Learn EFT – EFT 101: Are there any negative side effects or abreactions?

This article is part of the EFT 101: What is EFT? series.

There are no known side effects to using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).  With that being said, you should keep 4 things in mind.

1) Before you begin any physical or emotional treatment you should ALWAYS seek the advice of your primary care physician.  This is true for a new diet, a new exercise program, or EFT.  The understanding of the human body is constantly growing and changing.  Everyday we know a little more than we did before.  Make sure you find the most current information before making any choices about the type of care you are going to pursue.

2) If you encounter any negative side effects or abreaction, STOP.  Seek the advice of a trained medical professional.  It is also common for the tapping points to be a little sensitive.  The article It Hurts! talks about tender tapping points and what you can do.

3) Just because EFT is a useful tool for a problem, doesn’t mean you are the right person to use the tool.  For example, EFT is a wonderful tool for working Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as multi-personality), but there is no way that I am qualified to do this sort of work. DID is very complicated and I could do more harm than good.

Just because you are proficient with EFT, doesn’t mean you should use it.  EFT is a tool to use in a context.  If you are not trained to work in the context without EFT, then you shouldn’t use EFT in the context.  You should seek a professional who is trained.

4) There are two physical reactions I have encounter using EFT, scratches and pimples.  When my fingernails are too long I scratch myself up when tapping.  I also forget to wash my face after an hour of tapping.  A day later it is very easy to find the tapping points on my face.  Just look for the pimples.

About Gene Monterastelli
Gene is a Baltimore, MD based EFT practitioner, the editor of Tapping Q & A, and the host of the Tapping Q & A Podcast (archive | iTunes). Learn more about Gene here or find out how to work with Gene here. You can connect with Gene on his personal twitter, his tapping twitter or on facebook.