EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique

How I Went from "Wow, This Is Stupid" to "This Actually Changed My Life."

Tap Your Worries Away?

It might sound too simple to be true—tapping your fingers on your head to ease anxiety or emotional pain? But there’s a technique called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) that’s built around that very idea—and it’s helped more people than you might think.

Often described as “psychological acupressure,” EFT is a holistic healing practice that involves tapping on specific points on your body—like your face, collarbone, and hands—while saying out loud how you’re feeling. Think of it as a cousin to acupuncture, but without the needles.

As Dr. Nancy Lowe from Vital Health explains, EFT aims to restore the body’s energy flow, which in turn helps relieve physical and emotional symptoms. The idea is that when our energy is blocked or disrupted, we feel it—emotionally and physically. EFT helps “tap” those blockages away.

Research shows EFT may help reduce stress, ease cravings, improve focus and performance, and even support those healing from P

TSD. The goal? Release the emotional burdens that can trigger poor habits, anxiety, depression, and pain.

Now, I’ll be honest—my first experience with EFT didn’t exactly go smoothly.

Story Time: My First Experience with EFT

It was a Tuesday, sometime in 2019. I walked into my first therapy session in an old building in Orlando—one of those buildings that looked like it had weathered several decades and was still standing out of sheer stubbornness.

I was nervous, skeptical, and hon

estly, a little desperate. I had been living in a violent marriage for a few years and had tried to leave more than once, only to find myself back again. I didn’t feel safe, sane, or seen. My body felt like it was shutting down from the stress, but everyone around me kept saying I should be "fine."

The therapist’s office was surprisingly cozy: soft blue walls, a plush white chair with a blanket draped over it, and a small water fountain trickling in the corner. I felt... cautious. Guarded.

She asked me why I was there, and I told her: panic attacks were making it impossible to go to work. She nodded thoughtfully, then

handed me a rock.

Yes—a rock.

I stared at it, confused. I held it for a bit, and then she took it back without much explanation. I remember thinking, What is happening? Did I just waste my time and money?

Then she brought out a chart and introduced me to EFT. She asked me to follow along as she tapped various points on her body.

So, I tapped along. Top of the head. Forehead. Temples. Collarbone.

"This is stupid," I thought. "Why am I here? Does she think I’m crazy?"

I left that day unconvinced and didn’t return for another session. Life continued—chaotic, painful, heavy.

A Second Chance at Healing

Fast-forward a year later. I was now living in Chicago, after my final escape from my ex. I was determined to heal, to understand what was happening inside my mind and body—and to prove to myself that I wasn’t crazy.

I spent hours and days sea

rching the internet and looking into brain science, and was trying all of it—Vitamin D, MCT oil, meditation, stretching, and I stumbled across EFT again.

"Wait... tapping?" I thought. "Seriously?"

But this time, I was open. I wanted to understand the science behind it. And once I did—it actually made sense. The nervous system, brain signaling, trauma release—it was all connected. I realized I hadn’t given EFT a real shot the first time.

So, I gave it another try.

I found a woman named Gala Darling on Instagram—an energetic, pink-loving queen who tapped live with thousands of viewers. I followed along.

Tap tap tap.
"I am open to trying new things."
Tap tap tap.
"I am safe and no longer need to be in survival mode."
Tap tap tap.
"I want to feel peace."

Tap tap tap.
"I am Worthy."

And to my surprise... I did feel better.

I started tapping for 2–5 minutes a day. Some days longer, some days not at all, but I never gave up and would resume the next day

. Some days I followed along with GalaDarling and other days I would tap to affirmation videos on YouTube. Slowly but surely, I began to feel more grounded, more present, and more in control.

Building A Better Life, One Tap at a Time

Over the weeks, something shifted. I felt more like me. I started getting out of bed with a bit more ease. I had the energy to wash my face, eat healthier, and take my vitamins. Each small act sparked the next—a healthy domino effect.

My confidence was growing. I upgraded my wardrobe, improved my credit score, and created financial stability for the first time in years. Eventually, I moved into a cozy one-bedroom apartment near Lake Michigan. I adopted a new kitty. I began a healthy, loving relationship where I voice my boundaries.

I don’t have panic attacks every day anymore, sure, trauma anniversaries come and those days can be harder than most, but I don’t drown or sink as low as I use to. I feel joy. I feel grateful. And I feel proud.

Final Thoughts

EFT isn’t magic, and it’s not the only thing that helped me heal. Recovery is a mosaic—built from tiny, daily choices. EFT wa

s one tool among many: grounding, vitamins, affirmations, rest.

But choosing to tap—consistently and curiously—unlocked something in me. It brought me back to myself.

So if you’re skeptical? I get it. I was too.

But if you’re open? Just maybe give it a try.

Tap tap tap... “I’m ready to heal.”