Nick Ortner's Blog, page 16

Study Finds Tapping Helps Reduce PMS Symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves a variety of symptoms that occur in the week or two leading up to menstruation. It is estimated that about 3 out of every 4 women experience PMS symptoms, which can include things like headache, digestive disturbances, irritability, appetite changes, tension, mood swings, sleep problems, fatigue, and more.[1]

This is a common problem that can really interfere with daily living month after month after month…

There are several self-care habits and tools that can help with PMS, like getting regular exercise, prioritizing sleep, taking herbal supplements, and more. But there’s one technique many people don’t know about that has actually been proven by the research to quickly and efficiently provide amazing relief from PMS symptoms: Tapping!

A very exciting study in 2021 documented the positive results of a short Tapping intervention for women with severe PMS. Let’s take a closer look at what the researchers found.

Study shows Tapping can benefit women with PMS

The study I want to share with you today is a fairly recent study, published just last year in 2021. In the study, the researchers evaluated the effectiveness of EFT Tapping for relieving PMS symptoms in women.[2]

The experiment involved 50 nursing students who all scored high on a scale measuring the severity of their PMS. It was a randomized controlled trial, meaning that the group of 50 was randomly divided in two. Half was the treatment group, and they were instructed on how to do EFT Tapping. The other half was the control group, and they received no treatment. All participants were assessed for how strong their PMS symptoms were before and after the study.

When the experimenters analyzed the data, they found that the treatment group had significantly lower PMS symptoms after the Tapping intervention. Some of the specific symptoms that seemed to benefit from the Tapping included fatigue, nervousness, sleep changes, swelling, and depressive affect.

This study was the first of its kind, showing incredible benefits from just a short Tapping treatment. The authors of the study concluded, “The results demonstrate the efficacy of EFT in reducing PMS symptoms. As a fast and efficient self-treatment method, EFT can be easily implemented as a nonpharmacological intervention.”[2]

How might Tapping help PMS?

The results from the study are very exciting, confirming that PMS is yet another of the many health conditions that can benefit from Tapping. But how does it work, and why does it help?

Tapping is a technique that helps to calm the brain and body, turning down the part of the brain that is responsible for the stress response. When we Tap on acupoints on the body’s meridians while speaking about what is bothering us (such as PMS symptoms), it sends calming signals to the brain letting it know it is safe to relax.

Tapping is extremely effective in reducing stress, and is even documented in the research to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol.[3,4]

But why is that so helpful for a condition like PMS? Well, it turns out that PMS and stress are actually tightly linked. 

Several studies have shown an association between higher stress and more PMS symptoms.[5-7] For example, one study found that women who reported feeling stressed early in their monthly cycle were more likely to have more severe symptoms before and during menstruation.[5] Other research has found that PMS can also be linked to things like trauma and PTSD.[8]

It isn’t too surprising that stress plays a role in PMS. Many health conditions and physical symptoms have an emotional component. Stress can often trigger, or exacerbate, things like pain, digestive complaints, and headaches, for example. And the research suggests that the same may be true for PMS. The more stress a woman experiences, the more likely she is to be affected by PMS.[5-7]

That’s why Tapping is so powerful for PMS. It helps the body to release the effects of stress, moving the body into a state of calm and relaxation where it can feel better. When you Tap, your body gets a chance to calm down, which can bring significant relief when it comes to PMS symptoms.

Tapping for PMS: give it a try for yourself!

I’ve heard many incredible stories of Tapping helping women to ease their PMS symptoms, so that they no longer have to suffer every month. And the research backs up those anecdotal reports, showing us that Tapping really does provide significant benefit when it comes to reducing PMS symptoms.[2]

Tapping can help you let go of your stress and release your PMS symptoms at the same time! It’s a win-win.

If you are new to Tapping, you can learn all about Tapping on our Tapping 101 page. You can also find a beginner’s guide to the Tapping technique and the basic tapping sequence here. 

I encourage you to check out our app, The Tapping Solution App, where you can find a whole library of guided Tapping meditations to help you release stress, support your body, and feel your absolute best.

You will even find meditations on specific women’s health topics in the app, such as:

Release Endometriosis PainSupport Your Body: Breast ProblemsHot Flash ReliefPregnancy Discomfort and Pain ReliefFertility Support CollectionAnd more.

I can’t wait to hear about your experiences with Tapping. Leave a comment below if you try Tapping for PMS, and let us know how it works for you!

Until next time…

Keep Tapping!

References

“Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).” Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Updated February 22, 2021. Bakır N, Irmak Vural P, Körpe G. The effects of emotional freedom techniques on coping with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized control trial [published online ahead of print, 2021 Oct 5]. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2021;10.1111/ppc.12957. Church D, Yount G, Brooks AJ. The effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: a randomized controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2012;200(10):891-896.Stapleton P, Crighton G, Sabot D, O’Neill HM. Reexamining the effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Psychol Trauma. 2020;12(8):869-877.Gollenberg AL, Hediger ML, Mumford SL, et al. Perceived stress and severity of perimenstrual symptoms: the BioCycle Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010;19(5):959-967.Del Mar Fernández M, Regueira-Méndez C, Takkouche B. Psychological factors and premenstrual syndrome: A Spanish case-control study. PLoS One. 2019;14(3):e0212557. Published 2019 Mar 6. Matsumoto T, Egawa M, Kimura T, Hayashi T. A potential relation between premenstrual symptoms and subjective perception of health and stress among college students: a cross-sectional study. Biopsychosoc Med. 2019;13:26. Published 2019 Oct 31.Pilver CE, Levy BR, Libby DJ, Desai RA. Posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma characteristics are correlates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2011;14(5):383-393. 

The post Study Finds Tapping Helps Reduce PMS Symptoms appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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10 Affirmations for a Difficult Day

If you’ve been having a tough week (or a tough month, or a tough year even), you aren’t alone. It’s normal to have days when life feels overwhelming

And during those hard days, inspiration can feel hard to come by – but it’s when we need it the most.

So right now, I want to share a few affirmations for the day to help us all feel a little bit stronger, a little bit more energized, and a little bit more ready to take on the rest of the day – no matter what has happened so far, and no matter what comes our way next.

Read them here, and notice how just reading them begins to change your mindset…

I am stronger than I think.I am more capable than I realize.I recognize how far I’ve come.I call on my strengths of creativity and determination whenever I need to.I give myself permission to ask for help and lean on my support system.I can do really hard things.No storm lasts forever.I trust good is on its way.I trust in myself and I trust life.I’ve got this!

