Increasing your effectiveness with EFT, part 221.
One question I hear from time to time is whether it’s normal for a physical sensation to remain, even after making a lot of progress with EFT.
For example, someone may tell me that they have worked through several memories of abandonment or rejection and they feel much better than they used to. Their relationships are healthier, they feel calmer, and many of their old triggers no longer have the same emotional charge. Yet there is still a subtle (or sometimes not so subtle) tightness in the chest, a knot in the stomach, tension in the throat, or another physical sensation that seems to linger in the background.
It can be discouraging when that happens, especially if the sensation temporarily softens while tapping but then gradually returns. At the same time, I generally see that temporary relief as an encouraging sign, because it suggests that the sensation is responsive to the process, even if there are still some pieces of the puzzle waiting to be explored.
One place I often like to begin is by becoming curious about how we feel about the sensation itself.
For example, does it make us feel afraid because we worry it will never go away? Do we feel frustrated every time it returns? Have we started judging ourselves for “still having it” after doing so much work? Those emotional reactions can develop a charge of their own, and sometimes they end up becoming just as important to tap on as the original sensation.
Another possibility is that the sensation may be connected to earlier experiences that have not yet come into awareness. While gently tapping through the points, it can sometimes be helpful to ask ourselves, “When is an earlier time I remember feeling something like this?” It doesn’t have to be the very first time. Sometimes a memory from childhood or adolescence simply comes to mind on its own. If it does, we can begin exploring how we feel now when we think about that experience, including any meanings or beliefs that became attached to it.
I also find it useful to approach physical sensations as though they have their own perspective. If we were to give the microphone to that tightness in the chest, what might it say? Are there any words attached to it? Would it have a particular age, personality, or emotional tone? Does it remind us of a frightened child, a heavy rock, a tightly wound spring, or something else entirely? These images and metaphors don’t have to make logical sense. Sometimes they simply provide another doorway into the emotional experience that the nervous system is holding.
Finally, I sometimes invite people to imagine, just for a moment, that the sensation has completely disappeared.
How does that feel?
For some people, the answer is immediate relief. For others, though, something unexpected can happen. They might notice a fear of becoming vulnerable without that protective tension, or a concern that letting go somehow means letting their guard down. In EFT, these protective concerns are sometimes referred to as “secondary gains”. Rather than trying to push past them, I generally find it more helpful to become curious about them and give them the microphone as well, including any memories where (using the example above) letting their guard down resulted in getting hurt.
Of course, it’s also important to remember that physical sensations can have many possible causes, and persistent or concerning symptoms should always be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional. EFT is not a substitute for medical assessment or treatment, and I encourage people to seek medical advice whenever that is appropriate.
One of the things I like the most about EFT is that it invites us to stay curious rather than jumping to conclusions. A lingering sensation does not automatically mean there is unresolved emotional trauma, nor does it necessarily mean that progress has stalled. Sometimes it simply tells us that there is another emotionally charged thought, belief, memory, protective part, or feeling that would like some non-judgmental attention. And when we continue approaching the process with patience and curiosity, those next pieces often reveal themselves in their own time.
That said, when it comes to doing EFT, it’s not always easy to do it by ourselves. If you’d like some support exploring what’s coming up for you, you can learn more about my approach at brunosade.com.
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I’m Bruno Sade, a clinical psychologist and Accredited Certified Advanced EFT Practitioner. I work online with people around the world, helping them reduce the emotional charge behind difficult thoughts, memories, and triggers.
If you’re curious about experiencing EFT in a guided session, I occasionally offer a free EFT tapping session in exchange for a brief market research interview. You can sign up here.
