"Tapping" for Anxiety, Health and...Shifting Perspectives!
- Mary Contrary
- Feb 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 3
So, we're open to a new perspective. But, are we really? Our subconscious voices and limiting beliefs can make genuine change difficult. Enter energy tapping. Intrigued? Read on as Mary Contrary explores the topic. Mary has successfully used tapping for years on various issues and often practices it while walking her dog.
Many go through life viewing habits and thoughts as truths, shaping our lives and health. Changing perspectives, especially emotionally, is challenging. Advocates of a new health technique combining psychology and body energy suggest a global solution: tapping.
Energy tapping, like the popular EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), is said to be really helpful for dealing with both physical and mental health issues, which are frequently interrelated. Nick Ortner from The Tapping Solution noted in the Huffington Post that "10 million people worldwide have used tapping." The Tapping Solution, a leading provider of online EFT support, provides extensive scientific explanations and background on their website and also hosts the free annual Tapping World Summit.
So, What's This Thing All About?
Energy tapping combines Eastern health practices with Western psychology by tapping on acupuncture points while expressing personal concerns. It is supported by numerous scientific studies and global testimonials. The technique is believed to affect both mind and body, influencing emotions, brain patterns, beliefs, and impacting the body, immune system, fight-or-flight response, and nervous system. Advocates claim it provides benefits beyond traditional therapy or exercise alone.
"Tapping has been shown to change activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain that moderates the fight-or-flight response (sympathetic nervous system)," we are told by physician, author of the MindBody Toolkit, and Founder of the American Institute of MindBody Medicine Dr. Kim D’Eramo, whilst sharing her perspective with us.
"This allows the resolution of triggers where perceived threats [would otherwise] ignite a full-blown sympathetic nervous system response," she explains. So, by shifting this activity means "we are properly responding to stimuli, but not igniting this trigger response inappropriately."
"Tapping alters activity in the amygdala, which moderates the fight-or-flight response, allowing us to respond appropriately to stimuli without triggering an unnecessary sympathetic nervous system response."
It's Just a Placebo
Despite its effectiveness, this technique remains relatively unknown, often dismissed as basic or a placebo. However, research and personal stories confirm its legitimacy. Since the 1980s, it has helped millions worldwide with earthquakes, PTSD, and various health and mental challenges. Some scientists now believe it may also impact inherited health problems.
"Tapping has been shown to alter brain activity, serotonin, and rebalance the autonomic nervous system," Dr. D'Eramo explains. She also points out that the use of energy tapping has not only proven useful for anxiety and depression, but also many other issues, such as chronic pain syndromes, chronic fatigue and other physical conditions, where previously there seemed to be no answers.
"Tapping has been shown to alter brain activity, serotonin, and rebalance the autonomic nervous system"
How Can We Begin This on Our Own?
To start tapping, we can work with a trained health practitioner for complex issues, or use online videos and audio scripts for specific concerns. Once familiar, many can tap independently, allowing ongoing self-help. Tapping is seen as a lifelong method to clear energy in the body.
What is the Procedure?
A tapping session begins with a setup statement, where you focus on a personal emotional or health issue, or a limiting belief, such as 'my body is weak' and 'I always catch things'. The statement also includes a positive affirmation about yourself, like self-love or respect despite the issue.
The process involves tapping specific spots on the hands, head, and upper body while repeating words related to the issue. Participants may repeat this to address various aspects, including subconscious issues. Final rounds can introduce a more positive perspective. Some experience immediate effects, like reduced anxiety or cold symptoms, while others notice changes over time. The technique aims to release energy tied to problems and beliefs from the body.
Why They Say it Works So Well
Our body and mind are interconnected, and addressing them together is effective. Tapping on meridians while stating issues can balance our nervous system and restore a sense of safety. This method helps transform stress into calmness and gain new perspectives by addressing fears and sending calming signals. As explained by Nick Orther at the 18th annual Tapping Solution World Summi, it tackles subconscious issues, clearing energy in the mind and body without relying solely on positive thinking or affirmations.
"EFT Tapping helps to access the body's energy and send signals to the part of the brain that controls stress," wrote EFT Tapping therapist Kim McPherson in a similar vein in an article in the Australian Nursery and Midwifery Journal (ANMJ). Tapping is reported to address numerous issues, and McPherson, a former nurse, mentions that she has assisted clients with eating disorders using EFT. She also cites a study by researcher Susan Patterson on EFT among nursing students in her ANMJ article.
Mind Body Connection 2.0
Energy tapping is currently being utilised within the field of psychology, with specialists like Phil Mollon of the British Psychoanalytical Society calling it energy psychotherapy. Mollon, who developed Psychoanalytic Energy Psychotherapy (PEP), has referred to various types of energy psychology in scientific literature as 'a missing ingredient in psychotherapy,' capable of facilitating remarkably rapid and profound change.
"Emotions are of course bodily events as well as mental," he told Perspective Living, and continued: "The deeper patterns of emotion and behaviour are encoded in the subtle energy system and energy psychology methods such as acupoint tapping, can enhance psychotherapy greatly." And, explaining the power of combining mind and body, he added: "By combining attention to the mind, body, and subtle energy system concurrently, we achieve a much greater effect than focussing on the mind alone."
And so, by combining the power of our mind and body in this way, we might just find new ways to change how we see life, our health, and our beliefs, ultimately making our lives better.
"By combining attention to the mind, body, and subtle energy system concurrently, we achieve a much greater effect than focussing on the mind alone."
About The Author: Mary Contrary
Mary Contrary is a natural-born perspective creator. Her stories give us a different perspective on life than we might have ourselves. In any case, Mary never shies away from being a little contrary. That's what makes life interesting, she says. Mary lives somewhere that's not exactly nature nor a village, and in the evenings, she enjoys watching the bat show with her dogs.
The Background of Tapping for Anxiety
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and similar "energy tapping" methods, like energy psychology, are backed by extensive research, including over 100 clinical trials and more than 50 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Studies show that tapping effectively addresses anxiety, depression, PTSD, pain, and insomnia. It can quickly reduce stress hormones like cortisol—by up to 43% in an hour—and impact brain areas like the amygdala and hippocampus. Many controlled studies have demonstrated its efficacy, and energy or acupoint tapping is scientifically recognized as an evidence-based, self-help therapeutic method. More information about the science behind tapping can be found here. Various forms of energy tapping exist today, from Thought Field Therapy (TFT) to the popular EFT, developed by Gary Craig. For more about its history, check out this blog by The Tapping Solution, which made tapping globally accessible, in honour of tapping's founder, Cary Craig, who has sadly passed away.
Please Note: This article is not intended as medical advice. It offers a perspective on a topic that readers may choose to explore further on their own.