Now let’s take one deep breath in together, and one breath out… (pause)

Whether you are facing a small hurdle today, or you are feeling overwhelmed with many challenging things that have been piling up for a while, I want you to know that I believe in you.

You’ve got this, and I’m so proud of you for persevering, persisting, and continuing to move forward when things are hard.

You are doing a great job!

Until next time…

Keep Tapping!

Nick Ortner

The post 10 Affirmations for a Difficult Day appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

Related posts:Some Inspiration for YouTapping Research: EFT Found to Be Effective Intervention for Young Adults with Suicidal IdeationResearch: Tapping Ranks as One of the Most Effective Treatments for PTSD in Young People

A Look into Tapping Research: Study Suggests EFT Promotes Healthy Eating and Greater Self-Esteem in Teens

One thing I really love about Tapping is that it’s not just adults who can use it. Children, teens, and adults alike can all benefit from the power of Tapping in their daily lives. All ages can lean on Tapping for support and relief from a wide range of different challenges and concerns.

I think that is so cool, and so powerful. All of us – no matter our age and no matter what we may need support with, can benefit from Tapping. 

And although Tapping is a really great tool for kids and teens, not enough people know about how useful it can be for these age groups. So today, I thought I’d share a research study on some of the benefits of Tapping for adolescents.

In particular, I wanted to highlight a pilot study from 2016 from. Dr. Peta Stapleton and colleagues that investigated the effects of EFT on healthy eating behaviors in teens.[1]

I’ll break down the details of the study and what the researchers found, so that we can better understand what it means for any of us who are raising youngsters and how we can help our kids with the power of Tapping.

What did the researchers want to know?

The idea behind this study was to see if the simple tool of EFT Tapping could help young people to develop more healthy lifestyle practices. 

The researchers were also interested to know if the Tapping technique could help to improve things like self-esteem, self-compassion, and distress levels in adolescents.

What did they do?

In the study, 44 students were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the EFT group or the control group.

The EFT group went through a 6-week group program where they were taught EFT techniques. Each week also provided education on different themes like body image, making and sticking to goals, the importance of exercise, taking care of yourself, and more. At the end of each weekly session, the participants were instructed on how to practice EFT at home on their own. 

The control group did not do anything different than normal, and they did not learn any EFT. 

All of the participants filled out questionnaires before the study, right after the study, and 10 weeks after the study was completed as a follow up. The questionnaires gathered details on things like eating habits, self-esteem, psychological distress levels, and self-compassion. 

After all the data was gathered, the researchers analyzed it to see what kinds of trends they could find.

What were the findings?

For the EFT treatment group, almost all of the factors studied showed improvement when comparing the assessments from before to after the 6-week EFT program. 

For example, the students who learned Tapping consumed more healthy drinks, less unhealthy drinks, and less unhealthy foods by the end of the study. 

Both self-esteem and self-compassion were also significantly higher after the study in the EFT group. Not all of the improvements seen lasted through to the 10-week follow up, but some did.

The researchers noted that additional studies on this topic would be helpful, due to the small size of the study. But nevertheless, they concluded that the “findings provide preliminary support for EFT as an effective treatment strategy for increasing healthy eating behaviors and improving associated weight-related psychopathology.”[1]

The importance of this study

There have been several different studies conducted in adults on EFT in the field of weight loss, food cravings, and healthy eating – suggesting that Tapping can be really helpful. And the study highlighted today just adds to that body of research to show that Tapping can help teens in this area too.

And what I think is really exciting about the findings from this study is that it wasn’t just the positive changes in healthy lifestyle habits that came from Tapping; it also led to increased self-esteem and boosted self-compassion. 

Healthy eating behaviors are great, of course. But self-esteem and self-compassion… Those things have the power to really change how we experience the world and how we move through it for the entirety of our lives.

This kind of support for our emotional well-being has wide-reaching effects on our lives, from helping us to maintain healthy habits and healthy weight, to helping us form connections and navigate relationships, to helping us be more productive and inspired as we reach for our dreams and goals.

Can you imagine what it would be like if your kid could embrace healthy choices, all while feeling better about themselves, treating themselves with more kindness, and experiencing less stress? Now that would be a gift we can all aspire to offer our children.

Introducing kids and teens to Tapping

Maybe you’ve tried Tapping for yourself, but haven’t thought of introducing it to your children yet. Or maybe you are completely new to Tapping, but you’d try anything if it meant being able to offer your kids more support as they navigate their teen years and come into adulthood. 

Either way, we’ve got plenty of resources to help you introduce your kids and teens to the practice of Tapping. The great thing is, Tapping is extremely simple, adaptable, and accessible, making it perfect for teaching to young people. And it can be so incredibly powerful!

If you want to witness the transformative power of Tapping for kids and adolescents, check out this video where I demonstrate the positive effects of Tapping with a teenager in real time.

And when you are ready to learn more, I’ve compiled a list of resources on Tapping for parents, teachers, children, and teens on this page, including The Tapping Solution for Parents, Children, & Teenagers book and The Tapping Solution for Teenage Girls book. And we’ve got a lot more resources over on The Tapping Solution Foundation page as well. 

To get started, view these Tapping point diagrams for kids, and head to The Tapping Solution App to find guided Tapping meditations to share with your kids and teens. 

As always, take care, and keep Tapping!

Until next time,

Nick Ortner

References

Stapleton P, Chatwin H, William M, et al. Emotional Freedom Techniques in the Treatment of Unhealthy Eating Behaviors and Related Psychological Constructs in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Explore (NY). 2016;12(2):113-122. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2015.12.001

The post A Look into Tapping Research: Study Suggests EFT Promotes Healthy Eating and Greater Self-Esteem in Teens appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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Research Feature: Tapping for Reducing the Fear of Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are a big time, full of so many emotions and so much anticipation! And while the process can be a time of so much joy for many, for others it can also be a time of great uncertainty and unknown that can bring on worry, concern, anxiety, or even fear.

For some women, fears around childbirth itself can become so intense that it can take quite a toll on their wellbeing and even impact the birth experience. 

All women deserve support during pregnancy so that they can feel their best and have the most positive experience possible during their pregnancy, during the birthing process, and beyond.

So if you or someone you know has been struggling with intense fear and anxiety over childbirth, trust in knowing that you can get support. You can get relief. You can feel more calm, relaxed, confident, and centered as you move toward and through labor and delivery.

Today, I’m going to share some research that points to an effective tool that can help women to successfully reduce childbirth fear: EFT Tapping!

