Increasing your effectiveness with EFT, part 185.
If you ever find yourself reacting to a situation in a way that feels like it is coming from an old wound, your amygdala is probably involved. The amygdala is a small but powerful part of the brain responsible for detecting potential threats and triggering the body’s alarm system. Its job is to keep us safe by recognizing danger, especially when something in the present reminds it of a painful experience from the past.
This is a normal and deeply human mechanism. It is the brain’s way of protecting us, even when the reaction does not seem to make logical sense. The challenge is that the amygdala does not respond to logic alone. However, it does seem to respond to EFT Tapping.
How the Amygdala Influences Our Reactions
When the amygdala detects something that resembles a past threat, it activates the body’s stress response. The nervous system goes into survival mode, and the “thinking brain” (the neocortex) becomes harder to access. This is why, in moments of emotional activation, reasoning or reassuring ourselves often does not work very well.
For example, some of my clients are EFT students going through the certification process to become practitioners. Sometimes they encounter blocks or challenges that seem disproportionate to the situation. In many cases, their amygdala is responding to earlier experiences of being a student—perhaps times in school when they felt criticized, humiliated, or afraid of making mistakes.
Similarly, someone who has had painful experiences with men or women in the past might understandably feel apprehensive about working with a male or female therapist or practitioner, even if that person is kind and trustworthy. The amygdala is always scanning for danger and will react to anything that feels similar to a past hurt.
How EFT Helps
With EFT, we can gently work with these triggers to help release the stored emotional charge that keeps the amygdala on high alert. By tapping while acknowledging what we are thinking and feeling in the moment, we help send calming signals to the brain. Over time, this allows the amygdala to stop recognizing that situation as threatening.
The more we can allow ourselves to sit with whatever thoughts and feelings arise without judgment or pressure, the more effectively we can process them. Staying within our window of tolerance is key. In other words, we want to make sure that “the cup of tea does not get boiling hot.” If the emotional charge feels too intense, we can zoom out, use gentler language, or tap silently while focusing our attention on something neutral or pleasant to create a sense of safety.
As the nervous system settles, we regain access to clarity, calmness, and choice. That is how EFT helps us not only soothe the body’s alarm system but also re-establish a sense of safety in the present moment.
Example Tapping Phrase
You might say something like:
“When I think about this situation, I notice that part of me feels unsafe and on edge. I can feel it in my chest, and this is where I’m at right now.”
Tapping while gently acknowledging how you feel helps signal to the amygdala that you are safe in this moment. Over time, this allows the nervous system to relax, making it easier to respond with perspective and calm instead of fear or reactivity.
For Practitioners and Students
For practitioners and EFT students, understanding the amygdala’s role can be a reminder of why it is so important to meet clients exactly where they are. What may look like resistance or overreaction is often just a sign that their nervous system is trying to keep them safe. When we hold space for that response with compassion, without judgment or urgency, we help their amygdala feel less threatened.
This awareness not only supports our clients but also helps us bring more gentleness and patience to our own process. After all, the same principle applies to us as practitioners: the more safety and compassion we bring to ourselves, the more effective and grounded our work becomes.
I’m Bruno Sade, a clinical psychologist and Certified Advanced EFT Practitioner. Helping you manage emotional reactions and release triggers that keep you stuck in old emotional patterns — in a way that feels safe and tailored to your preferences and needs.
If you’re curious about what it’s like to work with a practitioner and are exploring the possibility of having EFT sessions with someone, I currently offer a free EFT tapping session for those who’ve never worked with me before.
It’s a gentle, no-pressure way to experience how this works and see if it feels like a good fit.
Click here to learn more and book your session, or feel free to reach out if you have questions.
