I have been very upset at the devastation and loss of life in Christchurch.  I lived in the isolation of the Southern Alps for 7 months and Christchurch was my refuge of “civilisation” and such a lovely city.  With all the natural disasters that have been striking as well as all the other traumas that can happen at any time it’s important for us to recognise the very real contribution that EFT can make at these times.  It is a powerful and effective tool to use at any stage to mitigate shock and distress.

If you are caught up in a trauma use it on yourself in the first place.  The most important thing to do is just tap – on any point, in any order, or on just one point – whatever you can manage, whatever is easiest.  If you can simply name what you’re feeling that is great – something simple like “I’m feeling very scared” – but really the only important thing to do is tap, somewhere, anywhere.

This helps to release the fear, shock and distress even as you are experiencing it so it doesn’t get so lodged in the body.  If you’re walking or running away keep tapping and if you can, say soothing, supportive words to yourself,  like “I’m safe now”, “I’m going to be safe”, “ I choose to stay calm”, “I’m going to be OK”.

If you’re pretty OK yourself you can tap on other people who are in distress – whether in shock or inured and in pain – just holding their hand and tapping on the karate chop point will help to calm and support them.  Please do not think you need to be an expert to help people at times like this – there is no-one else to help – so stop thinking you don’t know enough.  If you know some tapping points that is enough.

If you are not there but worried about friends and family who are involved, tap on yourself for the anxiety and having to wait and the not knowing.  And offer yourself to other people who may be doing it tough waiting for news.  You can also tap with them over the phone – it always has a calming effect.   Ask them what they are feeling and then guide them through some tapping points and tap with them on whatever they are feeling just as you would with yourself.

Due to modern technology we have been watching a lot of heartbreaking dramas unfold on the TV and internet.  These are distressing and it is important to tap on yourself as you watch to alleviate your upset and it’s especially important to tap with or on your children as they can become very disturbed by these powerful images.

One of the great things about EFT is that it is always available, no matter the circumstances, or how isolated you are.  And, if you don’t have a hand available you can imagine tapping on the points.  I was grateful to use it myself while out bushwalking one day.  I tripped and fell heavily, hitting my face and injuring my knee on rock.  I was cut and badly bruised and while I was on the phone arranging to be picked up I went into shock, feeling quite strange and disoriented.  I couldn’t think of what to say so I just started tapping through the points and found that I soon felt better and could think straight again.  After a while, as I sat waiting, I began to feel nauseous.  This time I tapped on “Even though I feel really nauseous I deeply and completely accept myself”.  The nausea vanished within a couple of minutes.

It’s great to have EFT available to use as first aid in any sort of trauma alongside appropriate medical and physical assistance and it’s especially useful when nothing else is available.