EFT
EFT in the Hospital By John Vanderlaan PDF Print E-mail

EFT in the hospital:

By John Vanderlaan

The following is an email update from a nurse who is working on his PhD at UoM.  He has been using EFT and wanted to do research with it, and will be able to when he graduates and becomes part of the faculty..  He send me a few of his experiences in the hospital so that you can have an idea of ways that it is used by nurses on the floor.  He includes a scenario with himself and his fear of flying.


I am not currently doing research on EFT, as the director of the program wanted me
to create an online journal: see http://www.ojccnh.org

However, I will be on the faculty when I have completed my degree (May 2013 or 1
year and 14 weeks away) and was told I would have an opportunity then to do my EFT
research.

I have been using it in my job in the emergency department, as well as some of my
clinical rotations. I find that it has been useful in quite a few scenarios. Here
are some good ones:

1. Dental blocks in the emergency department for dental pain. I obtain permission
from the patient and ask them to tell me if what I am going to do was helpful when
we finish. I tell them that they are allowed to tell me that I am absolutely
nutsy-kookoo, or it really helped them, or anywhere in between. I start with the
karate point and progress to the face and work down to under the arms (never under
nipple for female patients). Then, during the procedure I just tap at the karate
point. Everyone tells me that it has helped.

2. I tried it on an upset child once, but the results were not good. It seemed to
excite the child more than calm him.

3. Elderly female sustained a fall and had a fractured left humerus. In x-ray she
became very anxious and I used tapping to help calm her. She absolutely swore by the
technique later telling me that she would never have thought that something like
that could have worked. She then told me that she was a retired nurse. She reported
my care to my charge nurse, who wanted additional information on my technique.

4. I had a patient with chest pain that was admitted and would be stressed or
possibly cathed the next day depending on future serial troponin levels. Usually
these admissions are 23 hour observations. The ED was extremely busy and as I left
the room to go down the hallway, another bed was brought into the room for another
patient. I announced on my intercom phone that I was bringing the patient up to room
523 and the patient said "wait....are you telling me I need to go up an elevator to
the 5th floor.....I never go on elevators because I have been trapped twice on
them".  She was monitored and her heart rate increased. I had no where to go at this
point, as I could not return to the room and was between the emergency department
and the elevator in a long hallway. I stopped the stretcher and told her that I
think I could help her if she just worked with me for a minute. I began the tapping
technique and told her that we would not proceed until she felt comfortable, and if
she did not feel comfortable then we would return to the emergency department. After
several rounds of tapping, she stated she was ready to proceed and her heart rate
was no longer tachycardic (less that 100). I continued tapping as we proceeded down
the hallway and approached the elevator. She said she was ready to try the elevator
and the doors closed. Interestingly, she kept her eyes closed on the elevator as I
continued to tap. About half way up, the elevator stopped, and then started....it
was stuck for a few seconds. My heart started pounding but she never knew anything
about it. In fact, this could have been the third time she was stuck in an elevator.
We arrived to the cardiac floor, with the patient still relaxed. Several days later
the director of nursing sent me an email stating that the patient told her that if
it was not for me, she would have never made it up the elevator to the cardiac unit
because of her fear of elevators.

5. I had a fear of flying since having a bad experience on the run-way in New
Orleans in 2000. We were kept in the plane on a flight from New Orleans to Chicago
for several hours. It was over 100 degrees in the plane and probably around 100%
humidity inside. Many of us were getting sick on the plan because of the intense
heat. I had relived that flight many times over in my mind, and vowed I would never
fly again. And, for 10 years I did not fly. However, last year I needed to fly to
Omaha for University of Michigan and did not have the option of driving. Using EFT
before the flight was what got me through the whole ordeal. As I was tapping in the
airport, someone smiled at me and said "I use the same technique". I have been to
Omaha twice since, and will be flying again next week.

John S. Vanderlaan, RN, MSN, CEN, CTN-A
Doctoral Student
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
University of Michigan - Flint
 
Introduction video for EFT points PDF Print E-mail

This video is an introductory demonstration of EFT points and how to use them.  This is a very beginning video and also serves as a reminder for where those points are!

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What is EFT PDF Print E-mail

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a very powerful tool that again, can be used by anyone anywhere.  It is based on ideas of eastern medicine that includes the meridians that run through the body.  It is like acupuncture without the needles, and is so simple it can be effectively used by young children.  EFT has been successfully used to everything from physical and emotional issues, to fears, phobias, allergies, PTSD, medical diseases, and the list goes on.  We try it on everything.

EFT in pregnancy is a terrific way to clear away blocks to the birth you are desiring.  For example, if the mother has is desiring an unmedicated birth yet has a fear that her doctor might suggest a medication, her "fear", even if it is just a small fear running in the background, will lead her into a completely different body hormone response because that is an experience that is being focused on.  A part of her is not in alignment with ,or, is not congruent with, her true desire.  By reducing the fear in advance, her energy is free to focus on her unmedicated birth.  If something were to come up that needed tending to, her mind would be free to make decisions based on a place of confidence, clarity and control, not from a place of fear.
 
How is EFT used during the childbearing year PDF Print E-mail

EFT in pregnancy is a terrific way to clear away blocks to the birth you are desiring.  For example, if the mother has is desiring an unmedicated birth yet has a fear that her doctor might suggest a medication, her "fear", even if it is just a small fear running in the background, will lead her into a completely different body hormone response because that is an experience that is being focused on.  A part of her is not in alignment with ,or, is not congruent with, her true desire.  By reducing the fear in advance, her energy is free to focus on her unmedicated birth.  If something were to come up that needed tending to, her mind would be free to make decisions based on a place of confidence, clarity and control, not from a place of fear

 

 

An article I wrote for an EFT website a while ago:

I have found that using the EFT process is just as easy and effective in pregnancy and childbirth as it is in every day life. As a hypnotherapist teaching Birthing Hypnosis to couples in classes as well as individually, I found the concepts were easy to assimilate right into the class format just by adding a workshop to their scheduled learning.

