I have no personal experience of Emotional Freedom Technique but have been advised that it might help anxiety and/or emetophobia.
With this in mind, and the permission of the authors, I have included information I have received from EFT practitioners below:
This technique uses all sorts of different methods to address different areas of the brain which are involved in emotional issues. It has been devised over many years by psychologists and psychiatrists and others who have worked with people who have severe or less severe emotional issues. It does work in 99.9% of cases, so I strongly recommend its use.
This literally means imagining how you would feel now this minute if someone was sick at your feet or if you were about to be sick.
For example: “ I feel terrified/horrified/utterly petrified/disgusted…. when anyone vomits near me” or “I absolutely cannot bear the idea of vomit” or “I am utterly revolted by the sight and smell of vomit” or “If I think I might be sick I shake and sweat with fear” whatever statement resonates with you. Start with one – the one which affects you most – you may feel there are dozens you could use, make a note of them all and just work through them, but start with one simple statement which expresses your worst feelings.
When creating your statement, always use words expressing feelings, not conditions ie don’t use the word ‘emetophobia’, rather use ‘vomit’ or ‘sick’ etc.
You may think that this is dotty or find it hard to envisage saying this, but it WORKS, so do not scoff at it, just do it, as they say.
Place your finger in the
dip at the base of your throat between the two ‘knobs’ of your
collarbone. Slide it one inch down and one inch to the left or right. Somewhere around there you should be able to locate a
small, slightly tender area, just below the bone. If you don’t feel a
tender are, just remain at that point using the above method to locate it,
massaging the area with three fingers whilst repeating your affirmation
three times thus: “Even though I feel terrified when anyone vomits near
me, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
v Inner corner of eyebrow
v Outer side of eye socket – on bone
v under eye – in the middle of socket, on bone
v under nose – on upper lip
v crease in middle of chin halfway between lower lip and chin bone
v collarbone – actually on the bone, midway
v underarm – level with nipple
v thumb - outer edge, level with nail
v index finger – edge nearest thumb, level with nail
v middle finger – as above
v little finger – as above (note, no ring finger)
v
karate chop – halfway between little finger joint and wrist
joint on side of hand.
*The gamut is on the back of the hand, just
one inch above the ‘web’ between the ring finger and little finger.
At this point you may find that you can’t
actually focus on the issue – this is good news and means that it is
working. It usually means the
rating has dropped to 0. If
your rating has dropped by several points but is not 0, then go to 16
below. If it has not dropped at all, then drink a glass of
water, or better still, go for a brief walk (2 or 3 mins) in the open air
then repeat whole sequence. You might consider changing your statement at
this stage.
As you repeat the sequence, you may well find
that other issues surface, for example memories, or fears or awareness of
sensations – as these arise, tap for them, go with what is happening,
rather than sticking to your first thought.
Using this technique in conjunction with Australian Bush Flower remedies has been particularly effective for me and those I have treated.
I am happy to discuss this with anyone who would like to take this route.
Gillian La Haye
email : gilliebowen@aol.com
Also ..... here's a letter received from a UK therapist practising EFT together with a link for further information.