EFT & Chronic Illness
Our bodies are incredibly resilient and robust, so what causes them to stop functioning at this dynamic level? Why do some people become seriously ill when stretched to the limit, while others continue functioning comfortably and effortlessly?
The question of why a person became ill in the first place is rarely considered. There may be events in her life, repressed emotions, or strong beliefs, which have contributed to her physical deterioration.
When a new seriously ill client comes to see me, one of the first questions I ask is:
"What was happening in your life before or during the time you became ill?"
I'm looking for stressors such as uncertainty, loss of control, and fear, which could have affected the balance in their lives enough to make them ill.
They usually answer, "I can tell you exactly what was happening at that time…" They recall specific events such as the death of a loved one, financial stress, relationship difficulties, or the loss of a job. These are enormously challenging and potentially highly stressful events. How we respond to them determines the impact they have on our bodies.
Together we then use EFT on how the client feels about the event: the negative emotions, beliefs and memories that she is holding about that specific time. Once these are cleared – and there might be many layers involved – she can reflect back with a comfortable level of acceptance about what happened, and focus on how she will move forward. The beliefs and emotions pertaining to that specific time could be well-established patterns; they are usually emotionally and physically debilitating. There is only so much stress the body can take, only so much support the adrenals can give.
Darlene Bentley, Alberta, Canada
In using EFT for chronic illness, I'm also interested in why we remain ill. Everyone wants to be well, don't they? No one chooses to be ill. Or do they? Is remaining chronically ill a way to remain safe and unpressurised? Fewer demands and expectations are put upon us when we are ill; we don't need to prove ourselves, and finally, we don't have to be responsible for everyone and everything.
There are very few people who consciously want to be ill, so it is our subconscious which holds us back and prevents us from recovering. It is the subconscious, afraid of stepping out of the present, familiar, comfort zone, which convinces us it is not safe to assume a new identity of health, vibrancy and mobility for whatever reasons.
Over the years, working with chronically ill clients, I have identified there can be insecurities around being well and healthy, after being ill for some time. One client said her illness was a relief, her 'hiding place', because if she were well, she would need to be exceptional in everything she did and gain everyone's approval. She also recognised that if she were well, she'd probably be a workaholic. Another client said being ill was his 'get out clause' from being responsible for everyone and everything.
In my experience of using EFT for serious illness, it appears that once the intricate layers of emotional stressors are addressed, cleared and neutralized, the body is free to start healing itself. That is when we start to notice the physical symptoms, such as digestive disorders, chronic pain, exhaustion, or sleep disturbances, are reducing and disappearing.
Many of the seriously ill clients I work with are very driven. They have expected a lot from themselves and often have been self-critical, striving for perfection in all areas of their lives. Most significantly, it has been challenging for them to say "no" to others and their lives have been about giving and pushing themselves to the limit.
The joy of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is that the technique doesn't only clear emotions and limiting beliefs about past events, which may have caused us to become ill. We can also use EFT to clear limiting self-beliefs about who we are and what we expect of ourselves now; beliefs which could be preventing us from healing at a core level and reaching our fullest potential. With EFT as an accessible tool, we no longer need to feel a loss of control about our present or our future.
Marita Morrow, Vancouver, Canada
If you are interested in reading more about how Annabel uses EFT in her approach to overcoming illness, then you may benefit from her e-book, "Tap Into Your Healthy Self! Recognize the Potential Within You to Heal"
Disclaimer: While EFT has produced remarkable clinical results, it must still be considered to be in the experimental stage and you are required to take complete responsibility for your own emotional, physical, and mental health and well being, both during and after working with EFT. Further, Annabel Fisher is not a licensed health professional, but offers EFT as an Advanced EFT Practitioner. EFT is not intended to be used as a replacement for medical treatment but can be used in conjunction. You are encouraged to consult your doctor and/or therapist regarding your use of EFT.