I began using EFT in the classes the very moment I met EFT. I tried it on every "pregnancy-induced ailment" that the moms brought to me. Of course, everyone tapped along and the borrowed benefits were confirmed over and over. I learned quickly that everything, even while in the pregnant state, is a tap-able issue just as it is in everyday life.

A few common examples are:

"Even though I have this nausea...."

"Even though I'm afraid I might lose the baby..."

"Even though this baby is in a painful position..."

"Even though I am afraid of being a mother/father..."

"Even though my hands/feet are swollen..."

"Even though I cry all the time..."

Obviously this is a very short list and some of them need to be more specific than they are as listed. The main point is that we find that most of the "pregnancy/hormone-induced ailments" are related to issues in life that are not obviously related to pregnancy.

Past Birth Experiences: Issues from past birth experiences are happy to show up at subsequent births, so those are carefully reviewed and cleared very often with a movie/tearless trauma technique. A few issues I have encountered are:

"Even though my body cannot dilate on its own..."

"Even though I know childbirth is painful because I have experienced it that way in the past..."

"Even though I always have high blood pressure..."

"Even though I am afraid the (medical system) will take over my childbirth again..."

"Even though I am afraid I will accept an intervention that is really not needed...."

Father's Issues: Father's issues are easy to address as well, and after they learn that EFT is a relatively tearless/painless procedure, they are more than happy to disclose their fears!

"Even though I was just in the way last time..."

"Even though I am afraid she will be in pain..."

"Even though I am afraid I will not be able to make enough money..."

"Even though there is so much to do..."

Baby Positioning: Sometimes those babies tell us things by getting themselves into some pretty odd positions. Of course, EFT can be applied. Generally I do EFT on the fears, stresses, and thoughts about the sub-optimal positioning, then do hypnosis, so I do not know exactly what part of the session led to the baby turning, but I do know that the EFT is fast and easy for uncovering those stresses that keep those babies from being in more optimal positions! A few of the issues that have come up are:

"Even though I am afraid I will have to have a C section.."

"Even though I am afraid there is not enough time to (prepare)..."

"Even though my father will never get to see this baby..."

"Even though I have no idea why this baby is in the wrong position..."

"Even though (baby's father) has seemed distant..."

Most often, there is a life event that comes up easily. There are just about as many examples as to why a baby is in a sub-optimal position for birth as there are examples for why a person would apply EFT to their everyday lives.

It is my personal belief that when the medical profession begins to entertain the idea that discomfort in pregnancy is indicative of something that needs healing in the expectant mother's life, they will begin to treat expectant parents in brand new ways that are much more effective.

During Birth: I have had more and more clients who have used the EFT during the birth process (and that number is increasing as the mom's tell me stories that I recount to the couples in my classes). Occasionally I get a call and we might tap together, or they might report later on that they tapped on issues like:

"Even though this hypnosis is not working..."

"Even though I was not expecting (this sensation)..."

"Even though I did not want to birth at this horrid hospital..."

"Even though that nurse said .... to me..."

"Even though I do not know if I should do (this treatment that has been offered)..."

I have also had reports recently that moms tapped all the way through the labor and birth. One mom had an early and unexpected delivery of her baby and had only come to one hypnosis class and to the EFT workshop. She was not proficient at the hypnosis yet, but the EFT was so easy for her to use that she used it all the way through from labor to birth. Another mom used both EFT and hypnosis and the midwife reported that the mom appeared to be "completely blissed out". Many moms report using it at some point during labor.

EFT on Babies and Children: Of course, I tell all the parents-to-be that they can use EFT on their little ones and have multiple examples of how I and others have used it with children. I also invite them to consider that the stimulation that the baby receives as he/she moves down the birth path is probably the greatest EFT session they will ever experience!

Mary Lawton
 
EFT Meridian Tapping Points PDF Print E-mail

 

Meridian Tapping Instructions

1)  Choose specific issue (this issue).
2)  Determine intensity rating 0-10.
3)  Set-up:  While tapping on the karate chop of either hand, repeat the following
affirmation 3 times:
"Even though I have (this issue) I deeply and completely accept myself".
4)  Tap on the following points while repeating the reminder phrase.  The reminder phrase
is a shortened affirmation such as "(this issue)".
Top of head   
Inside eyebrow
Side of eye
Under eye
Under nose
Chin
Collarbone
Under arm
Thumb
Index finger
Middle finger
Little finger
9 Gamut:  Close eyes, open eyes, look down hard one direction then the other, roll eyes
in one direction then the other, hum a little "happy birthday", count to 5, hum a
little "happy birthday".

Repeat starting at top of head, leaving out 9 gamut on second round.

Then:

5)  Assess the intensity of (this issue) on the 0-10 scale.

6)  Repeat the set-up while tapping on the karate chop.  Say a revised affirmation:
"Even though I still have some of (this issue), I deeply and completely accept myself".
7)  Tap on all the points again while saying a revised reminder phrase: 
"remaining (this issue)"
8)  Assess the intensity on the 0-10 scale again.
9)  Repeat if necessary using revised affirmation.
10)  Change to other aspects as needed