For some, childbirth can bring on a lot of fear

Some worry and concern over childbirth is a normal experience for most women. But for some, the anxiety and fear over the experience can become pretty overwhelming.

This can happen during a first pregnancy, where women may have fears around the unknown of the experience. Or it might happen in a second or third pregnancy after a traumatic earlier birth.

Common themes of childbirth fear in pregnant women include:

Fear of not being able to cope with the painFear of the unknown and the unpredictableFear of harm to the babyFear of harm to oneselfFear of losing controlFear of being aloneFear related to the body’s abilities [1-2]

For some women, they may not even be able to identify the source of their fear; they are simply terrified about birth and don’t know why![1-2] And that is understandable. It is a major life experience that can be as intense as it is beautiful. 

Unfortunately, elevated fear during pregnancy can increase the chance of a negative birth experience and adverse outcomes.[1-2]

It is so important that women who have severe fears around childbirth receive the necessary support to help them cope. Luckily, there are tools that can help, that are backed by the research, and that really work. One of those is EFT Tapping!

Tapping is known to reduce all sorts of fears

Tapping is a technique that involves Tapping on acupoints along the body’s meridians while also speaking and thinking about what is causing you distress. It combines the principles of modern psychology and ancient Chinese acupressure to support you in acknowledging, and then letting go of, strong emotions.

Research on Tapping has confirmed that the Tapping technique works really, really well for helping people with various fears and phobias. 

In fact, several studies show that Tapping can provide immediate and lasting relief for everything from a fear of flying to a fear of small animals.[3-6] 

But why is Tapping so helpful when it comes to the emotion of fear? 

Tapping is so good at addressing fear because it helps to calm the brain and the body. When we physically tap our fingers on the Tapping points while also speaking and thinking about what we are afraid of, it actually turns down the fight-or-flight stress response in the brain that is triggered when we are in a state of fear. The process of Tapping lets our brain and body know that we are, indeed, safe…that we are not in any real danger and that all is well.

That’s why Tapping is so helpful in supporting us to release and let go of our fears so that they no longer hold us back or make us feel miserable. 

And it turns out that Tapping works just as well for releasing the fear of childbirth as it does for other fears and phobias!

Today’s featured study confirms Tapping is also effective for fear of childbirth

The study I wanted to share with you today was published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2019.[7]

It was a randomized controlled study, meaning participants were randomly allocated into different groups with some participants receiving the intervention, and some not.

The participants were 120 pregnant women, and they were assigned to either the control group, the EFT Tapping treatment group, or a breathing awareness treatment group for comparison. The women in the Tapping and breathing groups were offered the Tapping or breathing techniques as a supportive tool during different phases of their labor. The control group received no extra treatment.

All of the women were given assessments throughout the study to measure both their levels of distress and the severity of their fear of childbirth. 

When interpreting the data, the researchers found that both the Tapping and the breathing awareness interventions appeared to be beneficial in reducing distress and fear levels. 

But what was interesting was that the Tapping treatment proved to be more effective and have longer lasting effects compared to the breathing technique. The women in the EFT Tapping treatment group showed significantly lower scores for fear of childbirth, as well as lower distress levels in both the active and transition phases of labor.

These findings are pretty exciting. They tell us that a short, easy technique like Tapping can help women to move though the birthing process with more ease, less distress, and less fear around the experience. And that has the potential to be quite the game changer!

Tapping for childbirth fear: resources to support you

The research study highlighted above shows us that just a short intervention of EFT Tapping can lead to some amazing results, even when it is applied in the moment while women are actively in labor![7]

Can you imagine what it might be able to do when used throughout pregnancy and leading up to birth? Can you imagine the power it might hold to help women feel more grounded, empowered, and confident when preparing for childbirth? 

Tapping is here to support you, whatever your worries, concerns, anxieties, or intense fears around childbirth might be.

Perhaps you can’t stop thinking about the bad things that could happen… You can Tap on that. Perhaps you fear the intensity of the pain… You can Tap on that, too. Or perhaps you have fears linked to your own previous experiences or horror stories you’ve heard from others in the past… You can also Tap on that!

Tapping can help you to release those fears so that your brain and body can return to a grounded state of calm, setting you up for a more positive birthing experience. 

To get started, you can learn to Tap here. 

Also be sure to head over to The Tapping Solution App for tons of support in the form of guided Tapping meditations. There are many topics specific to pregnancy support and childbirth fear, including:

Pregnancy Emotional Support: Fear of Labor PainPregnancy Emotional Support: Stress About the StressPregnancy Emotional Support: Information OverloadPregnancy Physical Support: My Changing BodyPregnancy Discomfort and Pain ReliefPregnancy Whole Body Relaxation

And finally, check out this page, which offers a variety of great, free meditations for pregnancy and childbirth (including one called, “Release Your Fears and Anxiety Around Childbirth”). 

Until next time…

Keep Tapping!

References

Slade P, Balling K, Sheen K. et al. Establishing a valid construct of fear of childbirth: findings from in-depth interviews with women and midwives. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019;19:96 Wigert H, Nilsson C, Dencker A, et al. Women’s experiences of fear of childbirth: a metasynthesis of qualitative studies. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2020;15(1):1704484.Salas MM, Brooks AJ, Rowe JE. The immediate effect of a brief energy psychology intervention (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on specific phobias: a pilot study. Explore (NY). 2011;7(3):155-161.Wells S, Polglase K, Andrews HB, Carrington P, Baker AH. Evaluation of a meridian-based intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for reducing specific phobias of small animals. J Clin Psychol. 2003;59(9):943-966.Baker AH & Siegel LS. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Reduces Intense Fears: A Partial Replication And Extension Of Wells Et Al. (2003). Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment. 2019;2(2):13-30. Wittfoth D, Beise J, Manuel J, Bohne M, Wittfoth M. Bifocal emotion regulation through acupoint tapping in fear of flying [published online ahead of print, 2022 Mar 30]. Neuroimage Clin. 2022;34:102996.Irmak Vural P, Aslan E. Emotional freedom techniques and breathing awareness to reduce childbirth fear: A randomized controlled study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019;35:224-231.

The post Research Feature: Tapping for Reducing the Fear of Childbirth appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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Can Tapping Affect Your Genes? Research Says Yes!

I love science, and I love Tapping, so I get very excited when I get to talk about the science behind Tapping!

