer of Emotional Freedom Technique, reports that for stress relief, it does not matter how long a person has had a phobia, what a particular phobia is related to, or how intense it might be in relation to EFT therapy. He feels that three things matter most in treating phobias successfully. The first is how complex the phobia is in relation to underlying and overlying issues. Next, the value of persistence, which is critical when artful EFT is feckless. Thirdly, the ability to evaluate the “big picture” of how a person’s phobia plays into their life. Many phobias are more than only that. Many phobias are connected and interrelated to other deeper, core, issues that are the real reason for the persistence of the phobia, in spite of previous treatment and common sense to which it is often impervious. Once this underlying core issue has been identified, it too can be addressed with EFT tapping. Once that is done, the phobia no longer has a purpose and its negative energy is easily released by the client.

In the ten years I have used EFT therapy I have come to especially enjoy tapping with clients who have phobias because they are usually rather easy to clear, and once eliminated they often have a large and rewarding influence to improve a person’s life. After a client witnesses the elimination of the negative energy of a phobia, they are dramatically made aware of the power of EFT tapping as an energy healing therapy. It can be that extraordinary.

Key to phobia success is the root issue

Determining the basic or root issue of a phobia is the key to success when using EFT therapy. Clients are seldom aware of what the actual event or events are that created their phobic reaction, although they think they do. Many times, if the client is aware of how a particular phobia started (water phobia after nearly drowning as a child) they do not appreciate the deeper level to which the fear is tethered. It also happens that the event that actually started the fear response seems too unimportant or vague to account for the beginning of the life-altering phobia that distresses them today. As a result, many people think their phobias are just made up in the mind, or they are an expression of mental illness.

Most often, in my experience, stress relief for phobias seems to eventually come down to one of only three larger and overriding fear issues that stay in the background, but support and perpetuate the phobia that captures the client's primary attention. The phobia gets more attention because it has a grave negative impact that is immediately obvious, although the more important underlying issue lurks in the background undetected because its existence does not draw attention to itself as does the phobia.

These deeper unsettling challenges that support many phobias are: fear of shame, fear of pain, and fear of death. When that underlying fear is discovered and incorporated into an EFT therapy setup statement, it is common to promptly reduce the more obvious phobia that has received all the attention.

On hearing this line of reasoning, many patients reply they do not have a fear of shame, fear of pain, or fear of death. Yet, they will admit to a dread or fear of being alone or abandoned; this is actually a fear of death. The same is true that a fear of darkness or fear of financial loss are an expression of the fear of death. Fear of being embarrassed, or fear of being incorrect, expressing the strong need to always be right, all can be thought of as a variation of the fear of shame. Fear of being rebuked or ignored can be interpreted as another form of fear of shame or pain. It seems that the fear of pain serves as the support for many phobias because pain can be interpreted so broadly, such as the pain of a financial loss, the pain of being ignored, the pain of being unloved, the pain of unfulfilled dreams and so on. While most adults do think they are afraid of death, many will admit being afraid to leave people behind or to say goodbye to someone. The same is true of fear of being alone or left behind by others, or a dislike of not completing projects or seeing things through to completion; any of these could be nothing more than a modification of a fear of dying. After 10 years of working with EFT therapy for stress relief, it is my opinion all fears are merely variations of the fear of death, fear of pain, or fear of shame.

In this way, it is seen that the fear of shame, fear of pain, and especially fear of death can be far more pervasive and negatively active in a person’s life than would be apparent on superficial consideration. From these basic fears, many phobias emerge. To treat these phobias effectively with EFT therapy it is essential to focus the stress relief to the cause (fear), rather than effect (phobia). The following is a general approach I have found effective in transforming the negative energy of a phobic challenge over the years.

Start Stress relief for phobias using EFT therapy

Correction of a true phobia requires a good level of experience and knowledge of EFT technique; this is not an appropriate condition for a novice to experiment as a first-time experimental treatment.

The best way to approach a phobia with EFT is to take advantage of its easy and gentle therapeutic approach; no need to rush toward the dreaded phobia – go easy, slow and gentle for best reaction to this work. More so, than with other kinds of challenges, a phobia requires what is known as “pre-work.” This begins by finding a safe starting point for EFT treatment, using a very generic set-up statement that is only vaguely suggestive of the phobia. If a person cannot even think, say or hear the phobic word, it does no good to throw the word around carelessly.

