A Pocket Guide to

EFT
(Emotional Freedom Techniques) for Addiction Treatment, Self-Help and Recovery
How to use EFT for relief from addictive cravings, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, pain and upsetting memories

Masha Bennett

“Addictive behaviour is the mindbody’s normal and natural response to the pathology of sobriety” (Gregory Bateson)

What is EFT? The Emotional Freedom Techniques are a group of brief therapeutic interventions and self-help tools, sometimes known as “acupuncture without needles” or “tapping therapy”. EFT brings together the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, neuroscience and cognitive-behavioural therapy by combining stimulation of a series of acupressure points with cognitive restructuring (specially worded affirmations), typically leading to shifts in thought patterns and relief from both physical tension and excess negative emotions. Table 1. Uses of EFT in addiction recovery  Reducing / eliminating addictive cravings  Alleviating withdrawal symptoms  Managing anxiety, fear, grief, anger  Relieving physical pain and tension  Modifying unhelpful beliefs  Healing past trauma  Enhancing sense of control and self-efficacy  Reducing risk of relapse Day-to-day emotional & stress management 

How does EFT work? There are several explanations of how EFT works. The creator of the technique and many practitioners attribute its effect to balancing the energy in meridians, as in acupuncture, in relation to a specific problem. Some neurological explanations for its efficacy include balancing the activity of parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of our nervous system, and facilitating “adaptive information processing”. The areas of skin associated with acupressure points contain a high concentration of mechanoreceptors, and brain scans of people whose acu-points are stimulated show the limbic (emotional) part of the brain