There is so much cool research out there showing how Tapping can actually produce changes within the body that have positive impacts on how we feel. You might have heard me explain many times before how Tapping can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and you might have also read about how it can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and other physiological markers of health.[1-3]

But did you know that Tapping also appears to affect our genetic expression? I know, that sounds pretty unbelievable, right?

Today, I want to introduce you to a couple of groundbreaking pilot studies that suggest Tapping may positively affect over 70 genes implicated in overall health!

Let’s dive in, shall we?

What is gene expression, anyway?

Before we get into the details of the studies on Tapping and gene expression, let’s take a quick step back to become a little bit more familiar with the basics of what gene expression really means.

We all have DNA in our cells, and that DNA contains our genetic code. It is estimated that humans have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes, but only a fraction of our genes are turned on in any given cell at any given time. Each cell’s function is determined by which genes are turned on, when they are turned on, and how strongly they are turned on.

When a gene is expressed, it is considered to be “turned on.” When it is turned on, the genetic code for that gene is read. That allows the instructions in our DNA to be converted into a functional product, like a protein. On the other hand, when a gene is not expressed it is “turned off,” and nothing is made from that section of DNA instructions.

Gene expression refers to the process in which our genes are either turned on or turned off. Different factors in our bodies and in our environment can affect gene expression, including hormone levels, temperature, diet, stress, lifestyle habits, and much more.

Now why is this all relevant? Because recent studies suggest that Tapping can actually impact the way certain genes are expressed.

Two studies reveal the positive effects of Tapping on gene expression

The first study to look at gene expression before and after EFT Tapping was published in 2016.

In this study, researcher Marjorie Maharaj used a technique called salivary mRNA testing to do a genome-wide analysis, in hopes of detecting changes in gene expression after a single, 50-minute EFT Tapping session. The EFT Tapping treatment was compared to a placebo treatment.[4]

This was a small study, involving only four adults. Saliva from each of the participants was taken immediately before the Tapping treatment, immediately afterwards, and also 24-hours after.

After analyzing the samples, the author found that 72 genes revealed differential expression – meaning the way the genes were expressed had changed from before to after the Tapping session. Twenty five of those 72 genes were also differentially expressed 24 hours after treatment.

The fascinating part of this is that the genes that were affected by Tapping are known to be linked to immunity, inflammation, neuronal processes in the brain, and stress regulation. Tapping appeared to affect these genes in a very favorable way. For example, genes involved in immunity were upregulated, while genes involved in inflammation were downregulated.

This study was the first of its kind to suggest that Tapping may positively influence our health through changes in how our genes are expressed.

Another study on the topic was conducted in 2018 by Dr. Dawson Church and colleagues.[5]

In this study, the researchers took a group of 16 veterans with PTSD symptoms. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to a control group, and the other half received ten hour-long sessions of EFT Tapping. Before and after the study, the researchers analyzed the levels of mRNA for 93 genes thought to be related to PTSD.

The results of the study showed that in the group who did EFT Tapping, six genes changed significantly in how they were expressed from before to after the study. Again, genes associated with inflammation appeared to be turned down, and genes associated with immunity appeared to be turned up. On top of these findings, the researchers also found that the veterans experienced improvements in their mental health symptoms as well.

Both of these studies are groundbreaking and provide very compelling evidence that Tapping has profound impacts on our body, even affecting how our genes are expressed.

Keep Tapping to feel the positive changes for yourself!

Maybe you’ve tried Tapping, and you have experienced the positive effects in how you feel first-hand. Or maybe someone you know has told you about the benefits of Tapping, or you’ve read about it and been intrigued.

Well, it turns out that the benefits aren’t just hearsay; there is scientific evidence that Tapping can bring about changes deep within your body, affecting things all the way down to your genes!

So, if you needed another reason to try Tapping, or perhaps a reason to recommit to a consistent practice, this is your cue! Now you know that underneath the positive benefits in how we might feel after Tapping, there are actually real changes going on within the body that can have profound impacts.

With the help of Tapping, you might just be able to alter your genetic expression to boost immunity, decrease inflammation, and so much more.

If you are new to Tapping and would find it helpful to be walked through the process, go here for a complete beginner’s guide to getting started.

Until next time, keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner

References

Church D, Yount G, Brooks AJ. The effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: a randomized controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2012;200(10):891-896.Stapleton P, Crighton G, Sabot D, O’Neill HM. Reexamining the effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Psychol Trauma. 2020;12(8):869-877.Bach D, Groesbeck G, Stapleton P, Sims R, Blickheuser K, Church D. Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X18823691. doi:10.1177/2515690X18823691.Maharaj, ME. Differential Gene Expression after Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Treatment: A Novel Pilot Protocol for Salivary mRNA Assessment. Energy Psychology Journal. 2016;8(1):17-32. doi:10.9769/EPJ.2016.8.1.MMChurch D, Yount G, Rachlin K, Fox L, Nelms J. Epigenetic Effects of PTSD Remediation in Veterans Using Clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Am J Health Promot. 2018;32(1):112-122. doi:10.1177/0890117116661154

The post Can Tapping Affect Your Genes? Research Says Yes! appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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Research: Tapping Proves Effective for Reducing Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Breast cancer is a very challenging disease. The entire experience, from diagnosis through treatment, is physically and emotionally taxing to say the very least.

One aspect of breast cancer that can be particularly intense and brutal on both the mind and body involves the side effects from common treatment options. These side effects can take a major toll on quality of life, and they can be incredibly challenging to live with during the course of treatment.

Fortunately, we continue to learn more and more about how to best support people going through breast cancer treatment, and research continues to be done on complementary treatment options to help reduce the impact of side effects.

Today, I’m excited to share with you a research study that you’ll want to know about if you or someone you know is managing breast cancer. In the study, researchers discovered that Tapping was extremely effective at reducing the unpleasant side effects of hormonal breast cancer therapies.

Let’s take a closer look at the study and the exciting results the researchers found.

Study finds Tapping helps lessen side effects from hormone therapy  

The study was led by researchers Baker and Hoffman and was published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine. They gathered a group of 41 women in total, all of whom had breast cancer and were receiving hormonal therapies as treatment.[1]

The hormone therapies these women were being treated with often produce challenging side effects like hot flashes, mood disturbances, fatigue, pain, and more. The participants filled out questionnaires that asked them about their side effects and symptoms at the beginning of the study, halfway through the study, and at the end of the twelve-week study.

When the study began, all of the participants went through a three-week EFT Tapping course, where they experienced Tapping for three hours each week. After the course ended, they were instructed to use Tapping as a self-care tool as needed over the next nine weeks until the conclusion of the study.