A good starting point is to use a set-up statement that merely addresses the fact that the client has “fears,” “things that terrify me,” “bad feelings that disturb me at certain times.” These wide generalizations are enough to start the EFT process with a phobia; it is the warming up phase. Even if a person has a phobia to red meat, clowns or leaving their home, it is sufficient to start in this general direction.

It is important always to be true and accurate to the fears, sensations and feelings surrounding the phobia, when they are incorporated into an effective set-up statement. Simply state what it is that is being experienced without judgment or compromise. Never go farther or deeper into a phobia than dictated by complete comfort. Emotional ease and comfort guide this process, and limit how fast and far the phobia topic is approached. Never format a set-up statement based on what you think you should be saying, but only by the truth of what is being felt at that moment. Within the spirit of tapping on the truth of the moment, a set-up statement might go something like, “Even though I think it is stupid for me to think I can actually get over my fear of germs and be a normal person, I have always been such a loser I will never change and tapping on my head is not going to change that…” That is pretty honest, and if that is what comes up at the moment that is exactly how it should be done for good EFT therapy to advance further with a phobia problem.

You can see that this pre-work is simply doing EFT about the person’s thoughts of themselves and EFT at the moment, and whatever related issues arise that are connected to the primary goal of reducing the phobia. Yet, this is the key to getting closer to the phobia without creating resistance or stress as the phobic subject is slowly, gently and safely brought into focus. Work in his manner until there is a sense of calm and comfort. Do not rush this initial stage because the relaxation and state of confidence it creates is essential. Take as much time as necessary to play out all the fears and doubts about the approaching the phobic subject; if this is not done properly, the only reaction later will be a total phobic shut-down when the phobic subject is contacted. How much time this takes is determined by the comfort and ease of the person with the phobia, no one else.

Phobia EFT Energy Healing Therapy

The approach that continues after this point can be as varied as there are people who have phobias. Each case of phobia is continued with EFT therapy to completion just as gently and carefully as it starts.

A serious phobia or phobic response is never an exercise for a single round EFT, known as a one-minute wonder. A considerable amount of EFT tapping must be done to reach that breakthrough moment most of the time, when the phobia is completely and totally transformed into a positive energy. The key is in relying on considerable experience, respecting the intense fear of the phobic person, being extremely thorough, and most importantly, listening closely to the thoughts and feelings that arise during a session of EFT therapy. This must be done immediately and completely for all stressful feelings related to the phobia that arise.

EFT and phobias

EFT does not cover over the negative and distressing life circumstances that are supposed to cause or continue the stressful negative energy of a phobia. Those events and circumstances continue, as they do in life. Yet, after the use of EFT therapy, even though the daily stressful lifestyle issues continue, there will be a total elimination of the overwhelming fear associated with the phobic object, or mention of the phobic word or being remotely near the phobic object.

Phobias are nicely treated with energy psychology easily and quickly in a conventional office setting or while doing EFT by phone. After perhaps a few EFT telephone sessions, most people should notice the typical phobic response is noticeably and clearly more calm and controlled. Within perhaps one or two follow up EFT sessions, the phobia is totally gone – usually.

How do the fears of phobic people usually react to EFT?

Within the Emotional Freedom Technique archives are thousands of documented case studies from people all over the world reporting the remarkable benefits they have received from EFT for treatment for phobias and chronic debilitating fears. To sample just a few from this website, please go to EFT testimonials.

Does EFT always work?

No. EFT is not perfect; or at least it is as imperfect as the people who use it. With continued use, improved EFT technique, greater therapist skill development, the results of EFT therapy increase over time. Even so, EFT is not perfect because no one gets 100% success all the time. However, EFT is effective most of the time, closer to 80-90% of the time. Its beneficial effects are usually long lasting, and it often works where nothing else has worked.

Are you in control of your life or is life controlling you?

If you are coping with:

• Phobias or Fears
  • Public speaking
  • Flying
  • Heights
  • Claustrophobia
  • Dental or medical procedures
  • Snakes, rodents or insects
  • Fear of anything
• Family or relationship conflicts
• Anxiety
• Marital and sexual problems
• Job stress
• Job loss
• Interview anxiety
• Financial problems
• Feeling stuck in your life
• Unresolved childhood issues
• Stage fright or performance anxiety
• Sexual abuse
• Test Anxiety
• Grief
• Divorce problems
• Creativity blocks
• Inability to lose or maintain weight
• Depression
• Wedding jitters
• Sports performance
• Physical health problems

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can put you back in control and change your life.