After the study concluded, the researchers were able to look at the data to see if there were any meaningful trends across the twelve weeks. They wanted to know: did the women experience improvements in their side effects after they started to use Tapping?

When looking at the data, the researchers saw that the answer was yes! They found that mood disturbances, anxiety, depression, and fatigue all decreased significantly after the participants learned and applied Tapping. Fatigue and hot flashes also showed improvements, although the difference was not considered statistically significant. The improvements were seen halfway through the study at the 6-week mark, as well as at the end of the study at the 12-week mark.

The authors of the study concluded, “These preliminary findings suggest EFT may be an effective self-help tool for women with breast cancer experiencing side effects from hormonal therapies.”

Tapping: a tool for empowerment through breast cancer treatment

When going through cancer treatment, it can feel like so much is out of your control. But studies like the one highlighted above remind us that even during the intensity of cancer treatment, there are always things we can do to support ourselves and there are always ways to take our healing into our own hands.

The results of the study showed us that a simple self-care tool like Tapping – one that is easy to use, takes only a few minutes, and can be done anywhere and anytime – can significantly improve side effects from a common breast cancer treatment option.

When facing such a taxing disease, it is important to empower yourself, and to fill your healing toolbox with as many tools as possible that can help you to feel better and support the healing process from many different angles.

Tapping is one of those tools that can be so incredibly powerful; it is a key tool to have in your toolbox!

The emotional work that Tapping involves helps us to release stress from our bodies and let go of strong or unresolved emotions that may be getting in the way of healing. While Tapping itself doesn’t “cure” anything, it does help us to address the emotional component of disease and it helps the body heal.

If you want to learn more about the science behind Tapping and how it works, click here. 

Check out these resources to learn more about Tapping 

If you or someone you love is going through breast cancer treatment and is struggling with side effects, I encourage you to learn more about Tapping. 

This technique is so simple and so effective at helping us feel more calm, confident, positive, and at ease… even in the most challenging of circumstances. And when that stress is released, our bodies respond with actual, physiological changes that help us heal.

To get started, you can learn more about the basics of Tapping and how to Tap here, and you can get to know the Tapping points here. 

If you want to dive deeper and be led step by step through the process, head over to The Tapping Solution App. It’s a great resource with a big library of guided Tapping meditations to help you release stress, calm your body, and promote healing.

Some specific titles you might choose from include:

Support Your Healing: CancerRelease Cancer PainSupport Your Body: Breast HealthSupport Your Body: Breast ProblemsSupport Your Body: Hormone HealthBalanced Hormones Sleep ProgrammingMicro Boost of Healing

Wishing you health and healing today and everyday!

Until next time… keep Tapping!

Nick Ortner

References

Baker B, Hoffman C. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to reduce the side effects associated with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor use in women with breast cancer: A service evaluation. European Journal of Integrative Medicine 2014;7(2):136-142.

The post Research: Tapping Proves Effective for Reducing Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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Featured Research: The Evidence Behind Tapping for Fears and Phobias

Fear… The pounding in the chest, the sweaty palms, the quickened breath… It is a familiar emotion that can completely take us over.

While we sometimes feel fear when we are in true danger, it’s also common to feel fear when we are under no real threat. We can feel fear when we need to speak in public, when we are at the doctor’s office, when we get on an airplane, or when we encounter a spider in our closet, for example.

And sometimes, we develop fears so intense that they can become debilitating.

It is estimated that about 12% of adults experience a specific phobia – an intense, irrational fear of something that poses no actual danger.[1] But even if someone is able to logically know that the fear is irrational, even just thinking about the thing, or seeing a photo of it, can bring about intense fear and anxiety.

Fears and phobias can be very limiting, and they can get in the way of fully living our daily lives.

So what if there was a tool that could help you overcome any fear or phobia? What if there was a science-backed approach that could help you break free from the fear for good?

There is, and it’s called Tapping! Tapping has been proven in several research studies to consistently help people with their fears and phobias.

Research confirms Tapping provides fast and lasting relief from phobias

There have been several studies done to investigate the power of Tapping on fears and phobias. 

For example, a 2011 study was conducted with 22 university students who experienced a specific phobia. The participants completed five rounds of tapping, lasting two minutes each. Before and after the Tapping, they were assessed for levels of fear and anxiety.[2]

It turns out that after just a few minutes of Tapping, the students experienced immediate relief. Their anxiety levels went down significantly, and they were also able to approach whatever it was they were afraid of with less distress. Although this was a small study, the results were quite compelling![2]

Another study looked at both the immediate and long-term effects of EFT Tapping on a specific phobia: the fear of small animals. Participants were either treated with Tapping or with diaphragmatic breathing. The EFT Tapping treatment proved to be much more effective than the diaphragmatic breathing.[3]

After just one Tapping session, the individuals in the study who received Tapping experienced a significant decrease in their fear. And what’s even more impressive is that nine months later, their fear was still diminished. In fact, the researchers believe that the benefits from Tapping were even enhanced as time went on.[3]

A replication and extension of that study was done in 2010. Again, the researchers found that Tapping led to significant reductions in the fear of small animals – a result that occurred after just one, 45-minute Tapping session. This time, they followed up with the participants almost a year-and-a-half later. And again, they found that the improvements lasted well beyond that single Tapping session.[4]

Lastly, a recent study from 2022 looked at the effects of Tapping for people with a fear of flying. The participants were instructed to do Tapping while they were presented with fear-inducing stimulation related to their fear of flying. Scores on a scale measuring the participants’ fear of flying were taken before and after.[5]

Fear of flying scores went down almost 50% after Tapping. Before the Tapping intervention, almost 90% of the participants met the official criteria for a flying phobia, but after the intervention only 24% did. That is a very impressive improvement![5]

Why is Tapping so helpful for addressing fear?

You might be wondering how Tapping works, and why it works so well when it comes to fears and phobias.

The science behind Tapping shows us that Tapping calms down the brain and body, helping to soothe the nervous system and rewire the brain. Tapping affects the part of the brain responsible for our stress response (also known as the fight-or-flight response). That is the same response that is triggered when we are scared. When you practice Tapping, it sends a calming signal to the brain letting it know it is safe to relax and that it no longer has to be in fight-or-flight mode.

That is why Tapping is so helpful when it comes to fears and phobias.

When we use the Tapping technique for fear, we think about, visualize, or speak about what we are afraid of while simultaneously Tapping on acupoints on the body. That tells our body that we are, indeed, safe… It rewires the brain’s connections, telling it that we are not in any real danger, and that it is safe to relax and let go of the fear response.

And the amazing thing about Tapping is that it can work for all different sorts of fears and phobias, whether we have a fear of flying or a spider phobia! The way Tapping works to address our fear response applies to any specific type of fear, because all fear involves a similar mechanism in the brain.

Resources for support

The research shows us that Tapping works really well for phobias. It helps people right away, and the positive results last long after the Tapping session. So if you have been affected by a strong fear or phobia that gets in the way of living a full life, then why not give it a try?

You can read more about how to use Tapping to eliminate fears and phobias in my blog, How to Calm Your Fears with EFT Tapping.

You can also read an excerpt on fear from my bestselling book, The Tapping Solution, here. 

Another great resource to support you in breaking free from phobias is The Tapping Solution App.

 In the app, you’ll have access to a wide range of guided Tapping meditations, many of which are specific to fears and phobias. Here are some you might find helpful:

Releasing FearFrom Fear and Worry to PeaceFear of Flying CollectionFear of Driving Collection Fear of the Dentist CollectionFear of Needles CollectionFear of Heights CollectionFear of Public Speaking CollectionReleasing Fear of CriticismReleasing IBS-Related Fear & Anxiety

And finally, check out these free meditations on specific topics on our website if they apply to you:

Releasing Fear of FlyingReleasing Fear of Public Speaking

Until next time, keep Tapping!
Nick Ortner

References

“Specific Phobia.” National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/stati... Salas MM, Brooks AJ, Rowe JE. The immediate effect of a brief energy psychology intervention (Emotional Freedom Techniques) on specific phobias: a pilot study. Explore (NY). 2011;7(3):155-161.Wells S, Polglase K, Andrews HB, Carrington P, Baker AH. Evaluation of a meridian-based intervention, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), for reducing specific phobias of small animals. J Clin Psychol. 2003;59(9):943-966.Baker AH & Siegel LS. Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Reduces Intense Fears: A Partial Replication And Extension Of Wells Et Al. (2003). Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment. 2019;2(2):13-30. Wittfoth D, Beise J, Manuel J, Bohne M, Wittfoth M. Bifocal emotion regulation through acupoint tapping in fear of flying [published online ahead of print, 2022 Mar 30]. Neuroimage Clin. 2022;34:102996.

The post Featured Research: The Evidence Behind Tapping for Fears and Phobias appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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Research Spotlight: The Incredible Benefits of a Tapping-Based Meditation Technique

Over the past few years, there has been a lot of really cool research done on a specific type of meditation called EcoMeditation. The research shows it has very powerful effects on everything from pain and anxiety to brain wave patterns and cortisol levels. 

You might be wondering what this has to do with Tapping… Well, this form of meditation was developed by Dawson Church (an expert in EFT Tapping who has done a lot of research in the field). The technique draws on the elements of four evidence-based practices – one of which is Tapping!

Today, I wanted to highlight some amazing research findings on this Tapping-based meditation strategy. These findings are yet another reason to be excited about Tapping and the many ways in which it can help us to improve our lives!

Tapping + other evidence-based strategies = a winning combination!

So, what is this EcoMeditation thing?

During EcoMeditation, you use the Tapping technique (tapping your fingertips on specific Tapping points along the body’s meridians), along with other best practices from mindfulness meditation, neurofeedback, and something called the Quick Coherence Technique (which helps to regulate heart rate variability).[1]

The idea behind EcoMeditation is to help you get into a meditative state and to experience the benefits of meditation without the common barriers that hold many people back. This specific meditation practice produces incredible benefits in a short time, even for complete beginners with no previous experience with meditation.[1]

And how cool is it that Tapping is one of the core elements of this successful meditation technique?

I love seeing Tapping used in different ways, and it is really exciting to hear about all of the incredible results it can contribute to!

Studies show this Tapping-based meditation technique influences everything from brain wave patterns to anxiety levels

So far, there have been three major studies published on the EcoMeditation technique. The data has shown that this type of meditation can have positive impacts on:

Physiological markersPsychological symptomsBrain wave patterns/states of consciousness [2,3,4]

Here are some key highlights from the existing studies so far:

The first study, published in 2018, assessed factors like cortisol, resting heart rate, pain, and more in 34 participants before and after a weekend EcoMeditation workshop. The researchers found that on average, cortisol levels decreased by 29%, pain decreased by 43%, and resting heart rate decreased by 5%.[2]The second study from 2019 looked at how EcoMeditation and EFT techniques affected brain wave patterns and states of consciousness in 8 novice meditators. They found that after EFT Tapping and EcoMeditation were practiced, participants moved into an altered brain state usually only found in individuals with many years of meditation practice. The researchers saw increased brain wave coherence, increased alpha brain wave activity, and other brain wave patterns known to be associated with emotional integration and meditative states. And what’s more is that these positive effects appeared to last well after the meditation was over.[3]The third study, published in 2020, found that after a one-day workshop where 208 participants learned EcoMeditation, anxiety scores went down by 23%, depression scores went down by 16%, PTSD scores went down by 12%, and pain scores went down by 19%. And on the flip side, general happiness levels went up significantly – by about 9%.[4]

Overall, these findings show that a meditation technique that involves EFT Tapping as a core element can have amazing results! It can positively benefit our brain wave patterns, our biology, our mental health, and more… Pretty incredible, right? 

The bottom line

EFT Tapping is a powerful tool on its own. And I find it really fascinating to learn what happens when Tapping is combined with other stress-relief techniques like neurofeedback and mindfulness meditation. The results are amazing to see, with everything from our state of consciousness to our pain levels being influenced in a positive way!

This research gives us even more reason to make space in our daily lives for these powerful practices, and to experiment with various combinations of self-care techniques to see what works the best for each of us. 

If you want to incorporate more Tapping into your own self-care routine, get started on our Tapping 101 page. And be sure to head to The Tapping Solution App for a large library of guided meditations that come in all shapes and sizes – so that you can find what’s right for you and start to see the benefits for yourself!  

References

EcoMeditation. Eft Universe. Ecomeditation.comGroesbeck G, Bach D, Stapleton P, Blickheuser K, Church D, Sims R. The Interrelated Physiological and Psychological Effects of EcoMeditation. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2018;23:2515690X18759626. doi:10.1177/2515690X18759626Pennington J, Sabot D, Church D. EcoMeditation and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Produce Elevated Brain-wave Patterns and States of Consciousness. Energy Psychology Journal. 2019;11(1). doi 10.9769/EPJ.2019.11.1.JPChurch D, Stapleton P, Sabot D. Brief EcoMeditation Associated With Psychological Improvements: A Preliminary Study. Glob Adv Health Med. 2020;9:2164956120984142. Published 2020 Dec 23. doi:10.1177/2164956120984142

The post Research Spotlight: The Incredible Benefits of a Tapping-Based Meditation Technique appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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Research: High School Students Who Tap Reduce their Fear of Failure

I’ve been lucky to be a part of many different projects introducing kids and teens to the technique of Tapping. And I have witnessed firsthand just how powerful Tapping can be in classrooms, children’s hospitals, and even within my own family (click here to read an inspiring story from my brother Alex about how Tapping helped his son with school-related nerves). And so, I’ve got a personal interest in the topic we will be discussing today. 

It turns out that kids are great at Tapping, and Tapping is great for kids! And now, we have more research to back this up.

Today, I’m going to walk you through a study where researchers explored whether or not Tapping could help improve emotional wellbeing in high school students. 

The study was titled, “Effectiveness of a School-Based Emotional Freedom Techniques Intervention for Promoting Student Wellbeing” and was published in the journal Adolescent Psychiatry in 2017.[1]

Students’ emotional wellbeing can have lifelong impacts

So, why did the researchers want to investigate the effects of EFT Tapping in high school students? Because emotional wellbeing in academic settings during school years can have lifelong impacts, and Tapping has the potential to have a positive influence!

When reviewing the existing literature in this field of study, the authors note that social and emotional health has been strongly linked to academic success. On top of that, struggling in school can lead to disengagement and dropout, and it can also contribute to challenges throughout life as well.[1]

In the authors’ words, “In academic settings, fear of failure and associated emotional difficulties are common and often result in maladaptive behaviors, which often lead to failure or lowered scholastic achievement… Long-term underachievement… can result in decreased physical and mental health, lesser professional achievement and income… and dysfunctional interpersonal relationships.”[1]

It’s pretty clear that emotional health and wellbeing among students is really important to pay attention to, as it can have big impacts on young peoples’ lives. When fear of failure in school is high, it doesn’t set our kids up for success. 

The good news is that the research is also very clear that many factors related to emotional health, like fear of failure, self-esteem, and resilience, aren’t set in stone; they can be positively influenced through effective interventions.[1]

If only we knew of a tool that helps people to release fear, improve emotional wellbeing, increase confidence, and feel better… Oh that’s right – it’s Tapping

Researchers explore Tapping as a tool for boosting emotional wellbeing in high schoolers

In order to investigate if Tapping could help students in high school with their emotional wellbeing, the researchers gathered 204 10th graders from two different high schools in Australia. [1]

At both the beginning of the study and at the end of the study, all of the students were assessed using various questionnaires to measure levels of self-esteem, resilience, fear of failure, and social and emotional difficulties. The researchers also followed up with the students to assess them 3 months and 12 months after the conclusion of the study.

After the initial assessment, the students began the EFT Tapping treatment program. The 5-week program consisted of weekly sessions, each 75 minutes in length. Each week, qualified EFT practitioners instructed the students on how to use EFT Tapping. The students learned how to Tap and applied Tapping during the sessions on their fears, anxieties, and limiting beliefs around school (as well as other areas of their life).

The entire intervention was conducted within school hours. As the authors of the study remarked, “This represented an important strength of the trial, as it did not impose on student’s personal time which may have decreased time available to complete schoolwork and increased academic stress.”[1]

Findings show that Tapping is great at reducing fear of failure in students

This study looked at a lot of different variables, and there were many different outcomes to analyze. I’ll just share a few of the most important highlights here.

The most striking finding from the analysis was that fear of failure reduced significantly from before the study to the follow-up period. A whole year after the study concluded, fear of failure in these students was significantly lower than it was before the EFT Tapping intervention. This means that the students noticed a marked difference in how afraid they were of failing at school – a very important and meaningful outcome!

The analysis also showed that levels of social and emotional difficulties shifted positively over time.

Interestingly, resilience and self-esteem didn’t change in any significant way over the course of the study. The authors believe that this could have been due to several different factors, such as the large group format (with the intervention not being specific to individuals within the group).  

Still more to learn, but a lot to be excited about!

While not all the outcomes improved over the course of the study as the authors had theorized, they were still hopeful about the results and saw them as a great jumping off point for future studies.

This study taught us a few key things:

Tapping appears to be very effective at helping high school students reduce their fear of failure in school. This is HUGE! When kids are afraid of failing, they are more stressed out and tend to perform worse. If we can effectively teach our kids how to increase their confidence and release their fears, then that could be a big game changer!There is still so much to learn! Researchers have a lot to learn about how to apply EFT Tapping in group settings, how Tapping works with teenagers compared to other age groups, what it’s like to use Tapping to improve emotional wellbeing in the context of school and academics, and so much more. It will be exciting to see where the research takes us, and what the science will reveal to us along the way.

In the meantime, are you ready to try Tapping to help your child or teen for stress, fears, anxiety, or other concerns? Don’t wait to start! It’s an incredible tool, and you will be amazed at the results.

If you are interested in learning more about how to use Tapping within school and classroom settings, check out our Educator/Parent Corner, part of The Tapping Solution Foundation website.

You can also head to The Tapping Solution App for guided meditations for kids and teens, such as:

Micro Boost of Confidence for KidsCreating a Great Day for KidsCalming the Body & Mind for Sleep

And feel free to check out this video to see for yourself the powerful effects of Tapping in schools.

Until next time… Keep Tapping!

Nick Ortner

References

Stapleton P, Mackay E, Chatwin H, et al. Effectiveness of a school-based Emotional Freedom Techniques intervention for promoting student wellbeing. Adolescent Psychiatry. 2017;7(2):112-126.

The post Research: High School Students Who Tap Reduce their Fear of Failure appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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EFT Tapping and Fibromyalgia – What Does the Research Say?

Fibromyalgia involves widespread, chronic pain and tenderness all over the body, and it often comes along with other symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, memory issues, and more. With such challenging and debilitating symptoms like those, it isn’t surprising that fibromyalgia can take a major toll on people’s lives and impact their mental and emotional wellbeing in a big way.

It’s often hard for people to find a treatment plan and self-care strategy to manage their symptoms that works well for them and their unique body. So if you or someone you know is struggling with fibromyalgia, I want to make sure you know about a tool that can have really amazing results when it comes to this condition – Tapping.

There are countless anecdotal reports of Tapping (also known as EFT) helping people with fibromyalgia. In fact, I’ve heard from many, many people in our very own Tapping Solution community who have found EFT Tapping to be a complete game changer for them, helping them to better manage or even resolve their pain and other symptoms.

Today, I wanted to highlight some of the research on EFT and fibromyalgia, so you can learn more about the science behind this incredibly effective self-care tool.

The current evidence behind Tapping for fibromyalgia

To date, there are two published studies on the topic. 

One of them was really small and involved only six women with fibromyalgia. While the results from this study were not considered “statistically significant,” the author did note that the data indicated an overall improvement for the women who were treated with EFT.[1]

Another study on Tapping for fibromyalgia was conducted by Swedish researcher Gunilla Brattberg. This study was larger and provided some really exciting results that suggest EFT can be very effective in supporting those with fibromyalgia.[2]

Let’s dive in to take a closer look and learn more about this exciting study!

A closer look at the study

In the study, a group of women with fibromyalgia diagnoses (all of whom were on sick leave due to their condition) were divided into two groups. The first half were assigned to the intervention group and were given EFT Training. These women were instructed to practice Tapping once per day for eight weeks. The other half were in the control group. Twenty-six women in total completed the study in the treatment group, and 36 women completed the study in the control group.[2]

All participants filled out questionnaires asking them about their pain, level of distress, anxiety and depression symptoms, quality of life, and so on at the beginning of the study and also eight weeks after it was over.

And what the author of the study found was that for the people in the EFT group, both the intensity of their pain and the influence of their pain on their life were reduced after they practiced Tapping.[2]

Additionally, the group of women who practiced Tapping daily reported reductions in:

Stress and tensionAnxiety and depressionThe amount they ruminated on their painFeelings of helplessness related to their painPerformance issues related to work and other activities [2]

On top of all of that, the women who did Tapping also experienced improvements in:

Quality of lifeSocial functionVitalityPhysical activity levelSelf-efficacy (belief in themselves and their abilities) [2]

In the control group (the group of women who did not do Tapping daily), no improvements or changes were seen from before to after the study period.

The author notes that the findings should be interpreted with caution and replicated with further study, as there was a high dropout rate and the sample size ended up being relatively small. 

But even so, the data are really promising and suggest that EFT Tapping has the potential to positively affect many areas of a person’s life when living with fibromyalgia.

Why is Tapping SO good for fibromyalgia?

The study referenced above clearly showed some incredible benefits for people with fibromyalgia who practiced regular Tapping. Not only did their perceived pain go down, but also the pain they did still have didn’t negatively influence them as much as before. Their quality of life, vitality, and mental wellbeing all improved thanks to Tapping!

So the question is, why did Tapping have such great effects for the women with fibromyalgia who did daily Tapping? There are likely many different pathways in which EFT Tapping helps people with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia.

For example:

Tapping promotes acceptance. In that research paper, the author shared that previous research has shown that acceptance of chronic pain is associated with less pain. Because EFT Tapping helps us to accept our current circumstances, including the pain we might be in, the author suggests that “acceptance of pain may be the key factor in the observed results.”[2]Tapping releases stress, which is linked to chronic pain. Tapping is an effective way to help calm down our nervous system, which is extremely important when you suffer from chronic pain. Chronic stress and chronic pain are proven to be related. When you feel pain, it initiates the body’s stress response. And the stress response can also trigger physical pain, leading to a vicious cycle. Tapping works by sending calming signals to the brain, helping to turn down that stress response so we can move into a state of being that promotes healing. The less stressed and anxious we are, the less likely we are to have as much pain.Tapping helps us let go of pent-up emotions that can contribute to chronic pain. We all feel emotions; but when we don’t have a healthy way to release them from our bodies, they can manifest themselves as physical symptoms like pain. Tapping supports us in acknowledging and honoring ALL of our feelings so that we can release them and let them go to make room for greater peace, ease, balance, and health in our bodies.Tapping influences our physiology. Research has proven that Tapping produces physiological changes in the body, including reducing cortisol levels. It also has beneficial effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and immune system.[3-5] These physiological changes can have positive impacts when it comes to pain and conditions like fibromyalgia.

You can learn more about how Tapping can help with pain relief here. 

Tapping for fibromyalgia relief – getting started for yourself

There are many different angles from which Tapping may support those with fibromyalgia. 

From helping people to accept their pain, to calming their brain and bodies down, EFT Tapping has tremendous potential to support people with conditions like fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes to not just reduce their pain, but to boost their wellbeing and feel more powerful in their lives as well.

If you or someone you know has fibromyalgia, Tapping is well worth a try. It has helped so many people feel better and feel more empowered to live well and thrive despite their fibromyalgia diagnosis. And it is backed up by scientific evidence, too!

I get so excited each time I hear a positive success story of someone finding relief from physical symptoms, chronic pain, and conditions like fibromyalgia after trying Tapping. It is amazing to hear these stories of transformation!

If you are looking for support for fibromyalgia and are open to exploring the power of Tapping, here are some resources we have available that you might find helpful:

5-Day Creating Lasting Pain Relief SeriesA Tapping Meditation to Release Frustration and Overwhelm from Physical PainThe Tapping Solution for Pain Relief bookOur many Tapping meditations in The Tapping Solution App, including:“Release Fibromyalgia Pain”“Release General Pain”“Freedom from a Diagnosis”“Increase Your Mobility”

And if you are completely brand new to Tapping, learn more about the Tapping process here and the Tapping points here.  

As always, take care and keep Tapping!

Until next time, 

Nick Ortner

References

Connais C. The effectiveness of emotional freedom technique on the somatic symptoms of fibromyalgia. University of the Rockies, Denver, CO. 2009. Doctoral dissertation, 3372777.Brattberg G. Self-administered EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) in individuals with fibromyalgia: A randomized trial. Integr Med. 2008;7:30–35Bach D, Groesbeck G, Stapleton P, Sims R, Blickheuser K, Church D. Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X18823691. doi:10.1177/2515690X18823691Church D, Yount G, Brooks AJ. The effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: a randomized controlled trial. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2012;200(10):891-896.Stapleton P, Crighton G, Sabot D, O’Neill HM. Reexamining the effect of emotional freedom techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Psychol Trauma. 2020;12(8):869-877.

The post EFT Tapping and Fibromyalgia – What Does the Research Say? appeared first on The Tapping Solution.

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